JAMES EARL JONES 1931-2024 An Unforgettable Voice and Man

HE OVERCAME A STUTTER TO BECOME AN ACTING LEGENDAND GAVE DARTH VADER AND THE LION KING THEIR GRAVITAS

- ERIC ANDERSSON

For millions of film fans, hearing James Earl Jones's unmistakable baritone voice-commanding at times, calming at others, always rich and velvetywas as much a part of the moviegoing experience as buying a tub of popcorn.

During his six-decade career he made scores of movies, but he was best known for two vocal roles: Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise and Mufasa in Disney's animated sensation The Lion King. Jones, however, never thought his gift was anything special.

"You know, I don't hear the voice you hear. I'm not party to the Darth Vader tone," he told The New York Times in 2014. "All I'm doing is using the voice I have to try to be as clear as I can with the language I'm using." His regal voice went silent on Sept. 9, when Jones died at age 93 of causes undisclosed at press time. He is survived by Flynn Earl Jones, 41, the son he had with his wife of 34 years, actress Cecilia Hart, who died in 2016. As Hollywood mourned the loss of a legend, Kevin Costner, who starred with Jones in Field of Dreams, remembered "that booming voice. That quiet strength. The kindness that he radiated.... I'm grateful to have been a witness to him making that magic happen."