Renowned actor James Earl Jones passed away on Monday morning at the age of 93, his representatives from Independent Artist Group confirmed to Deadline.
Jones was among the rare few to achieve EGOT status, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award throughout his distinguished career. He was celebrated for his remarkable talent with three Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and an Honorary Academy Award.
Jones made his screen debut in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. He went on to feature in numerous iconic films, most famously as the voice of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy and as Mufasa in Disney’s animated The Lion King (1994) as well as its live-action adaptation released in 2019.
Throughout his career, Jones amassed over 80 film credits and more than 70 television credits, according to Variety. He was recognized with a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2009, an honorary Oscar in 2011, and a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award in 2017.
Born in 1931 on a farm in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones moved to Michigan at the age of 5 to live with his maternal grandparents. The sudden relocation caused him to develop a stutter, a challenge he overcame in high school.
In addition to his illustrious acting career, Jones was an Army veteran. He joined the University of Michigan’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army in the summer of 1953.
He underwent training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and completed Ranger School before being assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 38th Regimental Combat Team. His primary role involved helping establish a cold-weather training command at the former Camp Hale in Colorado. Jones received an honorable discharge as a first lieutenant after completing his service.
James Earl Jones leaves behind an unparalleled legacy in film, television, and theater, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest voices and actors of his generation.