That is, RIP James Earl Jones.
Jones was in everything from Eddie Murphy's
Coming to America to
Cry, the Beloved Country to
Naked Gun 33 1/3 to
Field of Dreams.
And to, of course,
Star Wars.
Jones brought gravitas to pretty much any role. It's not wonder he could claim the
EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards) achievement, although his Academy Award was honorary and not in a competitive category.
His first
film role was as Lt. Lothar Zogg in
Dr. Strangelove! His last? He reprised his role as King Jaffe Joffer, in
Coming 2 America.
Interestingly enough, his first and last credits were in television. In 1966, as a young actor, he got his start in
Guiding Light and
As the World Turns. Cutting your teeth as an actor by working in the soaps is a time-honored tradition. This puts him in
good company with Brad Pitt, Kevin Kline, Julianne Moore, Mira Sorvino, Ellen Burstyn, and many more.
And his last role (in 2022) was fitting: the
Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries. Of course, he played our old pal Darth.
One of the greatest actors of our time, and with an unmistakable, immortal voice, James Earl Jones was 93.
What are
your favorite roles of his?
Image is of him and Jill Clayburgh in in a stage production of
Othello at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, California, on April 9, 1971 (image is on wikimedia commons and is considered to be under a creative commons license).
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