Actor James Earl Jones Passes Away
On September 9, at the age of 93, the world lost one of its most iconic voices — James Earl Jones. James passed away peacefully at his home in Dutchess County, New York. He is survived by his son, Flynn Earl Jones. His wife, Cecilia Hart, preceded him in death in 2016.
Known for his deep, resonating voice, James brought to life some of Hollywood’s most memorable characters, none more infamous than Darth Vader. But while his portrayal of the Dark Lord of the Sith forever changed cinema, many may be surprised to learn that James earned only $7,000 for voicing the character in the original Star Wars back in 1977.
James wasn’t even the first choice for the role. George Lucas, the creator and director of Star Wars, initially envisioned Orson Welles as Vader’s voice. But George ultimately decided that Orson’s voice was too recognizable, and the search for the perfect villainous tone led him to James.
“George wanted, pardon the expression, a dark voice,” James once shared in a 2009 interview with the American Film Institute,, adding, “So he hires a guy born in Mississippi, raised in Michigan, who stutters. And that’s the voice. That’s me. I lucked out, from all these so-called handicaps, for a job that paid $7,000! And I thought that was good money. And I got to be a voice on a movie.”
Born in Mississippi and raised in Michigan, the actor, who battled a childhood stutter, delivered exactly what George wanted.
What many fans don’t realize is that James didn’t step into the role until after filming had wrapped. Actor David Prowse, who physically portrayed Vader on set, was missing that gravitas in his voice. Enter James, who spent only two and a half hours recording the dialogue that would go down in history.
But James never imagined that Star Wars would become the cultural juggernaut it is today. “We didn’t know what we had,” he admitted. By the time Star Wars – Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back rolled around, George invited him back, but James wanted to bring more complexity to the character. Lucas had a different idea. “And he said, ‘No, no. What we’re finding out is you need to keep his voice on a very narrow band of inflection because he ain’t human, really,’” James recalled. It was this approach that helped cement Vader’s status as a cold, calculated villain.
One of the most unforgettable moments in cinema came from James’ mouth: “No, I am your father.” This shocking revelation in The Empire Strikes Back stunned audiences around the world. But even James himself was skeptical at first, joking that he thought it was a lie. “I said to myself, ‘He’s lying. I wonder how they’re going to play that lie out.’”
Despite the monumental success of the films, Jones wasn’t initially credited for his work as Darth Vader. It wasn’t until Star Wars – Episode VI: Return of the Jedi in 1983 that his name appeared in the credits. But his contributions didn’t stop there — he continued voicing Vader for television shows, video games, and other projects over the years, solidifying his place as one of Hollywood’s most beloved voice actors.
Darth Vader was only a part of James’ incredible career. He also voiced Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King, a role that inspired and touched the hearts of millions. From his portrayal of Terence Mann in Field of Dreams to his Oscar-nominated performance in The Great White Hope from 1970, Jones was an actor of unmatched talent and range.
Over the years, James amassed numerous awards, including three Tony Awards, a Grammy, and three Emmy Awards, earning him a rare place in the prestigious EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) club. In 2012, he received an honorary Oscar, a fitting recognition of his lifelong contributions to the arts.
