James Earl Jones (1931–2024) was an accomplished American actor celebrated for his powerful, resonant voice in stage, film, and television roles.
Jones was known for voicing iconic characters such as Darth Vader in the Star Wars film series and Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King (1994, 2019). His acting career included a role in the film version of The Great White Hope (1970), for which he received an Academy Award nomination. Jones also won Tony Awards for his performances in The Great White Hope (1968–70) and Fences (1987–88).