Born January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Miss., James Earl Jones was raised by his grandparents in Michigan. Although he attended college to study medicine, he never gave up his dream of being an actor.After a stint in the Army, he enrolled at New York's American Theatre Wing. He won a Tony for his work in "The Great White Hope," a role he later reprised in the 1970 film, for which he received a Best Actor Oscar nomination. His screen debut came as Lt. Zogg in Dr. Strangelove (1964). With his authoritative booming voice, Jones received in 1977 what may be his most memorable role, as the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars.
In the 1990s, Jones appeared as Admiral James Greer in films based on Tom Clancy novels -- The Hunt for Red October (1990), Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994). His voice work continued in 1994 when he played Mufasa in the animated classic The Lion King.
AddStar Wars: Episode V: Empire Strikes BackGeorge Lucas's epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones) is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia... Read More
AddThe Sandlot 2Ten years after a quirky group of boys first gathered in the titular sandlot to play America's favorite pastime, a new generation of baseball enthusiasts has formed -- and this time, they've even agreed to let three girls join the team! Things go well for the young players until a run-in with... Read More
AddThe Reading RoomJames Earl Jones stars as affluent suburbanite widower William Campbell, who honors his wife's dying wish by opening up a reading room in a tough inner-city neighborhood and donating his extensive library to the effort. As he tries to teach illiterate community members to read, he finds himself... Read More
AddCry, the Beloved CountrySouth African author Alan Paton's celebrated novel gets fine treatment in this adaptation starring James Earl Jones as a rural minister who makes his first trip to Johannesburg in search of his son (whose destiny has been linked to that of a doomed, young white man). Richard Harris has never been... Read More
AddThe Vernon Johns StoryJames Earl Jones delivers a tour-de-force performance as courageous civil rights leader Vernon Johns. Spurred to action when two parishioners are brutally attacked in racially motivated incidents, Johns -- a church deacon -- uses his power and charisma to begin the battle for equality that will... Read More
