R.I.P. James Earl Jones: Hollywood Mourns ‘The Lion King’ Star After His Death At 93

James Earl Jones, the prolific voice actor best known for his roles in The Lion King and the Star Wars franchise, has passed away. He was 93.

His agent confirmed the news. A cause of death was not shared but the actor was reportedly surrounded by his family when he passed away Monday (Sept. 9), according to CNN.

Born in 1931 in Mississippi, Jones overcame his stutter as a young boy before he went on to study drama at the University of Michigan. He launched what would become a decades-long career on stage in New York, landing his Broadway debut in 1958 at the Cort Theatre, which was later named after him in 2022.

Jones starred in several classics across genres and medium, including Stanley Kubrick‘s 1964 feature Dr. Strangelove, Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America, and The Sandlot.

But he is most known for his work as a voice actor. He lent his profound voice to several iconic roles, including Mufasa in The Lion King and, perhaps most famously, Darth Vader.

Jones eventually retired from the Star Wars franchise after voicing Vader in the 2019 film The Rise of the Skywalker. Sound editor Matthew Wood said Jones gave them his approval to use AI to replicate his voice, a decision which divided Star Wars fans, as he was interested in stepping back from the role.

Jones is one of the few stars in Hollywood to have an EGOT. He won two competitive Tony Awards in 1969 and 1987, before later winning two Emmy Awards in 1991, making him the first actor to win two Emmys in the same year. He also won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Recording. The actor later received an honorary Academy Award in 2011 and a lifetime achievement Tony Award in 2017.

Figures from every corner of Hollywood shared tributes for Jones, remembering him to be “a most unique voice both in art and spirit,” as George Lucas worded it.

“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,” Lucas said in a statement. “James will be missed by so many of us.. friends and fans alike.”

LeVar Burton, who co-starred with Jones in the 1980 film Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, wrote on X, “There will never be another of his particular combination of graces.”

Stage actor Wendell Pierce said Jones’ work is “the sole reason I became an actor.”

“This man was the living embodiment of artistry, integrity, creativity, and dignity,” he said. “By example, he led me on the exploration of my own personal humanity and the study of human behavior in others and the intangible, ever-present soul. He was a once in a generation talent that has left an enormous legacy in American culture.”

Kevin Costner, who starred with Jones in Field of Dreams, remembered his co-star’s “quiet strength” in a touching tribute on social media.

“So much can be said about his legacy, so I’ll just say how thankful I am that part of it includes ‘Field of Dreams.’ If you’ve seen it, you know that this movie wouldn’t be the same with anyone else in his role,” Costner wrote. “Only he could bring that kind of magic to a movie about baseball and a corn field in Iowa. I’m grateful to have been a witness to him making that magic happen.”