Legendary actor James Earl Jones dies at 93

By Vasantha

James Earl Jones, who voiced Darth Vader and Mufasa, died at 93 in New York.  

Deadline reported that 93-year-old James Earl Jones, who voiced Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, died this morning at his Dutchess County home.  

Jones, born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, on January 17, 1931, had a legendary voice.  

Mufasa in Disney's The Lion King (1994), Voice Box in Robots (2005), and The Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk (2009) were brought to life by his rich, commanding voice.  

Jones played Mr. Mertle in The Sandlot (1993) and King Jaffe Joffer in Coming to America (1988) in live-action films.  

Jones is considered one of the best actors of his time having worked on theater and screen. He is a rare EGOT winner with Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and Tonys.  

Jones received two Primetime Emmys, a Daytime Emmy, a 1977 spoken-word Grammy, and three Tony Awards in addition to his honorary Academy Award.  

In celebration of his legendary theater career, Manhattan's Cort Theatre became The James Earl Jones Theatre in 2022. Jones began his Broadway career in Sunrise at Campobello in 1958, making this notable.