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James Earl Jones in the 1989 movie "Field of Dreams". Source: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechfieldofdreams.html (May be subject to copyright) |
“Luke, I am your father.”
“This is CNN.”
James Earl Jones, the voice behind these quotes and so much more is unmistakable.
As recognizable as his voice is, his face is just as well-known.
Whether it is a retired baseball player in “Field of Dreams”, an African noble in “Coming to America”, or any of his other roles, Jones has a long and storied career.
Sadly, that powerful voice went silent, when James Earl Jones died today.
He was 93.
The early years
James Earl Jones came to mass public attention, after an outstanding stage career, with “The Great White Hope” in 1970, after roles in “Dr. Strangelove”; “The Comedians”; and “End of the Road”. In “The Great White Hope”, Jones plays a championship boxer based on real-life boxer Jack Johnson. For his efforts, he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. He also won the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer male.
James Earl Jones came to mass public attention, after an outstanding stage career, with “The Great White Hope” in 1970, after roles in “Dr. Strangelove”; “The Comedians”; and “End of the Road”. In “The Great White Hope”, Jones plays a championship boxer based on real-life boxer Jack Johnson. For his efforts, he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. He also won the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer male.
He would go on to roles in “The Man”; “Claudine”, where he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical Film; and “The River Niger”.
On the diamond
The first time I ever actually saw James Earl Jones was in this amazing baseball movie called “The Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars and Motor Kings”. It came out in 1976, but I didn’t see it until later when it appeared on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial.
The first time I ever actually saw James Earl Jones was in this amazing baseball movie called “The Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars and Motor Kings”. It came out in 1976, but I didn’t see it until later when it appeared on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial.
It focuses on Bingo Long, played by Billy Dee Williams, a Negro League baseball player who puts together a travelling all-star team. Jones plays Leon Carter, a catcher, who starts out as Bingo Long’s rival, then becomes his teammate. I believe Leon Carter is patterned on real-life legendary catcher Josh Gibson.
I saw this movie twice, and it remains one of my favourite baseball movies.
Darth Vader
A year later, Jones provided the voice of the villainous Darth Vader in the 1977 blockbuster “Star Wars”. Interestingly, all the credits said Vader was played by David Prowse, with no mention of Jones providing the voice. It was well after “Return of the Jedi” when I discovered Jones was the voice behind the mask. That’s because his role was initially uncredited. That all made sense then.
A year later, Jones provided the voice of the villainous Darth Vader in the 1977 blockbuster “Star Wars”. Interestingly, all the credits said Vader was played by David Prowse, with no mention of Jones providing the voice. It was well after “Return of the Jedi” when I discovered Jones was the voice behind the mask. That’s because his role was initially uncredited. That all made sense then.
He also provided the voice of Vader in “The Empire Strikes Back” in 1980, and the aforementioned “Return of the Jedi” in 1983.
Conan the Barbarian
A couple friends of mine were really hyped in 1982 to see the movie “Conan the Barbarian”. It starred Arnold Schwarzenneger as a freed slave who seeks revenge on the man responsible for the death of his parents. That villain, Thulsa Doom, was played to perfection by James Earl Jones. He was absolutely awesome as the entrancing cult leader looming over everything – until Conan cuts his head off.
A couple friends of mine were really hyped in 1982 to see the movie “Conan the Barbarian”. It starred Arnold Schwarzenneger as a freed slave who seeks revenge on the man responsible for the death of his parents. That villain, Thulsa Doom, was played to perfection by James Earl Jones. He was absolutely awesome as the entrancing cult leader looming over everything – until Conan cuts his head off.
Gardens of Stone
Jones appeared in “City Limits” in 1985; and “Soul Man”; and “Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold” in 1986.
Jones appeared in “City Limits” in 1985; and “Soul Man”; and “Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold” in 1986.
In 1987, he appeared with James Caan, Anjelica Huston, and a young D.B. Sweeney in “Gardens of Stone”. I actually did not see this movie until the summer of 1996, when I had some time to watch a bunch of movies I had wanted to see for years.
“Gardens of Stone” refers to the Arlington National Cemetery and the military detail charged with carrying out military funerals there. Caan plays an officer who would rather be training soldiers to go to war in Vietnam, and Jones plays one of his commanding officers. Jones is fantastic as a military leader balancing that command and his friendship with Caan. He also has a wry sense of humour and can be a little provocative when not on duty or in uniform.
It is another solid performance.
Dear old dad
A year later James Earl Jones was back on the big screen as King Jaffe Joffer in 1988’s “Coming to America”. In it, Eddie Murphy plays a prince who, with his best friend and aide played by Arsenio Hall, comes to America seeking a wife. Jones plays Murphy’s father.
A year later James Earl Jones was back on the big screen as King Jaffe Joffer in 1988’s “Coming to America”. In it, Eddie Murphy plays a prince who, with his best friend and aide played by Arsenio Hall, comes to America seeking a wife. Jones plays Murphy’s father.
I saw this movie with my friend and neighbour Bill in the new Park Place Mall theatre complex in Lethbridge, and it was excellent.
Although Murphy and Hall carry the show, Jones turns in another solid performance.
Back on the diamond
Jones closed out the decade with “Three Fugitives”; “Best of the Best”; and another stellar movie, “Field of Dreams”. In it, Kevin Costner plays a farmer who builds a baseball diamond in his corn field that attracts the ghosts of baseball legends. Jones plays an author and activist from the ‘60s who helps the farmer unravel the mystery.
Jones closed out the decade with “Three Fugitives”; “Best of the Best”; and another stellar movie, “Field of Dreams”. In it, Kevin Costner plays a farmer who builds a baseball diamond in his corn field that attracts the ghosts of baseball legends. Jones plays an author and activist from the ‘60s who helps the farmer unravel the mystery.
“Field of Dreams” is another great baseball movie, but just as much about family.
TV times
James Earl Jones also ventured onto television. His first big role was as author Alex Haley in both “Roots” and “Roots: The Next Generation”. After seeing the real-life Alex Haley, it drove home what a great job Jones did in portraying the author.
James Earl Jones also ventured onto television. His first big role was as author Alex Haley in both “Roots” and “Roots: The Next Generation”. After seeing the real-life Alex Haley, it drove home what a great job Jones did in portraying the author.
His first recurring television role was as a police detective in “Paris”, for 13 episodes in the 1979-1980 season. He would appear in the miniseries “The Atlanta Child Murders” in 1985; and six episodes of “Me and Mom”, a detective comedy/drama starring Lisa Eilbacher and Holland Taylor in 1985. He also had guest starring roles in “Highway to Heaven” and “L.A. Law”, as an activist lawyer.
Jones also appeared in the television movies “Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones”, in 1980; and “The Vegas Strip War”, in 1984.
The years after
Jones continued to appear in movies such as “The Hunt for Red October”; “Patriot Games”; “Sneakers”; “The Sandlot”; “Naked Gun: 33+1/3: The Final Insult”; “The Lion King” with his voice; “Clear and Present Danger”; “Benchwarmers”; “Scary Movie 4”; and “Coming to America 2” in 2021, which was his final role.
Jones continued to appear in movies such as “The Hunt for Red October”; “Patriot Games”; “Sneakers”; “The Sandlot”; “Naked Gun: 33+1/3: The Final Insult”; “The Lion King” with his voice; “Clear and Present Danger”; “Benchwarmers”; “Scary Movie 4”; and “Coming to America 2” in 2021, which was his final role.
On television, he was in “Gabriel’s Fire” for 22 episodes, which was an amazing show I caught in the summer of 1991. He played a cop sentenced to life in prison for murder, then released after 20 years, when he really just wanted to stay in prison. He co-starred with Madge Sinclair, and won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Sinclair won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. The show was retooled for a second season where he now co-starred with Richard Crenna, and the show was re-named “Pros and Cons”. Jones was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama in 1990 for “Gabriel’s Fire” and in 1991 for “Pros and Cons”.
In 1990, he was in the miniseries “Heat Wave”, where he won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries; and was in the miniseries “By Dawn’s Early Light”, where he was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries.
Jones had roles in “Law and Order”; “Picket Fences”, where he was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series; “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”; “Under One Roof”, where he was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series; “Mad About You”; “Touched by an Angel”; “Frasier”, where he was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series; “Stargate SG-1”; “Homicide: Life on the Street”; “Will and Grace”; “Everwood”, where he was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series; “Two and a Half Men”; “House”; “The Big Bang Theory”; and more.
He was also in TV movies such as “Percy and Thunder”; “What the Deaf Man Heard”; “The Second Civil War”; “Santa and Pete”; “Summer’s End”; “The Reading Room”; and more.
He was inducted into Kennedy Center Honors in 2002, and given an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in 2011.
James Earl Jones died in Pawling, New York on September 9, 2024.
He was 93.
Parting thoughts
That voice was a commanding presence for James Earl Jones, but he was so much more. He was a talented actor who could do high drama and comedy, sometimes in the same scene.
That voice was a commanding presence for James Earl Jones, but he was so much more. He was a talented actor who could do high drama and comedy, sometimes in the same scene.
Whatever role he took on, he projected kindness, strength, respect and so much more.
He is one of a very few artists to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards, but is in not surprising because he was good in every role I saw him.
He really was one of the best – much more than that commanding voice.
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