James Earl Jones, the famous actor known for his deep, powerful voice as Darth Vader in *Star Wars* and Mufasa in *The Lion King*, has died at 93.
Jones was considered one of the greatest actors of his time, with a career that covered everything from Shakespeare plays to major Hollywood movies. He was one of the few actors to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award, showing his incredible talent.
His death was reported by *Deadline*, through his representatives at Independent Artist Group.
James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, and grew up with his grandparents in Dublin, Michigan. Despite becoming one of the most famous voices in the world, he struggled with a stutter as a child.
“I couldn’t talk,” Jones shared in a 1996 interview. “My first year of school, I didn’t speak, and this continued until high school.” A teacher helped him overcome his stutter by encouraging him to read poetry out loud.
After serving in the US Army during the Korean War, Jones decided to follow his passion for acting. He studied at the American Theatre Wing, supporting himself by working as a janitor. By the 1960s, he was recognized as one of the great Shakespearean actors of his time, playing famous roles like Othello and King Lear. He also made his film debut in the 1964 Stanley Kubrick movie *Dr. Strangelove*, playing Lt. Lothar Zogg.
In 1967, James Earl Jones played a boxer in *The Great White Hope*, a role that earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. He later played the same role in the 1970 movie version and received his first Oscar nomination for it.
While he had many great acting roles, Jones became most famous for one where he didn’t even appear on screen: the voice of Darth Vader in *Star Wars*. Though another actor, David Prowse, wore the costume, Jones provided the deep, powerful voice that made Darth Vader one of the most unforgettable characters in movie history.
James Earl Jones initially chose not to be credited for his role as Darth Vader, but it has become one of his most famous performances. He continued to voice Vader for many years, including in the sequels *The Empire Strikes Back* and *Return of the Jedi*, the prequel *Revenge of the Sith*, and the spin-off *Rogue One*. In 2022, Jones retired from voicing Vader but agreed to let his voice be used in future projects through artificial intelligence and old recordings.
Jones also voiced another beloved character, Mufasa, in Disney’s 1994 film *The Lion King*. He returned to voice Mufasa again in the 2019 remake.
In the 1980s and 1990s, James Earl Jones appeared in many popular movies like *Conan the Barbarian*, *Coming to America*, *Field of Dreams*, *The Hunt for Red October*, *Patriot Games*, and *The Sandlot*. He also won his second Tony Award for his role in the original production of August Wilson’s play *Fences*.
Jones received eight Emmy Award nominations for his TV work and won twice in 1991: once for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for *Heat Wave*, and once for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for *Gabriel’s Fire*.
He also kept performing on Broadway, starring in revivals of plays such as *On Golden Pond*, *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof*, *Driving Miss Daisy*, *The Best Man*, and *You Can’t Take It With You* over the past 20 years.
James Earl Jones received many awards and honors during his impressive career. In 2011, he was given an Honorary Academy Award, joining a special group of people who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award, known as “EGOT.” In 2022, Broadway’s Cort Theatre was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor.
Rest in peace to the legendary James Earl Jones, one of the greatest actors of our time. Please share this story to remember him.
I Left My Husband Because of What He Wanted Us to Do on Our Wedding Night
Sometimes, it takes only one shocking revelation or unpleasant situation to make us reconsider a significant life step that we’ve taken. Sadly, this happened to our reader, Lana, on her wedding night. After discovering what her new groom wanted to do on their special evening, Lana became furious and decided to seek advice.
Hi Lana! Thanks for sharing your story with us. We’ve prepared a few tips for you that we think might be able to help you.
Embrace the moment and practice empathy.
Try to see the situation from your groom’s perspective and empathize with his desire to reconnect with his long-lost friend. While his decision may have hurt you initially, recognize that his intentions were likely not to cause harm, but to seize a fleeting opportunity to spend time with someone dear to him.
Take this moment to embrace the love and joy surrounding your marriage, and choose to forgive and move forward together.
Share your feelings calmly.
Lana, take a moment to breathe and collect your thoughts before addressing the situation. Instead of immediately lashing out, express your feelings to your groom in a calm and composed manner.
Explain to him how you were looking forward to spending your first night together as a married couple and how his actions made you feel neglected.
Create a memorable alternative.
Rather than dwelling on what could have been, seize the opportunity to create a unique and memorable experience for yourselves.
Since your groom wanted to spend time with his friend, suggest a creative compromise that still allows you to celebrate your marriage in a special way. Perhaps now as newlyweds, you could arrange a late-night picnic under the stars in a secluded spot, or book a couples’ massage at the hotel spa.
By thinking outside the box and crafting an alternative plan, you can make up to what happened on your wedding night and turn it into a cherished memory for both of you.
Clearly express your expectations.
It’s important to establish boundaries and expectations within your marriage, especially when it comes to balancing individual friendships and quality time as a couple.
Use this situation as an opportunity to have an open and honest discussion about your respective needs and priorities. Together, set clear limits for future scenarios where unexpected reunions or events may arise.
By proactively addressing potential conflicts and finding mutually agreeable solutions, you can strengthen the foundation of your relationship and prevent similar misunderstandings in the future.
Navigating the journey of newlywed life can pose its challenges, especially when faced with significant life-altering decisions. Take for instance Stacy, a 24-year-old woman and recent bride, who finds herself grappling with such a scenario. Despite her in-laws’ generous offer to purchase a house for them, Stacy hesitates, while her husband views it as an opportunity worth considering. Delve deeper into her story by reading more here.
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