We lost a great Hollywood yesterday… James Earl Jones has passed away at the age of 93 in his home in Dutchess County, New York. He’s indeed lived a long life but it was still a punch in the gut when I heard about his passing on NPR while I was driving… I was astonished to learn that he had a stutter growing up after his family moved from Mississippi to a farm in Dublin, Michigan. Of course, you’d never know it given his commanding voice that has become so iconic and sets the bar for voice acting. He’s had an illustrious career spanning over six decades, with a plethora of legendary roles in movies, TV shows, and on stage.
Like many people my age (Gen X-ers), my first introduction to Mr. Jones was in Star Wars (1977), I mean who could forget that voice! George Lucas sure made the right call in casting the relatively less famous actor despite originally setting his sights ears on Orson Wells.
I don’t think there’s any character’s voice as instantly recognizable as Darth Vader’s, which became a lucrative gig beyond the first original trilogy. He voiced Vader for subsequent Star Wars sequels and spin-offs, including live-action and animated series such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Star Wars: Rebels.
I have to say though, my favorite voice work of Mr. Jones came nearly two decades later in 1994 when he voiced The Lion King‘s Mufasa, the wise and powerful king of the Pride Lands. That booming authoritative voice made not just hyenas shudder, but also with the warmth and wisdom of a loving father.
There are so many clips to choose from but I love this interaction with Scar (featuring another fantastic voice work by Jeremy Irons). Whether voicing a hero or villain, his grand deep bass voice is simply unforgettable.
When Princess Leia Met Darth Vader
I love that Mr. Jones had such a wonderful sense of humor, willing to poke fun at his role as Darth Vader in The Big Bang Theory. Apparently, Jones and Carrie Fisher had never met during Star Wars as Jones was working in the sound booth most of the time.
Favorite Performances of James Earl Jones
While his indelible voice is what he’ll be most remembered for, his acting prowess is just as formidable. I still have a lot of classic films to catch up on, so I still need to see The Great White Hope (1970).
COMING TO AMERICA (1988)
Jones always had such a stately, aristocratic presence, so he’s perfectly cast as King Jaffe Joffer, the wise and witty king of Zamunda, a fictional African country. Jones displays his versatility in Coming to America. He effortlessly switches between serious and comedic moments, and his role adds so much depth to the film and its characters.
FIELD OF DREAMS (1989)
Jones played a reclusive author Terrence Mann who helps Kevin Costner’s character Ray Kinsella understand the magic of baseball. Mann is a fictional take on the real author J.D. Salinger, and Jones really brings him to life with a mix of humor, insight, and a bit of mystery. Mann is a famous writer who has stepped away from the spotlight, and Kinsella becomes fixated on tracking him down to figure out his link to the enchanting baseball field that has popped up in his cornfield in Iowa.
HUNT FOR THE RED OCTOBER (1990)
This is the first film in the Jack Ryan series with Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan. Jones’ role as Admiral Greer, a high-ranking naval officer and mentor to Jack Ryan, appear in three films, including Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. Jones really nailed the role, bringing his usual weight and authority to Admiral Greer, which made the character both respected and believable. His presence added a lot of depth and made the films feel more credible, plus his chemistry with the different actors playing Jack Ryan made their relationships feel genuine.
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER (1994)
Throughout the series, Admiral Greer goes from being a pretty minor character in the first movie to playing a much bigger role in the later films. He steps up as an important figure in the CIA’s mission to tackle different threats, and his bond with Jack Ryan grows stronger as they team up to stop major global disasters. I love this scene with Harrison Ford as Ryan, even that little chuckle towards the end adds so much to the scene and the characters’ relationship.
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DO NOT ALERT HIM TO MY PRESENCE! I SHALL DEAL WITH HIM MYSELF!
HEY! WHAT ABOUT MAJOR KONG?
A true legend in every sense of the word. A god. A king. Mufasa, Darth Vader, King Jaffe Joffer of Zamunda. Admiral Greer. What more could you ask from a legend like that? Even the little things he did is great. There is no equal to a man like that and even though I haven’t seen the rest of Coming 2 America. I did see his final scene and what a beautiful send-off he got. We will miss you King.
Amen to all you said!! He was truly an extraordinary artist… most actors get maybe 1-2 iconic roles but he’s got SO MANY! He shall be missed indeed.
I haven’t seen Coming 2 America (the sequel) but hard to top the original.
May he rest in peace.
While I know he voiced Darth Vader, I didn’t get into the Star Wars films until I was in college, I went and saw the new editions that were released in 1997 in theaters. And that’s when I got into Star Wars. The first film I saw him in was Arnold’s Conan the Barbarian. Even though the character of Jim Greer was caucasian in the books, I’m glad the filmmakers cast Jones in that role. I actually pictured Gene Hackman when I read the first Jack Ryan book but Jones nailed the role perfectly.
I’m trying to remember the last movie or show that I saw him in and I couldn’t remember anything. One other film that I thought he’s good in was Sneakers. A fun thriller from the early 90s.
I saw Conan The Barbarian after seeing Star Wars which was only bits and pieces as my brothers were watching when I was a kid, ahah.
Yeah I think Jones added such gravitas as Greer, glad they changed the race of the character. I can see Gene Hackman being good in that role too though.
I think Jones is always memorable even in smaller roles, that’s a sign of a phenomenal talent.
The Great White Hope (1970). Absolutely fascinating and controversial story set in the early 1900s. Also liked him paying Paul Robeson in the TV movie “Paul Robeson” (1979). LOVED him in Coming to America. Will miss him.
That’s cool that you’ve seen him in The Great White Hope, Becky! He had such screen presence even as a young man. I thought he was funny in Coming To America with his deadpan humor. But THAT voice is hard to forget.
I loved him in the Jack Ryan movies. Great coach, wonderful mentor/father figure, legendary voice. RIP
Hi Adrian! He’s definitely one of the best things about the Jack Ryan film series. I like the rapport he had with Harrison Ford in the role, definitely has that father-figure quality.
“Heroes get remembered. Legends never die.”
Thanks for adding this clip! Now I really need to see The Sandlot. I love the warmth Jones conveyed with that booming voice.
This is the final scene so I pretty much ruined it for you😅 (For a good cause though, right) Sandlot is a staple of my childhood.
He was such an icon. I really need to re-watch Coming To America. It’s been a while.
He was indeed! I was watching a bunch of clips of Coming To America while doing this post… it still made me laugh!
A great tribute to James Earl Jones. I am still reeling from his shocking death. An incredible actor that brought so much emotion to his roles. I admire all of his performances but his turn in the original “Star Wars” remains my favourite. With Darth Vader, he created one of the most iconic villains in cinematic history. Truly an incredible actor whose larger than life presence will forever be sorely missed in Cinema. It’s going to be hard to watch Star Wars now following his devastating death.
Here’s why I loved his performance in the original Star Wars:
Thank you for this lovely tribute, Ruth!
Hard to pick a fave.
Clear and Present Danger is pretty great.
I’m fond of The Man – 1974. Directed by Joseph Sargent. Writer: Rod Serling.
RIP JEJ!
Hey, did you mean this one? https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068912/ I haven’t seen it but now I’m intrigued! Didn’t even know Rod Serling wrote film screenplays as well, cool!
Yes!
I did 2 movies with the director Joseph Sargent.
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