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James Earl Jones, the legendary actor best known for voicing Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, has died at the age of 93. His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed that Jones passed away at home, surrounded by family. While no cause of death was provided, Jones had long battled diabetes.
According to a report on Sky News, Jones’ career spanned decades, with notable roles in films like Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America, The Hunt for Red October, and Patriot Games. However, it was his deep, commanding voice as Darth Vader that made him a cultural icon. Mark Hamill, who portrayed Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader's son, in the Star Wars franchise, paid tribute on social media, tweeting: "RIP dad."
Jones was one of the rare performers to achieve an EGOT, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Among his numerous accolades, Jones won Tonys for The Great White Hope and Fences, and Emmys for Gabriel’s Fire and Heat Wave. He also received a Grammy for his spoken word album Great American Documents. Though he never won a competitive Oscar, Jones was nominated for The Great White Hope and received an honorary Academy Award in 2011.
Tributes from fellow actors and fans poured in. Colman Domingo, star of Sing Sing, posted on social media: "Thank you, dear James Earl Jones, for everything. A master of our craft." Fellow Star Wars actor Samuel L. Jackson once said of Jones, "If you were an actor, he was the standard."
The Empire State Building also honored Jones, sharing an image of the landmark illuminated with Darth Vader’s silhouette, recalling a special light show earlier in the year. Fans expressed their grief, with one remarking, "Some of our childhoods just died today. We’ll miss you, Darth and Mufasa. RIP."
Jones was the only original cast member to reprise his role as Mufasa in The Lion King's 2019 remake. He is remembered not only for his roles but for the powerful emotion and depth he brought to his performances.
In a 1987 review of Fences, the Washington Post described Jones as "capable of moving in seconds from boyish ingenuousness to near-biblical rage." His legacy as one of the most evocative voices in cinema will live on.
[Information sourced from Sky News]
