James Earl Jones, 1931-2024

James Earl Jones, legendary actor of stage, film, and television, died today at the age of 93.

Jones, a native of Mississippi, began acting on stage in the 1950s, becoming one of the best-known Shakespearean actors of the time. He made his film debut as a bombardier in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Notably, in 1977, he appeared in the blockbuster miniseries Roots as author Alex Haley, and in Star Wars as the voice of Darth Vader.

In fact, I'm probably not alone as thinking of James Earl Jones as a voice actor more than a live actor. That sonorous, bass voice (and his affected mid-Atlantic accent) are unmistakable. Sure, I've seen a handful of films in which he appeared: Strangelove, and the three movies based on Tom Clancy novels where he portrayed Jack Ryan's boss Admiral Greer: The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, and Clear and Present Danger. Of his filmography on Wikipedia, I've seen none of the others. However, we've all heard him: as the voice of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy and some of the sequels, Mufasa in The Lion King, or the narrator of "The Raven" on The Simpsons. Or, of course, "This … is CNN."

It was clear enough in Rogue One that Darth Vader's voice was bowing his age, but I didn't know he was midway through his 80s. You had a good run, Mr. Jones. Take one last curtain call.