James Earl Jones, born in Mississippi in 1931, is a celebrated American actor known for his signature baritone voice. Despite a severe stuttering problem as a child, he worked hard to overcome it and became an actor in the 1960s. He is best known for voicing Darth Vader in the Star Wars films and has narrated documentaries, created an audio version of the King James Bible, and provided the voice of Mufasa in The Lion King. He has won numerous awards and published an autobiography titled Voices and Silences.
James Earl Jones, sometimes credited as James Earl Boggins Jones, is one of the most celebrated American actors of the 20th century. James Earl Jones was born January 17, 1931 in Mississippi. His father, Robert Earl Jones, was an actor and former boxer. However, because his parents separated shortly before his birth, his grandparents raised him on the family farm in Michigan.
As a child, James Earl Jones suffered from a severe stuttering problem and was very shy. His teachers encouraged him to work on his speech by reciting poems he had written in front of his classmates. He has also started taking acting lessons, although he admits that even today he struggles to control his stuttering. Of course, because James Earl Jones is known around the world for his signature baritone voice, his story is often cited as proof that even the toughest challenges can be overcome with hard work and determination.
James Earl Jones has been working steadily as an actor since the early 1960s, an impressive feat considering that very few roles were available for African American men at the time. His big screen debut was in 1963 with Dr. Strangelove. In 1968, James Earl Jones won his first Tony Award for his performance as the first African-American heavyweight champion in The Great White Hope.
James Earl Jones is perhaps best known for voicing the character Darth Vader in the Star Wars films. His portrayal earned him a spot on Premiere’s “100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time” and a mention as one of Maxim’s “50 Greatest Movie Villains of All Time.” However, as an extremely humble man, James Earl Jones takes this praise in stride. In fact, he wouldn’t even allow his name to appear in the credits of Star Wars and Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back because he didn’t feel he had made a significant contribution to either film.
After Darth Vader made him a household name, James Earl Jones found his voice in much demand. He has narrated several documentaries, helped create an audio version of the King James Bible, provided the voice of Mufasa in the hit film The Lion King in 1994 and became the dominant voice informing viewers “This is CNN” .
In 1993, James Earl Jones published an autobiography titled Voices and Silences which gives an in-depth account of his childhood and his struggle to build a career as a professional actor. In 1996 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. In 2002, he received the John F. Kennedy Center Honor in recognition of his many life achievements.
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