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James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is a multi-award-winning American actor of theater and film, well known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership. He is known for providing the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise and the tagline for CNN. James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, the son of Ruth (née Connolly) and Robert Earl Jones. At the age of five, he moved to Jackson, Michigan, to be raised by his maternal grandparents, but the adoption was traumatic and he developed a stutter so severe he refused to speak aloud. When he moved to Brethren, Michigan in later years a teacher at the Brethren schools started to help him with his stutter. He remained functionally mute for eight years until he reached high school. He credits his high school teacher, Donald Crouch, who discovered he had a gift for writing poetry, with helping him out of his silence. Jones attended the University of Michigan where he was a pre-med major. While there, he joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps, and excelled. During the course of his studies, Jones discovered he was not cut out to be a doctor. Instead he focused himself on drama, with the thought of doing something he enjoyed, before, he assumed, he would have to go off to fight in the Korean War. After four years of college, Jones left without his degree. In 1953 he found a part-time stage crew job at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan, which marked the beginning of his acting career. During the 1955–1957 seasons he was an actor and stage manager. He performed his first portrayal of Shakespeare’s Othello in this theater in 1955. After his discharge from the Military, Jones moved to New York, where he attended the American Theatre Wing to further his training and worked as a janitor to earn a living. His first film role was as a young and trim Lt. Lothar Zogg, the B-52 bombardier in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb in 1964. His first big role came with his portrayal of boxer Jack Jefferson in the film version of the Broadway play The Great White Hope, which was based on the life of boxer Jack Johnson. For his role, Jones was nominated Best Actor by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, making him the second African-American male performer (following Sidney Poitier) to receive a nomination. In 1969, Jones participated in making test films for a proposed children's television series; these shorts, combined with animated segments were the beginnings of the Sesame Street format. The next year, in the early 1970s, James appeared with Diahann Carroll in the film called Claudine. While he has appeared in many roles, he is well known as the voice of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. Darth Vader was portrayed in costume by David Prowse in the original trilogy, with Jones dubbing Vader's dialogue in postproduction due to Prowse's strong West Country accent being unsuitable for the role. At his own request, he was originally uncredited for the release of the first two films (he would later be credited for the two in the 1997 re-release).  His other voice roles include Mufasa in the 1994 film Disney animated blockbuster The Lion King, and its direct-to-video sequel, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. He also has done the CNN tagline, "This is CNN", as well as "This is CNN International", and the Bell Atlantic tagline, "Bell Atlantic: The heart of communication". When Bell Atlantic became Verizon, Jones used the tagline greeting of "Welcome to Verizon" or "Verizon 411" right before a phone call would go through. The opening for NBC's coverage of the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics; "the Big PI in the Sky" (God) in the computer game Under a Killing Moon; a Claymation film about The Creation; and several guest spots on The Simpsons. In addition to his film and voice over work, Jones is an accomplished stage actor as well; he has won Tony awards in 1969 for The Great White Hope and in 1987 for Fences. Othello, King Lear, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Abhorson in Measure for Measure, and Claudius in Hamlet are Shakespearean roles he has played. He received Kennedy Center Honors in 2002. Jones has been married to actress Cecilia Hart since 1982. They have one child, Flynn Earl Jones. He was previously married to American actress/singer Julienne Marie (born March 21, 1933, Toledo, Ohio); they had no children. Jones is a registered Republican.


Read bio at tmdb | Read bio at Wikipedia
Born:
Jan 17, 1931 In Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
126
First Appeared:
In the movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 1964-01-29
Latest Project:
Movie Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker 2019-12-18
Known For
Filmography
Movie The Lion King Mufasa (voice) 2019-07-12
Movie Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Darth Vader (voice) 2019-12-18
Movie Warning Shot Pendleton 2018-09-14
Movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Darth Vader (voice) 2016-12-14
Movie Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal Darth Vader (voice) 2015-04-18
Movie August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand 2015-02-20
Movie The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar Mufasa (voice) 2015-11-22
Movie The Angriest Man in Brooklyn Ruben 2014-05-23
Movie Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion Darth Vader (voice) 2014-10-03
Movie Milius Self 2013-03-09
Movie Blackfish Self (archive footage) 2013-06-07
Movie Gimme Shelter Frank McCarthy 2013-10-17
Movie Muse of Fire Self 2013-09-26
Movie Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey Admiral (voice) 2010-09-17
Movie Jack and the Beanstalk The Giant (voice) 2009-11-06
Movie Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Papa Jenkins 2008-02-08
Movie The Benchwarmers Darth Vader (voice) 2006-04-07
Movie Scary Movie 4 Narrator (uncredited) 2006-04-12
Movie Click Narrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited) 2006-06-23
Movie By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' Narrator 2005-02-08
Movie Robots Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice) 2005-03-10
Movie The Reading Room William 2005-11-04
Movie The Sandlot 2 Mr. Mertle 2005-11-10
Movie The Story of Star Wars Darth Vader (archive footage) 2004-08-18
Movie Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy Self 2004-09-12
Movie No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear Threat Self 2004-10-28
Movie Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October' Self 2003-05-06
Movie Disney's American Legends Narrator 2001-02-12
Movie Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street Mister (voice) 2001-11-06
Movie Finder's Fee Avery Phillips 2001-06-19
Movie Feast of All Saints Older Marcel 2001-11-11
Movie Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World Self 2001-11-19
Movie The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze Additional Voices 2001-12-04
Movie Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg' 2000-05-05
Movie Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan' Self 2000-05-30
Movie Undercover Angel The Judge 1999-05-16
Movie Our Friend, Martin Daddy King (voice) 1999-01-12
Movie The Annihilation of Fish Fish 1999-09-12
Movie Fantasia 2000 Self - Host 1999-12-31
Series Merlin Rock of Ages 1998-04-26
Movie Primary Colors CNN Voiceover (voice) 1998-03-20
Movie The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Mufasa (voice) 1998-10-24
Movie Afro Promo Self (archive footage) 1997-01-31
Movie Gang Related Arthur Baylor 1997-10-08
Movie What the Deaf Man Heard Archibald Thacker 1997-11-23
Movie Alone Grey 1997-12-21
Movie Looking for Richard Self / Interview 1996-10-11
Movie Timepiece Lawrence 1996-12-22
Movie Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault Dr. McDuffie 1996-11-23
Movie Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable Mufasa (voice) 1995-01-21
Movie The Making of 'Jurassic Park' Host 1995-04-23
Movie Jefferson in Paris Madison Hemings 1995-03-31
Movie Judge Dredd Narrator (uncredited) 1995-06-30
Movie The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies Self 1995-06-05
Movie Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult James Earl Jones (uncredited) 1994-03-18
Movie The Vernon Johns Story Vernon Johns 1994-01-15
Movie Clean Slate John Dolby 1994-05-06
Movie Clear and Present Danger Admiral James Greer 1994-08-03
Movie Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics Host 1994-05-19
Movie The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure Additional Voices 1994-12-12
Movie The Lion King Mufasa (voice) 1994-06-24
Movie The Sandlot Mr. Mertle 1993-04-07
Movie Sommersby Judge Barry Conrad Issacs 1993-02-05
Movie The Meteor Man Earnest Moses 1993-08-06
Movie Excessive Force Jake 1993-05-14
Movie Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films Self [Superbowl Heal The World] (voice) 1993-09-28
Movie Patriot Games Adm. James Greer 1992-06-04
Movie Sneakers Mr. Bernard Abbott 1992-09-09
Movie Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama Narrator (English) 1992-12-05
Movie Lincoln Narrator (voice) 1992-12-26
Movie Convicts Ben Johnson 1991-01-01
Movie Scorchers Bear 1991-07-07
Series Pros and Cons 1991-09-26
Movie True Identity Himself 1991-08-23
Movie By Dawn's Early Light Alice 1990-05-19
Movie The Ambulance Lt. Spencer 1990-03-22
Movie The Hunt for Red October Admiral James Greer 1990-03-02
Movie Teach 109 Dr. Winston 1990-01-01
Movie Last Flight Out Al Topping 1990-05-22
Movie Heat Wave Junius Johnson 1990-08-13
Series Gabriel's Fire Gabriel Bird 1990-09-12
Movie Grim Prairie Tales Morrison 1990-09-14
Movie Ivory Hunters Inspector Nkuru 1990-08-20
Movie Three Fugitives Dugan 1989-01-27
Movie Best of the Best Frank Couzo 1989-11-10
Movie Coming to America King Jaffe Joffer 1988-06-29
Movie Terrorgram Retribution (voice) 1988-08-08
Movie Matewan 'Few Clothes' Johnson 1987-08-28
Movie Gardens of Stone Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson 1987-05-05
Movie City Limits Albert 1986-02-07
Movie The Lone Star Kid Holmes 1986-02-10
Movie My Little Girl Ike Bailey 1986-08-31
Movie Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp Genie / Narrator 1986-07-14
Series The Atlanta Child Murders Major Walker 1985-02-10
Movie Night of 100 Stars II Self 1985-03-10
Movie The Vegas Strip War Jack Madrid 1984-11-25
Movie The Flight of Dragons Ommadon (voice) 1984-12-19
Movie Night of 100 Stars Self 1982-03-08
Movie Blood Tide Frye 1982-09-24
Movie Conan the Barbarian Thulsa Doom 1982-04-02
Movie The Bushido Blade The Prisoner 1981-06-19
Series Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones Father Divine 1980-04-15
Movie The Empire Strikes Back Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) 1980-05-20
Movie The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story Dane Oliver 1980-05-25
Movie The Star Wars Holiday Special Darth Vader (voice) 1978-11-17
Movie Star Wars Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) 1977-05-25
Movie The Greatest Malcolm X 1977-05-17
Series Jesus of Nazareth Balthazar 1977-03-27
Movie The Last Remake of Beau Geste Sheikh 1977-06-15
Movie Exorcist II: The Heretic Older Kokumo 1977-06-17
Movie A Piece of the Action Joshua Burke 1977-10-07
Movie The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened Morris Bird, Jr. 1977-10-26
Movie The Making of Star Wars Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) 1977-09-16
Movie The River Niger Johnny Williams 1976-04-14
Movie The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings Leon 1976-07-16
Movie Swashbuckler Nick Debrett 1976-07-29
Series Vegetable Soup 1975-09-22
Movie The UFO Incident Barney Hill 1975-10-20
Movie Deadly Hero Rabbit Shazam 1975-12-14
Movie Claudine Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall 1974-04-22
Movie The Man Douglass Dilman 1972-07-19
Movie End of the Road Doctor D 1970-02-10
Movie The Great White Hope Jack Jefferson 1970-10-11
Movie King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis Self (archive footage) 1970-03-24
Movie The Comedians Dr. Magiot 1967-10-31
Movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb Lt. Lothar Zogg 1964-01-29
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