James Earl Jones, Iconic Voice of Darth Vader, Dies at 93

Voice actor James Earl Jones, who died at 93, was paid just $7,000 for his Darth Vader role

As of James Earl Jones's death on Sept. 9, the voice actor known for his rich baritone and roles in The Lion King, Field of Dreams, and Star Wars had amassed a net worth of $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Though his acting prowess was widely recognized with two Emmys, a Golden Globe, Grammy, and two Tony Awards, the actor's success did not come overnight. Jones was paid just $7,000 to voice the iconic villain Sith Lord Darth Vader, who struggled with inner turmoil while also wielding a red lightsaber and Force choke abilities in the first Star Wars film in 1977. Film director and creator George Lucas was searching for a deep, authoritative voice for the role, which was physically played by David Prowse, an actor who embodied Vader's intimidating stature, but not his deep tone. While Lucas considered American actor Orson Welles for the role, he feared his voice would be too recognizable, and contacted Jones's agent instead. "George wanted, pardon the expression, a dark voice," Jones said in a 2009 American Film Institute interview. "So he hires a guy born in Mississippi, raised in Michigan, who stutters. And that's the voice. That's me." Taking the role of Vader was a one-day affair for the first Star Wars film. Jones was not credited in the franchise's first two movies, his name first appearing in 1983's Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. The actor still counted himself lucky. "I lucked out from all these so-called handicaps for a job that paid $7,000!" Jones said. "And I thought that was good money. And I got to be a voice on a movie." By comparison, Mark Hamill, who played Vader's son Luke Skywalker, reportedly earned $650,000 for the first Star Wars film. Harrison Ford reportedly made $10,000 for his role as Han Solo, though his salary ballooned to $500,000 by the third film. Jones was born in Arkabutla, Miss. in 1931, and shortly after, his father left his mother, a teacher and maid, to pursue a career as a boxer. At age 6, Jones moved to Manistee, Mich., where he was adopted by his grandparents. The move was devastating to Jones, who developed a stutter shortly after. He remained mostly mute during his schooling, communicating with teachers via handwritten notes, until a high school teacher insisted Jones read his poems out loud -- igniting Jones's love of oration and performance. The poet launched his acting career on stage and made his Broadway debut in 1958 with Sunrise At Campobello before adding television and movies to his resume. In 1965, Jones would become one of the first African American actors in a recurring daytime drama television role in As the World Turns. Though he was critically acclaimed for his work in August Wilson's play Fences in 1987 as well as films Gabriel's Fire and Heat Wave, Jones is best known for his role as Darth Vader, which he continued to voice in Star Wars sequels and television spin-offs. Jones's rendering of the Star Wars villain will be immortalized not only in popular culture, but through artificial intelligence as well. The actor signed over his archive of voice work in September 2022 to Ukrainian AI startup Respeecher, according to Vanity Fair, and gave LucasFilm permission to use AI reproductions of his voice. Jones's AI-generated Darth Vader voice appears in Disney's 2022 Obi Wan Kenobi series. AI voice recreations have been subject of controversy among fans of now-deceased stars concerned about a dead actor unable to give consent to have their voice used by companies, as well as the lack of character and nuance an AI-generated voice is able to provide. Actor Scarlett Johansson said she was "shocked, angered, and in disbelief" after OpenAI's Sam Altman used an incredibly similar version of her voice for a ChatGPT bot. Respeecher CEO and co-founder Alex Serdiuk insists the company operates from an ethics-first approach. "Consent is obtained from those who own the rights; in case of deceased actors, it could be estate or family," he told Techcrunch. LucasFilm will have a trove of archives of Jones's iconic baritone to work with for future projects, but it wasn't always guaranteed. Rushing to complete the database as Russian forces invaded the Ukraine in February 2024, Skywalker Sound, the recording division of LucasFilm, exchanged thousands of emails with Respeecher and Star Wars show-runners to fine-tune Vader's AI dialogue. "For a character such as Darth Vader, who might have 50 lines on a show," Matthew Wood, Skywalker Sound supervising sound editor, told Vanity Fair, "I might have a back-and-forth of almost over 10,000 files."

James Earl Jones: Stage Legend, Voice Of Darth Vader

James Earl Jones, a versatile and award-winning American stage and screen actor who used his booming deep voice to bring the iconic "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader to life, has died, his representatives said Monday. He was 93 years old. From the works of Shakespeare and August Wilson, to his indelible voiceovers in the blockbuster space saga and as Mufasa in the Disney classic "The Lion King," Jones earned fans with his ability to play both the everyman and the otherworldly. He won three Tony awards including a lifetime award, two Emmys and a Grammy, as well as an honorary Oscar, also for lifetime achievement. In 1971, he became only the second Black man nominated for an Academy Award for best actor, after Sidney Poitier. All of these accolades were hard-won, as Jones, who was born in segregated Mississippi on January 17, 1931, had to overcome a childhood stutter that often led him to barely speak at all. "Stuttering is painful. In Sunday school, I'd try to read my lessons and the children behind me were falling on the floor with laughter," Jones told the Daily Mail in 2010. Reciting his own poetry, at the prodding of an English teacher, helped him to gain control of his voice, which would later be used to strike fear among millions in "Star Wars" as Darth Vader. Jones did not physically portray the character -- David Prowse wore Vader's black cape and imposing face mask, while Jones offered the voice, oozing the evil power of the Dark Side. "I am your father," Vader tells Luke Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill, in a pivotal fight scene in "The Empire Strikes Back" -- a twist etched in cinema history. "He created, with very little dialogue, one of the greatest villains that ever lived," "Star Wars" creator George Lucas said in 2015 at a ceremony honoring Jones in New York. From Mississippi, Jones moved to Michigan at age five, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents. Initially, he studied to become a doctor, and though he shifted his major to drama, and graduated from the University of Michigan, he didn't initially think about an acting career. "Even when I began acting studies, I thought about being a soldier," Jones told PBS public television in 1998. "And the idea of being an actor didn't occur to me until after my service was almost finished." After university, Jones served in the US Army and then moved to New York to try his luck in acting, working as a janitor at night to make ends meet. He made his Broadway debut in 1958 in "Sunrise at Campobello" at the Cort Theatre -- which in 2022 was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre. He tackled many iconic Shakespeare characters on the stage, including Othello and King Lear, but also performed in several Wilson plays, chronicling the Black experience in America. "On stage, Jones was commanding, powerful. He embodied the elegance and dignity of African American men," said director Kenny Leon. But the silver screen eventually came calling. Jones' film debut came in 1964 as Lieutenant Zogg in Stanley Kubrick's Cold War satire "Dr Strangelove." Military roles would crop up throughout his career, notably Admiral Greer in three films about Tom Clancy's beloved character Jack Ryan ("The Hunt for Red October," "Patriot Games," "Clear and Present Danger"). As for kings, he has played a few -- King Jaffe Joffer in the Eddie Murphy comedy "Coming to America" (1988) and Mufasa, Simba's father, in "The Lion King" (1994). His first major award came in 1969, a Tony for best actor in a play for "The Great White Hope", in which he portrayed troubled but gifted boxer Jack Jefferson -- based on the real-life Jack Johnson, the first Black world heavyweight champion. Jones revived the role in a film adaptation of the play -- earning his sole Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award for the performance. In 2011, he won an honorary Academy Award. Even into his 80s, Jones was a force on Broadway, starring opposite Angela Lansbury in "The Best Man" in a 2012 revival -- earning another Tony nomination in the process -- and with Cicely Tyson in "The Gin Game" in 2015. And for years, he greeted viewers of the cable news network CNN with the simple phrase: "This is CNN." But his most famous role was ultimately the one for which he never appeared on screen. Lucas eventually chose between Jones and film legend Orson Welles for the role. "George thought he wanted a -- pardon the expression -- darker voice. So he hires a guy born in Mississippi, raised in Michigan, who stutters and that's the voice and that's me," Jones told the American Film Institute in 2009. Jones initially did not want to be credited for the film, as he felt his voiceovers were simply part of the movie's special effects, but eventually conceded, and went on to voice the character in multiple films, television series and video games. In his 90s, he stepped back from the role. But he signed over the rights to his voice recordings to a start-up that is working with Lucasfilm to preserve and recreate it for future projects using artificial intelligence. The technology was used in the Disney+ mini-series "Obi-Wan Kenobi" in 2022, according to Vanity Fair. Jones' second wife Cecilia died in 2016. They had one son.

James Earl Jones: stage legend, voice of Darth Vader

Washington (AFP) - James Earl Jones, a versatile and award-winning American stage and screen actor who used his booming deep voice to bring the iconic "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader to life, has died, his representatives said Monday. He was 93 years old. From the works of Shakespeare and August Wilson, to his indelible voiceovers in the blockbuster space saga and as Mufasa in the Disney classic "The Lion King," Jones earned fans with his ability to play both the everyman and the otherworldly. He won three Tony awards including a lifetime award, two Emmys and a Grammy, as well as an honorary Oscar, also for lifetime achievement. In 1971, he became only the second Black man nominated for an Academy Award for best actor, after Sidney Poitier. All of these accolades were hard-won, as Jones, who was born in segregated Mississippi on January 17, 1931, had to overcome a childhood stutter that often led him to barely speak at all. "Stuttering is painful. In Sunday school, I'd try to read my lessons and the children behind me were falling on the floor with laughter," Jones told the Daily Mail in 2010. Reciting his own poetry, at the prodding of an English teacher, helped him to gain control of his voice, which would later be used to strike fear among millions in "Star Wars" as Darth Vader. Jones did not physically portray the character -- David Prowse wore Vader's black cape and imposing face mask, while Jones offered the voice, oozing the evil power of the Dark Side. "I am your father," Vader tells Luke Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill, in a pivotal fight scene in "The Empire Strikes Back" -- a twist etched in cinema history. "He created, with very little dialogue, one of the greatest villains that ever lived," "Star Wars" creator George Lucas said in 2015 at a ceremony honoring Jones in New York. Broadway From Mississippi, Jones moved to Michigan at age five, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents. Initially, he studied to become a doctor, and though he shifted his major to drama, and graduated from the University of Michigan, he didn't initially think about an acting career. "Even when I began acting studies, I thought about being a soldier," Jones told PBS public television in 1998. "And the idea of being an actor didn't occur to me until after my service was almost finished." After university, Jones served in the US Army and then moved to New York to try his luck in acting, working as a janitor at night to make ends meet. He made his Broadway debut in 1958 in "Sunrise at Campobello" at the Cort Theatre -- which in 2022 was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre. He tackled many iconic Shakespeare characters on the stage, including Othello and King Lear, but also performed in several Wilson plays, chronicling the Black experience in America. "On stage, Jones was commanding, powerful. He embodied the elegance and dignity of African American men," said director Kenny Leon. Jones' film debut came in 1964 as Lieutenant Zogg in Stanley Kubrick's Cold War satire "Dr Strangelove." Military roles would crop up throughout his career, notably Admiral Greer in three films about Tom Clancy's beloved character Jack Ryan ("The Hunt for Red October," "Patriot Games," "Clear and Present Danger"). As for kings, he has played a few -- King Jaffe Joffer in the Eddie Murphy comedy "Coming to America" (1988) and Mufasa, Simba's father, in "The Lion King" (1994). His first major award came in 1969, a Tony for best actor in a play for "The Great White Hope", in which he portrayed troubled but gifted boxer Jack Jefferson -- based on the real-life Jack Johnson, the first Black world heavyweight champion. Jones revived the role in a film adaptation of the play -- earning his sole Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award for the performance. In 2011, he won an honorary Academy Award. Even into his 80s, Jones was a force on Broadway, starring opposite Angela Lansbury in "The Best Man" in a 2012 revival -- earning another Tony nomination in the process -- and with Cicely Tyson in "The Gin Game" in 2015. And for years, he greeted viewers of the cable news network CNN with the simple phrase: "This is CNN." 'Darker voice' But his most famous role was ultimately the one for which he never appeared on screen. Lucas eventually chose between Jones and film legend Orson Welles for the role. "George thought he wanted a -- pardon the expression -- darker voice. So he hires a guy born in Mississippi, raised in Michigan, who stutters and that's the voice and that's me," Jones told the American Film Institute in 2009. Jones initially did not want to be credited for the film, as he felt his voiceovers were simply part of the movie's special effects, but eventually conceded, and went on to voice the character in multiple films, television series and video games. In his 90s, he stepped back from the role. But he signed over the rights to his voice recordings to a start-up that is working with Lucasfilm to preserve and recreate it for future projects using artificial intelligence. The technology was used in the Disney+ mini-series "Obi-Wan Kenobi" in 2022, according to Vanity Fair. Jones' second wife Cecilia died in 2016. They had one son.

James Earl Jones, voice of Darth Vader, has died at 93

James Earl Jones, the distinguished actor behind the voice of Darth Vader, has died at age 93, according to Deadline. Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi in 1931. After managing to overcome a speech impediment, Jones went on to have a massive acting career, with credits spanning dozens of plays, TV shows, and films over several decades. He got his start on Broadway, starring in Sunrise At Campobello at the Cort Theater in 1958 -- now known as the James Earl Jones Theatre. However, his 1977 role in the very first Star Wars left a huge mark on his audience, though he wasn't initially credited for voicing the villain as a courtesy to David Prowse, who wore Darth Vader's suit. While Jones is best known for his distinctive voice in the Star Wars series, he has voiced Mufasa in The Lion King (1994 and 2019). Jones also appeared in Field of Dreams, The Sand Lot, Coming to America, Conan the Barbarian, and much more. He is among the small group of actors who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony -- the coveted EGOT. In 2022, Jones signed over the rights to his archival voice work to a Ukrainian AI voice startup, Respeecher, allowing the company to recreate the sound of his voice for Disney Plus' Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Actor James Earl Jones, voice of Darth Vader, dies at 93

Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar arrested from Parliament gate James Earl Jones, a versatile and award-winning American stage and screen actor who used his booming deep voice to bring the iconic 'Star Wars' villain Darth Vader to life, has died, his representatives said Monday. He was 93 years old. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu- Click Here From the works of Shakespeare and August Wilson, to his indelible voiceovers in the blockbuster space saga and as Mufasa in the Disney classic 'The Lion King', Jones earned fans with his ability to play both the everyman and the otherworldly. He won three Tony awards including a lifetime award, two Emmys and a Grammy, as well as an honorary Oscar, also for lifetime achievement. In 1971, he became only the second Black man nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, after Sidney Poitier. All of these accolades were hard-won, as Jones, who was born in segregated Mississippi on January 17, 1931, had to overcome a childhood stutter that often led him to barely speak at all. "Stuttering is painful. In Sunday school, I'd try to read my lessons and the children behind me were falling on the floor with laughter," Jones told the Daily Mail in 2010. Reciting his own poetry, at the prodding of an English teacher, helped him to gain control of his voice, which would later be used to strike fear among millions in 'Star Wars' as Darth Vader. Jones did not physically portray the character - David Prowse wore Vader's black cape and imposing face mask, while Jones offered the voice, oozing the evil power of the Dark Side. "I am your father," Vader tells Luke Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill, in a pivotal fight scene in 'The Empire Strikes Back' - a twist etched in cinema history. Also Read: New 'Avatar' and 'Star Wars' films revealed "He created, with very little dialogue, one of the greatest villains that ever lived," 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas said in 2015 at a ceremony honouring Jones in New York. From Mississippi, Jones moved to Michigan at age five, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents. Initially, he studied to become a doctor, and though he shifted his major to drama, and graduated from the University of Michigan, he didn't initially think about an acting career. "Even when I began acting studies, I thought about being a soldier," Jones told PBS public television in 1998. "And the idea of being an actor didn't occur to me until after my service was almost finished." After university, Jones served in the US Army and then moved to New York to try his luck in acting, working as a janitor at night to make ends meet. He made his Broadway debut in 1958 in 'Sunrise at Campobello' at the Cort Theatre - which in 2022 was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre. He tackled many iconic Shakespeare characters on the stage, including Othello and King Lear, but also performed in several Wilson plays, chronicling the Black experience in America. "On stage, Jones was commanding, powerful. He embodied the elegance and dignity of African American men," said director Kenny Leon. But the silver screen eventually came calling. Jones' film debut came in 1964 as Lieutenant Zogg in Stanley Kubrick's Cold War satire 'Dr Strangelove'. Military roles would crop up throughout his career, notably Admiral Greer in three films about Tom Clancy's beloved character Jack Ryan ('The Hunt for Red October', 'Patriot Games', 'Clear and Present Danger'). As for kings, he has played a few - King Jaffe Joffer in the Eddie Murphy comedy 'Coming to America' (1988) and Mufasa, Simba's father, in 'The Lion King' (1994). His first major award came in 1969, a Tony for best actor in a play for 'The Great White Hope', in which he portrayed troubled but gifted boxer Jack Jefferson - based on the real-life Jack Johnson, the first Black world heavyweight champion. Jones revived the role in a film adaptation of the play - earning his sole Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award for the performance. In 2011, he won an honorary Academy Award. Even into his 80s, Jones was a force on Broadway, starring opposite Angela Lansbury in 'The Best Man' in a 2012 revival - earning another Tony nomination in the process - and with Cicely Tyson in 'The Gin Game' in 2015. And for years, he greeted viewers of the cable news network CNN with the simple phrase: "This is CNN." But his most famous role was ultimately the one for which he never appeared on screen. Lucas eventually chose between Jones and film legend Orson Welles for the role. "George thought he wanted a - pardon the expression - darker voice. So he hires a guy born in Mississippi, raised in Michigan, who stutters and that's the voice and that's me," Jones told the American Film Institute in 2009. Jones initially did not want to be credited for the film, as he felt his voiceovers were simply part of the movie's special effects, but eventually conceded, and went on to voice the character in multiple films, television series and video games. Also Read: Rebecca Cheptegei, Uganda athlete, dies after boyfriend set her on fire In his 90s, he stepped back from the role. But he signed over the rights to his voice recordings to a start-up that is working with Lucasfilm to preserve and recreate it for future projects using artificial intelligence. The technology was used in the Disney+ mini-series 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' in 2022, according to Vanity Fair. James Earl Jones' second wife Cecilia died in 2016. They had one son.