Lucasfilm And George Lucas Pay Tribute To James Earl Jones
The iconic Darth Vader actor died Monday at the age of 93
Tributes poured in Monday as the news came down that iconic actor of stage and screen James Earl Jones, with over 200 credits to his name, had died at the age of 93. In the obituary here I shared a few of them, whether it was the Luke Skywalker to Jones’s Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, Mark Hamill, or Crystal Minkoff, whose husband Rob was co-director on The Lion King, where Jones voiced Mufasa. Even his Field of Dreams co-star Kevin Costner wrote something up. Now, it would be stupid to collect every single tribute, but several times already I have followed up when such tributes from people deep in the deceased’s professional circles pop up after the initial publication, and this is another of those times, coming straight from Lucasfilm itself.
StarWars.com published their obituary for Jones at about 8:50 PM Eastern, expressing how saddened they were to learn of his passing. “James was an incredible actor, a most unique voice both in art and spirit,” says George Lucas, writer and director for Jones’s first and fourth films in the role, co-writer of the third and story guy on the second. “For nearly half a century he was Darth Vader, but the secret to it all is he was a beautiful human being. He gave depth, sincerity and meaning to all his roles, amongst the most important being a devoted husband to the late Ceci and dad to Flynn. James will be missed by so many of us...friends and fans alike.”
“James Earl Jones is one of the most versatile and talented actors of our time, with an iconic body of work across film, stage and television,” says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. “The menacing baritone he brought to Darth Vader will forever be beloved by fans and regarded as one of the great villainous performances in cinema. His commanding presence on screen, and warm personality off screen, will be greatly missed.”
Jones’s own words are included as he describes getting the role of the Sith Lord, and even how he worked it, recalling “The rumor is that he thought of Orson Welles. And then probably thought that Orson might be too recognizable, so what he ends up picking is a voice that was born in Mississippi, raised in Michigan, and was a stutterer. And, that happened to be my voice.” With his resonant bass register, Jones fit the role greatly. “The technique about recording that voice was to keep it within very strict boundaries of inflection, and there was no way to enlighten the voice with awareness,” Jones had explained. “In fact, my job was to keep awareness out of Darth Vader’s voice – take all the humanity out of it.” He wasn’t shy with his praise for David Prowse either, saying “David Prowse worked very hard to create Darth Vader…I take no credit for the character. I think that performance is in your head. Vader is good proof that if you stay out of the way of a character…good, effective dialogue will evoke in the viewer or listener all kinds of wonderful things that come from the viewer’s mind.”
Billy Dee Williams, who not only overlaps with Jones on three Star Wars movies as Lando Calrissian, but starred with Jones in the 1976 baseball movie The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings. He posted to Instagram “Today, we lost a legend, #JamesEarlJones was a man whose voice could move mountains, but it was his heart and grace that left the deepest impact. He brought power, wisdom, and soul to every role, but more than that, he was a kind, humble soul who inspired everyone around him. His legacy will live on forever, and though he’s gone, his presence will always be felt. Rest in peace, my friend 💔 #ripjamesearljones”
Disney CEO Bob Iger also released a statement on behalf of the company he leads, saying “From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history. A celebrated stage actor with nearly 200 film and television credits to his name, the stories he brought to life with a uniquely commanding presence and a true richness of spirit have left an indelible mark on generations of audiences…We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Source: Star Wars