Remembering James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones was celebrated as an actor’s actor. He could do it all with a commanding presence, and large talent whether on stage, on film for a camera, or just a microphone. His voice was his powerful connection. To achieve this boldness, Jones had to overcome a childhood stutter. James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Mississippi, later abandoned separately by his parents to live with his grandmother on a farm in Michigan.
James Earl Jones died on September 9 at age 93 following a lifetime of unforgettable performances from the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in Lion King to his portrayal of the great boxer Jack Johnson in the character of Jack Jefferson in Howard Sackler’s play, The Great White Hope and subsequent movie of the same title for which he was nominated for an Oscar. There were many roles dealing with race, especially noteworthy those from playwright, August Wilson.
Jones appeared on stage in Shakespearean characters and in roles created by our best playwrights. From Eugene O’Neil John Steinbeck, and Tennessee Williams. Beyond the name roles, there were scores of television dramas, movies, and commercials as he performed for decades into his eighties. Along the way, he earned Tonys, Emmys, an honorary Academy Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors plus an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Harvard University.
Here are two excerpts from his appearances on CHARLIE ROSE.