James Earl Jones
1931 – 2024
The actor who gave Darth Vader his iconic voice has passed away.
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| James Earl Jones. Photo: Getty Images |
Statement (Part):
Everyone at Lucasfilm was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of James Earl Jones at the age of 93. For over four decades, the stage and screen actor lent his voice to the role of Darth Vader in the Star Wars saga.
“James Earl Jones is one of the most versatile and talented actors of our time, with an iconic body of work across film, stage and television,” says Kathleen Kennedy. “The menacing baritone he brought to Darth Vader will forever be beloved by fans and regarded as one of the great villainous performances in cinema. His commanding presence on screen, and warm personality off screen, will be greatly missed.”
“James was an incredible actor, a most unique voice both in art and spirit,” says George Lucas. “For nearly half a century he was Darth Vader, but the secret to it all is he was a beautiful human being. He gave depth, sincerity and meaning to all his roles, amongst the most important being a devoted husband to the late Ceci and dad to Flynn. James will be missed by so many of us…friends and fans alike.”
James Earl Jones first crossed paths with Lucasfilm in early 1977 when he was cast to perform the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars: A New Hope. He’d already been an accomplished actor on stage and screen for decades, with appearances in such classics as Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), a film that influenced writer/director George Lucas.
For all us at Lucasfilm, and for countless members of the audience, James Earl Jones was far more than “just an observer.” He was the voice of the character at the center of our most beloved story, and he will remain in our hearts – and imaginations – forever. starwars.com
