May the Force Be With Him: RIP, James Earl Jones

As I recall, the first time I saw James Earl Jones in a film (not counting his uncredited voicing of Darth Vader in “Star Wars”) was in 1997, in the Michael York/Marty Feldman comedy “The Last Remake Of Beau Geste,” in which Jones played “the Shiek.” Later, on a television Saturday matinee, I saw him as a young United States Air Force Lieutenant Lothar Zogg in “Doctor Strangelove.”

Now, James Earl Jones is gone, having died in his New York home. He was 93.

James Earl Jones, the revered actor who voiced Star Wars villain Darth Vader, starred in Field of Dreams and many other films and Broadway shows and is an EGOT winner, died this morning at his home in Dutchess County, NY. He was 93.

His reps at Independent Artist Group confirmed the news to Deadline.

Widely regarded as among the world’s great stage and screen actors Jones is one of the few entertainers to have won the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), though his Academy Award was Honorary. Jones has received two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy, a spoken-word Grammy Award in 1977 and three Tony Awards.

James Earl Jones’ range was as great as his voice was deep and magnificent. He played such different roles as Thulsa Doom in the original film adaptation of “Conan the Barbarian,” Admiral Greer in “Patriot Games” and several other adaptations of Tom Clancy’s work, as well as lending his legendary voice to a variety of features from Disney’s “The Lion King” to narrations of dozens of documentaries and other productions.

Jones’ honors and awards were as varied as the roles he played.

He was nominated for a Lead Actor Oscar for his role in The Great White Hope (1971) and was given an honorary Oscar at the 2012 ceremony. An eight-time Emmy nominee, his two wins both came in 1991: Lead Actor in a Drama series for Gabriel’s Fire and Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for Heat Wave.

Jones also was a 2002 Kennedy Center Honoree and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from SAG-AFTRA in 2009 and by the National Board of Review in 1995.

Also a commanding presence on the Broadway stage, Jones earned four competitive Tony Award nominations for Best Actor in a Play, winning twice for his performances as Jack Jefferson in The Great White Hope in 1969 and as Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s Fences in 1987. He received a Special Tony Award at 2017 ceremony.

 

Hollywood is a bit messed up these days, but James Earl Jones was an example of what an entertainer could be: Talented, focused, and dedicated to his craft. The world of show business is now a poorer place for his passing.

If to mark the event, you want to see one of Mr. Jones’ lesser-known works that is nonetheless wonderful and touching, seek out the 1996 film “A Family Thing,” in which Robert Duvall co-stars as James Earl Jones’ brother. Yes, really. It’s a heartwarming piece about how people from different backgrounds can learn to see each other as family – a lesson we could all use as a reminder today.