Hollywood legend James Earl Jones dies at 93

Beloved Hollywood legend James Earl Jones has died at age 93.

James Earl Jones died on the morning of Monday, September 9 at his home in Duchess County, New York.

His passing was confirmed by his agency, though no additional details were shared about the circumstances.

Fans are already mourning the loss on social media, given how Jones has been one of Hollywood's most beloved legends for decades.

Jones was known in part for providing the voice of the iconic antagonist Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, starting with the original film released in 1977.

He'd later reprise the role for 2006's Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, along with other Star Wars projects. One of the most iconic aspects of the Darth Vader character is his unique voice, and the popularity of the franchise contributed to Jones' international fame. He'd later lend his voice to The Lion King's Mufasa in 1994, helping to create another iconic character; Jones also reprised the role for the 2019 remake.

Beyond Star Wars and The Lion King, Jones has garnered high acclaim with his impressive career in show business. He achieved EGOT status, earning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award wins. He won Emmys for his roles in Heat Wave and Gabriel's Fire, while he garnered the Grammy for Best Spoken Word for Great American Documents. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for The Great White Hope, and he was bestowed with an honorary Oscar in 2011 for Lifetime Achievement. The actor also won Tony Awards for The Great White Hope and Fences, and in 2017, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award as a Special Tony Award.

The veteran actor, who was born in 1931, made his feature film debut in 1964's Dr. Strangelove, a Stanley Kubrick film. He has had many other memorable roles in other movies, including Conan the Barbarian, Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October, The Sandlot, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Angriest Man in Brooklyn. He also appeared in a variety of well known TV shows over the years, including Sesame Street, Paris, Roots, L.A. Law, The Simpsons, Frasier, Homicide: Life on the Street, Everwood, Will & Grace, Two and a Half Men, and The Big Bang Theory.

Another one of Jones' most appreciated roles was as King Jaffe Joffer, the father of Eddie Murphy's character, in the 1988 comedy Coming to America. Jones would later reprise the role in 2021 for the sequel, Coming 2 America. This marked the final performance for the accomplished actor, capping off a legendary career that will never be forgotten.

Source: Deadline