James Earl Jones passed away on the morning of Monday, Sept. 9, according to multiple reports, including the Associated Press. His agent, Barry McPherson, reportedly confirmed that he died at his Dutchess County, New York, home. Jones was 93. At this time, his cause of death is not clear.
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Here’s A Recap Of James Earl Jones’ Accolades
He was known for his prolific acting resume, including ‘Field Of Dreams,’ ‘The Great White Hope,’ and using his captivating voice for Darth Vader and ‘The Lion King.’ Throughout his career, which continued until his late 80s, Jones became an EGOT winner. He had two Primetime Emmys Awards, a Golden Globe, three Tony Awards, and a Grammy.
But his accolades didn’t end there. In 1992, former President George Bush awarded James Earl Jones the National Medal of the Arts. A decade later, in 2002, the Kennedy Center honored him. In 2011, he received an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement. A few years later, in 2017, he got a special Tony Award for the same reason. That same year, Harvard University awarded him an honorary degree.
Most recently, in 2022, the Colt Theatre was renamed in his honor to the James Earl Jones Theatre. The theatre was where James made his Broadway debut in 1958, per Deadline. While he didn’t attend the star-studded ceremony, he later spoke out about the renaming in a statement.
“For me standing in this very building 64 years ago at the start of my Broadway career, it would have been inconceivable that my name would be on the building today,” Jones said at the time. “Let my journey from then to now be an inspiration for all aspiring actors.”
All in all, Deadline reports that James Earl Jones had over 200 screen credits in his 60-year run.
Details On The Actor’s Early Life
According to the AP, James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, on Jan. 17, 1931, “by the light of an oil lamp.” Ironically, his father abandoned their family before his birth to pursue boxing and later acting. At age six, his maternal grandparents adopted and raised him after his mother took him to their farm in Michigan. Not long after moving, James developed a severe stutter and became mute out of embarrassment. To communicate, he’d pass handwritten notes.
James rediscovered his voice after a high school teacher, Donald Crouch, made him read a poem aloud in class. With continued teamwork, James eventually became obsessed with speaking, debating, and acting, as his autobiography, ‘Voices and Silences,’ explains.
Additionally, James Earl Jones studied drama while at the University of Michigan. Sometime after, he reconnected with his father in New York, enrolled in the American Theater Wing program, and worked alongside his dad, waxing the floors for financial support.
The actor was married twice in his life, first to Julienne Marie Hendricks for four years in the late 1960s, then to Cecilia Hart from 1982 until she passed away in October 2016 from ovarian cancer, per PEOPLE. Hart and James Earl Jones had one son, Flynn Earl Jones.
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