RIP James Earl Jones

[Vandal]

James Earl Jones, Distinguished Actor and Voice of Darth Vader, Dies at 93

James Earl Jones, the prolific film, TV and theater actor whose resonant, unmistakable baritone was most widely known as the voice of “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader, died Monday morning at his home in Dutchess County, N.Y., his rep confirmed to Variety. He was 93.

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/jame ... 236138656/

[jarnon]

[silverscreenselect]

Best voiceover actor of all time, even in his 90s (in the last Lion King movie).

[tlynn78]

Dammit. Another good one.

[Ritterskoop]

Yes, yes, yes, amazing voice, stunning stage work for decades, all of that.

He is as much the soul of Field of Dreams as is Ray. I did see him on stage, and he got to visit a theater named for him (the pre-show announcement was to turn off your phones is the only theater named for a Lord of the Sith).

But possibly my role of his was when he played HIMSELF in an episode of "The Big Bang Theory" - Sheldon is smitten with him, and wants to hang out, and JEJ goes all in. The karaoke is one thing, and the steam room in a towel would have been enough, but the ring-and-run at Carrie Fisher's house is the cherry on top. "It's not funny anymore, James!" she yells, brandishing a baseball bat ...

The episode is "The Convention Conundrum," if you want to check it out.

I got into the show because of an episode including Leonard Nimoy's DNA, so I guess the connection is real (despite Penny's contention that there is NO difference between Star Trek and Star Wars ...).

[silverscreenselect]

Another solid Jones performance was in The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars and Motor Kings, in which he, Billy Dee Williams, and Richard Pryor played members of a barnstorming group of black baseball players going on tour throughout the South in the 1930s.

[Ritterskoop]

Another solid Jones performance was in The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars and Motor Kings, in which he, Billy Dee Williams, and Richard Pryor played members of a barnstorming group of black baseball players going on tour throughout the South in the 1930s.

I hate that they market that as a comedy, because it is fairly dark. I get why, but it's misleading.

[mellytu74]

One of the best theater-going experiences of my life -

Ten years ago, I saw him as Grandpa in You Can't Take It with You, leading a stellar cast which included Elizabeth Ashley, Rose Byrne, Annaleigh Ashford, and Mark-Linn Baker.

He was just glorious, anchoring the screwball comedy with a combination of humor and sensibility. Wonderful stuff.

I've always preferred the stage version to the film, in spite of its Best Picture accolade.

[franktangredi]

I got to see him on stage only once, in the original production of Fences. I don't have to tell you how good he was.