American actor James Earl Jones died Monday. He was 93 years old.
His agent, Barry McPherson, said Jones died at his home in the Hudson Valley area of New York. The cause of death was not reported.
Jones was probably most famous around the world for his performance as Darth Vader in the Star Wars movie series.
In interviews, Jones said he loved playing the part of Darth Vader, and of being part of the Star Wars story. "When I walk out tonight there will be kids with posters to sign,” he once said.
“I love it. I love that I was a part of that cult."
His deep and powerful voice took on a career of its own.
Jones voiced the part of Mufasa in The Lion King. He won a Grammy award in 1977 for the spoken word album, Great American Documents.
But the voice did not come naturally to Jones. As a child, he suffered from a severe speech problem.
James Earl Jones was born in the state of Mississippi in 1931. He had a severe stutter. As a result, he mostly stopped speaking.
He moved to Michigan when he was six. His grandparents became his legal guardians and raised him there.
In high school, Jones recovered his voice through his own poetry and the guidance of a teacher. Jones began to read his poems aloud to the class. His speaking improved.
He went on to study acting at the University of Michigan. He also played on the university’s basketball team.
Jones then served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955.
In 1965, James Earl Jones became one of the first Black actors in America to play a continuing part on a daytime television drama.
In his more than 70 years in show business, Jones played lead parts in many plays by William Shakespeare, including Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear and Othello.
He received Tony awards for several performances in Broadway plays, including The Great White Hope in 1969 and Fences in 1987.
He received Emmy awards for his work in television, as well.
And in 2011, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded Jones an Oscar to recognize his work in film.
His famous voice was also used in many television commercials.
For years, the news network CNN has used Jones' voice recording, "This is CNN," for its station identification.
James Earl Jones was married twice, both times to actors. He second wife, Cecilia Hart Flynn, died in 2016. Jones is survived by his son from his second marriage, Flynn Earl Jones, and his brother, Matthew.
Jones continued to work well past the usual retirement age. His most recent work included performing again as Darth Vader in the Star Wars television miniseries Obi Wan Kenobi.
I’m Caty Weaver.
Caty Weaver adapted this story for VOA Learning English from reports by the Associated Press and Reuters.
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Words in This Story
interview – n. a meeting at which information is obtained (as by a reporter) from a person
cult – n. enthusiastic but often temporary devotion to a person, idea, or thing
stutter – n. to speak with involuntary disruption or blocking of speech (as by repetition or prolongation of vocal sounds)
Forum