James Earl Jones dies at 93, fans pay tribute to legendary voice behind Darth Vader and Mufasa

DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK: James Earl Jones, the legendary actor known for his distinctive voice as Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise and Mufasa in 'The Lion King', passed away at the age of 93.

His agent confirmed that Jones died on Monday morning, September 9, at his home in Dutchess County, New York, according to People.

James Earl Jones' storied career in film and television

James Earl Jones' career, which spanned over five decades, included a variety of memorable performances.

His filmography includes standout roles in 'Coming to America' (1988), 'Field of Dreams' (1989), 'The Hunt for Red October' (1990), and 'The Sandlot' (1993). 

The career achievements of Jones, who is survived by his son, Flynn Earl Jones, also extended to the stage.

In 1987, he won his second Tony Award for his role as Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s 'Fences'.

Jones was also a familiar face on television, winning two Emmy Awards in 1990: one for his lead role in Gabriel’s 'Fire' and another for his supporting role in the miniseries 'Heat Wave'.

His talents also earned him numerous Primetime Emmy nominations for guest appearances in shows like 'Everwood', 'Under One Roof', 'Frasier', and 'Picket Fences'.

He continued to lend his voice to Darth Vader in subsequent Star Wars projects, including the animated series 'Star Wars: Rebels' and the 2016 film 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'.

He reprised his role as Mufasa for the live-action remake of 'The Lion King' in 2018, joining a cast that included Beyonce and Donald Glover.

James Earl Jones' health struggles

In the 1990s, James Earl Jones discovered he had Type 2 Diabetes, a diagnosis he described as happening “quite by accident.”

Speaking on the 'Rachael Ray Show' in 2016, the legendary voice actor shared, “Once I knew I had Type 2 Diabetes, it was all about getting help from my family and my doctors.”

To raise awareness, Jones launched the “I Can Imagine” campaign, which aims to help people take control of their diabetes.

In October 2016, his wife Cecilia Hart died after a one-year battle with ovarian cancer.

Internet pays tribute to James Earl Jones

After the death of James Earl Jones was announced, netizens paid heartfelt tribute to the iconic voice actor.

One user on X wrote, "Rest in peace, James Earl Jones. One of the most powerful, evocative, emotional voices in cinema history. This is the first scene that came to mind, it’s one of my favorites of all time."

"This one hurts but 93 years is a long and beautiful life. Rest in power, James!" a netizen tweeted, and another commented, "Oh no. We know living is not forever, but this is one great man that will truly be missed. RIP."

"One of the greatest voices of our lifetime with a strong body of work to stand strong for generations," an individual penned, while someone remarked, "The most iconic voice in the history of the business. RIP to a legend."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.