
James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is a multi-award-winning American actor of theater and film, well known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership. He is known for providing the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise and the tagline for CNN. James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, the son of Ruth (née Connolly) and Robert Earl Jones. At the age of five, he moved to Jackson, Michigan, to be raised by his maternal grandparents, but the adoption was traumatic and he developed a stutter so severe he refused to speak aloud. When he moved to Brethren, Michigan in later years a teacher at the Brethren schools started to help him with his stutter. He remained functionally mute for eight years until he reached high school. He credits his high school teacher, Donald Crouch, who discovered he had a gift for writing poetry, with helping him out of his silence. Jones attended the University of Michigan where he was a pre-med major. While there, he joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps, and excelled. During the course of his studies, Jones discovered he was not cut out to be a doctor. Instead he focused himself on drama, with the thought of doing something he enjoyed, before, he assumed, he would have to go off to fight in the Korean War. After four years of college, Jones left without his degree. In 1953 he found a part-time stage crew job at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan, which marked the beginning of his acting career. During the 1955–1957 seasons he was an actor and stage manager. He performed his first portrayal of Shakespeare’s Othello in this theater in 1955. After his discharge from the Military, Jones moved to New York, where he attended the American Theatre Wing to further his training and worked as a janitor to earn a living. His first film role was as a young and trim Lt. Lothar Zogg, the B-52 bombardier in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb in 1964. His first big role came with his portrayal of boxer Jack Jefferson in the film version of the Broadway play The Great White Hope, which was based on the life of boxer Jack Johnson. For his role, Jones was nominated Best Actor by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, making him the second African-American male performer (following Sidney Poitier) to receive a nomination. In 1969, Jones participated in making test films for a proposed children's television series; these shorts, combined with animated segments were the beginnings of the Sesame Street format. The next year, in the early 1970s, James appeared with Diahann Carroll in the film called Claudine. While he has appeared in many roles, he is well known as the voice of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. Darth Vader was portrayed in costume by David Prowse in the original trilogy, with Jones dubbing Vader's dialogue in postproduction due to Prowse's strong West Country accent being unsuitable for the role. At his own request, he was originally uncredited for the release of the first two films (he would later be credited for the two in the 1997 re-release). His other voice roles include Mufasa in the 1994 film Disney animated blockbuster The Lion King, and its direct-to-video sequel, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. He also has done the CNN tagline, "This is CNN", as well as "This is CNN International", and the Bell Atlantic tagline, "Bell Atlantic: The heart of communication". When Bell Atlantic became Verizon, Jones used the tagline greeting of "Welcome to Verizon" or "Verizon 411" right before a phone call would go through. The opening for NBC's coverage of the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics; "the Big PI in the Sky" (God) in the computer game Under a Killing Moon; a Claymation film about The Creation; and several guest spots on The Simpsons. In addition to his film and voice over work, Jones is an accomplished stage actor as well; he has won Tony awards in 1969 for The Great White Hope and in 1987 for Fences. Othello, King Lear, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Abhorson in Measure for Measure, and Claudius in Hamlet are Shakespearean roles he has played. He received Kennedy Center Honors in 2002. Jones has been married to actress Cecilia Hart since 1982. They have one child, Flynn Earl Jones. He was previously married to American actress/singer Julienne Marie (born March 21, 1933, Toledo, Ohio); they had no children. Jones is a registered Republican.
Movie | Warning Shot | Pendleton | 2018-09-14 |
Movie | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Darth Vader (voice) | 2016-12-14 |
Movie | Η ΦΡΟΥΡΑ ΤΩΝ ΛΙΟΝΤΑΡΙΩΝ Η ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΕΠΙΣΤΡΟΦΗ | Mufasa (voice) | 2015-11-22 |
Movie | Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal | Darth Vader (voice) | 2015-04-18 |
Movie | August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand | 2015-02-20 | |
Series | Ο Πόλεμος των Άστρων: Οι Επαναστάτες | Darth Vader | 2014-10-13 |
Movie | Driving Miss Daisy | Hoke Colburn | 2014-06-04 |
Movie | Ο Γκρινιάρης της Νέας Υόρκης | Ruben | 2014-05-23 |
Movie | Milius | Himself | 2013-03-09 |
Movie | Muse of Fire | Himself | 2013-09-26 |
Movie | Blackfish | Himself (archive footage) | 2013-06-07 |
Movie | Gimme Shelter | Frank McCarthy | 2013-10-17 |
Movie | Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey | Admiral (voice) | 2012-12-02 |
Movie | Jack and the Beanstalk | The Giant (voice) | 2009-11-06 |
Movie | Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins | Papa Jenkins | 2008-02-08 |
Series | The Big Bang Theory | Himself | 2007-09-24 |
Movie | Πλανήτης Γη | Narrator | 2007-04-22 |
Movie | The Benchwarmers | Darth Vader (voice) | 2006-04-07 |
Series | The One Show | Unknown | 2006-08-14 |
Movie | Vader Sessions | Darth Vader | 2006-08-25 |
Movie | Click: Η Ζωή Σε Fast Forward | Narrator of Michael's Past (uncredited) | 2006-07-27 |
Series | Deal or No Deal | Unknown | 2005-12-19 |
Movie | The Reading Room | 2005-11-04 | |
Movie | Star Wars: Επεισόδιο III - Η Εκδίκηση Των Σιθ | Darth Vader (voice) | 2005-05-17 |
Movie | The Sandlot 2 | Mr. Mertle | 2005-05-03 |
Movie | Robots | Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice) | 2005-03-10 |
Movie | The Story of Star Wars | Darth Vader | 2004-08-18 |
Movie | Black Indians: An American Story | Narrator | 2004-01-01 |
Movie | Nine Dog Christmas | Narrator | 2004-10-05 |
Movie | Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy | Himself | 2004-09-12 |
Series | Ιατρικές Υποθέσεις | Dibala | 2004-11-16 |
Series | Δύο και Κάτι Άντρες | Unknown | 2003-09-22 |
Movie | The Great Year | Narrator | 2003-08-01 |
Movie | Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October' | Himself | 2003-05-06 |
Series | Everwood | Unknown | 2002-09-16 |
Movie | Finder's Fee | Avery Phillips | 2001-01-01 |
Movie | Disney's American Legends | Narrator | 2001-02-12 |
Series | According to Jim | Unknown | 2001-10-03 |
Movie | Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World | 2001-11-19 | |
Movie | Feast of All Saints | Older Marcel | 2001-11-11 |
Movie | Summer's End | Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely | 2000-04-18 |
Movie | Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan' | Himself | 2000-01-01 |
Movie | Φαντασία 2000 | Himself - Host | 1999-12-17 |
Movie | Santa and Pete | James Earl Jones | 1999-12-05 |
Movie | Undercover Angel | The Judge | 1999-05-16 |
Movie | Our Friend, Martin | Daddy King (voice) | 1999-01-12 |
Movie | The Annihilation of Fish | Fish | 1999-01-01 |
Series | Ο Μάγος Μέρλιν | Rock of Ages | 1998-04-26 |
Movie | Ο Βασιλιάς Των Λιονταριών 2: Το Βασίλειο Του Σίμπα | Mufasa (voice) | 1998-10-24 |
Series | Will & Grace | Unknown | 1998-09-21 |
Movie | Alone | Grey | 1997-12-21 |
Movie | What the Deaf Man Heard | Archibald Thacker | 1997-11-23 |
Movie | Symmoria yperano ypopsias | Arthur Baylor | 1997-10-08 |
Series | Stargate SG-1 | Unknown | 1997-07-27 |
Movie | The Second Civil War | Jim Kalla | 1997-03-15 |
Movie | Afro Promo | Himself (archive footage) | 1997-01-31 |
Movie | Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault | Dr. McDuffie | 1996-01-01 |
Movie | Looking for Richard | Himself/Interview | 1996-10-11 |
Movie | A Family Thing | Ray Murdock | 1996-03-29 |
Movie | Timepiece | Lawrence | 1996-12-22 |
Movie | Cry, the Beloved Country | Rev. Stephen Kumalo | 1995-12-15 |
Movie | Ο Δικαστής Ντρεντ | Narrator (uncredited) | 1995-06-30 |
Movie | The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies | 1995-06-05 | |
Movie | The Making of 'Jurassic Park' | Host | 1995-05-09 |
Movie | Jefferson in Paris | Madison Hemings | 1995-03-31 |
Series | Under One Roof | Neb Langston | 1995-03-14 |
Movie | Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable | Mufasa (voice) | 1995-01-21 |
Movie | Africa: The Serengeti | Narrator | 1994-03-31 |
Movie | The Vernon Johns Story | Vernon Johns | 1994-01-15 |
Movie | Τρελές Σφαίρες 33 1/3 | James Earl Jones | 1994-03-18 |
Movie | Άμεσος Κίνδυνος | Admiral James Greer | 1994-08-03 |
Movie | Clean Slate | John Dolby | 1994-05-06 |
Movie | Ο Βασιλιάς των Λιονταριών | King Mufasa (voice) | 1994-05-07 |
Movie | Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics | Host | 1994-05-11 |
Series | Homicide: Life on the Street | Unknown | 1993-01-31 |
Movie | Sommersby | Judge Barry Conrad Issacs | 1993-02-05 |
Movie | The Sandlot | Mr. Mertle | 1993-04-07 |
Movie | Excessive Force | Jake | 1993-05-14 |
Movie | The Meteor Man | Earnest Moses | 1993-08-06 |
Movie | Michael Jackson - Dangerous - The Short Films | Himself (Superbowl Heal The World) Voice | 1993-09-28 |
Series | Lois & Clark: Οι Καινούριες Περιπέτειες του Superman | Unknown | 1993-09-12 |
Series | Frasier | Unknown | 1993-09-16 |
Movie | Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama | Narrator (English) | 1992-12-05 |
Movie | Οι Αθόρυβοι | NSA Agent Bernard Abbott | 1992-09-09 |
Movie | Παιχνίδια ολέθρου | Adm. James Greer | 1992-06-04 |
Movie | Lincoln | 1992-12-26 | |
Movie | True Identity | Himself | 1991-07-23 |
Movie | Scorchers | Bear | 1991-07-07 |
Movie | Convicts | Ben Johnson | 1991-01-01 |
Movie | By Dawn's Early Light | Looking Glass General - 'Alice' | 1990-05-19 |
Movie | Το Κυνήγι Του Κόκκινου Οκτώβρη | Admiral James Greer | 1990-03-02 |
Movie | The Ambulance | Lt. Spencer | 1990-03-22 |
Series | Νόμος και τάξη | Attorney Horace McCoy | 1990-09-13 |
Movie | Last Flight Out | Al Topping | 1990-05-22 |
Movie | Heat Wave | Junius Johnson | 1990-08-13 |
Movie | Ivory Hunters | Inspector Nkuru | 1990-08-20 |
Movie | Grim Prairie Tales | Morrison | 1990-09-14 |
Movie | Stories to Remember: Noah's Ark | Narrator | 1989-01-01 |
Movie | Three Fugitives | Dugan | 1989-01-27 |
Movie | Ο Ξυπόλητος Τζο | Terrence Mann | 1989-04-21 |
Series | Long Ago and Far Away | Host | 1989-02-11 |
Movie | Best of the Best | Frank Couzo | 1989-11-10 |
Series | Οι Σίμσονς | Unknown | 1989-12-17 |
Movie | Terrorgram | Retribution (voice) | 1988-08-08 |
Movie | Ο Πρίγκιπας της Ζαμούντα | King Jaffe Joffer | 1988-06-29 |
Movie | Matewan | 'Few Clothes' Johnson | 1987-08-28 |
Movie | Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night | Emperor of the Night (voice) | 1987-08-06 |
Movie | Gardens of Stone | Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson | 1987-05-05 |
Movie | Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold | Umslopogaas | 1986-12-17 |
Series | L.A. Law | Unknown | 1986-09-15 |
Movie | My Little Girl | Ike Bailey | 1986-08-31 |
Movie | Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp | Genie / Narrator | 1986-07-14 |
Movie | The Lone Star Kid | Holmes | 1986-02-10 |
Movie | Soul Man | Professor Banks | 1986-10-24 |
Movie | The Vegas Strip War | Jack Madrid | 1984-11-25 |
Movie | City Limits | Albert | 1984-01-01 |
Movie | Star Wars: Επεισόδιο VI - Η Επιστροφή Των Τζεντάι | Voice of Darth Vader (voice) | 1983-05-23 |
Movie | Κόναν ο Βάρβαρος | Thulsa Doom | 1982-04-02 |
Movie | Blood Tide | Frye | 1982-09-01 |
Movie | The Flight of Dragons | Omadon | 1982-08-17 |
Movie | The Bushido Blade | The Prisoner | 1981-11-20 |
Movie | The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story | Dane Oliver | 1980-05-25 |
Movie | Star Wars: Επεισόδιο V - Η Αυτοκρατορία Αντεπιτίθεται | Darth Vader (Voice) | 1980-05-20 |
Series | Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones | Father Divine | 1980-04-15 |
Series | Paris | 1979-09-29 | |
Series | Roots: The Next Generations | Alex Haley | 1979-02-18 |
Movie | The Star Wars Holiday Special | Darth Vader (voice) | 1978-12-01 |
Series | The Kennedy Center Honors | Unknown | 1978-12-28 |
Movie | The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened | Morris Bird, Jr. | 1977-10-26 |
Movie | A Piece of the Action | Joshua Burke | 1977-10-07 |
Movie | The Making of 'Star Wars' | Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) | 1977-09-16 |
Movie | Ο Αιρετικός: Εξορκιστής ΙΙ | Older Kokumo | 1977-06-17 |
Movie | The Last Remake of Beau Geste | Sheikh | 1977-06-15 |
Movie | Star Wars: Επεισόδιο IV - Μια Νέα Ελπίδα | Darth Vader (voice) | 1977-05-25 |
Movie | The Greatest | Malcolm X | 1977-05-17 |
Series | Ο Ιησούς Από Τη Ναζαρέτ | Balthazar | 1977-01-06 |
Movie | Swashbuckler | Nick Debrett | 1976-01-01 |
Movie | The River Niger | Johnny Williams | 1976-04-14 |
Movie | The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings | Leon Carter | 1976-07-16 |
Movie | Deadly Hero | Rabbit Shazam | 1975-12-14 |
Movie | The UFO Incident | Barney Hill | 1975-10-20 |
Series | Vegetable Soup | 1975-09-22 | |
Movie | The Cay | Timothy | 1974-10-24 |
Movie | Claudine | Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall | 1974-04-22 |
Movie | The Man | Douglass Dilman | 1972-07-19 |
Movie | Malcolm X | Biographical Narration (voice) | 1972-05-24 |
Movie | End of the Road | Doctor D | 1970-02-10 |
Movie | King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis | 1970-03-24 | |
Movie | The Great White Hope | Jack Jefferson | 1970-10-11 |
Series | Sesame Street | Unknown | 1969-11-10 |
Movie | The Comedians | Dr. Magiot | 1967-10-31 |
Series | Tarzan | Unknown | 1966-09-08 |
Movie | S.O.S Πεντάγωνο Καλεί Μόσχα | Lt. Lothar Zogg | 1964-01-29 |
Series | Dr. Kildare | Unknown | 1961-09-27 |
Series | The Defenders | Unknown | 1961-09-16 |
Series | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Unknown | 1951-12-24 |
Series | The Ed Sullivan Show | Unknown | 1948-06-20 |