James Earl Jones has died aged 93.
The legendary actor, who voiced Darth Vader in the Star Wars films and Mufasa in The Lion King, passed away at his home in Dutchess County, New York on Monday morning (September 9). He was surrounded by his family, according to CBS News.
The Hollywood veteran won three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award during his incredible career on the screen. He also appeared in films such as Field of Dreams, Conan the Barbarian and Coming to America.
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The US actor’s co-stars and fans rushed to social media to pay tribute to the legendary actor and praise his huge impact on the film industry. His fellow Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, who played Darth Vader’s son Luke Skywalker in the series, wrote “RIP Dad” with a broken heart emoji.
(Image: ©1980 Lucas Films)
One fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Rest in peace, James Earl Jones. One of the most powerful, evocative, emotional voices in cinema history.”
A Star Wars fan commented: “The impact James Earl Jones had on Star Wars cannot be overstated. His voice performance as Darth Vader is one of the main reasons Vader is regarded by many as the greatest movie villain of all time.”
(Image: PA)
Another penned: “Thank you dear James Earl Jones for everything. A master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us your best.”
The revered actor was previously open about his long-term battle with type two diabetes. His wife Cecilia Hart, with whom he had son Flynn, sadly died from ovarian cancer in 2016.
(Image: Disney)
James Earl Jones starred in the original Star Wars trilogy, which included A New Hope (1977), where his booming Vader voice became known around the world. He reprised the role in Revenge of the Sith (2005), prequel Rogue One (2016) and the Rise of Skywalker (2019).
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
