James Earl Jones, the famous actor known for his deep, powerful voice as Darth Vader in *Star Wars* and Mufasa in *The Lion King*, has died at 93.
Jones was considered one of the greatest actors of his time, with a career that covered everything from Shakespeare plays to major Hollywood movies. He was one of the few actors to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award, showing his incredible talent.
His death was reported by *Deadline*, through his representatives at Independent Artist Group.
James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, and grew up with his grandparents in Dublin, Michigan. Despite becoming one of the most famous voices in the world, he struggled with a stutter as a child.
“I couldn’t talk,” Jones shared in a 1996 interview. “My first year of school, I didn’t speak, and this continued until high school.” A teacher helped him overcome his stutter by encouraging him to read poetry out loud.
After serving in the US Army during the Korean War, Jones decided to follow his passion for acting. He studied at the American Theatre Wing, supporting himself by working as a janitor. By the 1960s, he was recognized as one of the great Shakespearean actors of his time, playing famous roles like Othello and King Lear. He also made his film debut in the 1964 Stanley Kubrick movie *Dr. Strangelove*, playing Lt. Lothar Zogg.
In 1967, James Earl Jones played a boxer in *The Great White Hope*, a role that earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. He later played the same role in the 1970 movie version and received his first Oscar nomination for it.
While he had many great acting roles, Jones became most famous for one where he didn’t even appear on screen: the voice of Darth Vader in *Star Wars*. Though another actor, David Prowse, wore the costume, Jones provided the deep, powerful voice that made Darth Vader one of the most unforgettable characters in movie history.
James Earl Jones initially chose not to be credited for his role as Darth Vader, but it has become one of his most famous performances. He continued to voice Vader for many years, including in the sequels *The Empire Strikes Back* and *Return of the Jedi*, the prequel *Revenge of the Sith*, and the spin-off *Rogue One*. In 2022, Jones retired from voicing Vader but agreed to let his voice be used in future projects through artificial intelligence and old recordings.
Jones also voiced another beloved character, Mufasa, in Disney’s 1994 film *The Lion King*. He returned to voice Mufasa again in the 2019 remake.
In the 1980s and 1990s, James Earl Jones appeared in many popular movies like *Conan the Barbarian*, *Coming to America*, *Field of Dreams*, *The Hunt for Red October*, *Patriot Games*, and *The Sandlot*. He also won his second Tony Award for his role in the original production of August Wilson’s play *Fences*.
Jones received eight Emmy Award nominations for his TV work and won twice in 1991: once for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for *Heat Wave*, and once for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for *Gabriel’s Fire*.
He also kept performing on Broadway, starring in revivals of plays such as *On Golden Pond*, *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof*, *Driving Miss Daisy*, *The Best Man*, and *You Can’t Take It With You* over the past 20 years.
James Earl Jones received many awards and honors during his impressive career. In 2011, he was given an Honorary Academy Award, joining a special group of people who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award, known as “EGOT.” In 2022, Broadway’s Cort Theatre was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor.
Rest in peace to the legendary James Earl Jones, one of the greatest actors of our time. Please share this story to remember him.
Gordon Ramsay, 57, and His Wife Tana, 49, Proudly Introduced Their 6th Baby to the World
Gordon and Tana Ramsay are parents to a large brood, but they decided not to stop there and recently became parents for the 6th time. They welcomed their son, Jesse James, and shared heartwarming photos of the little one, who has already celebrated his first month.
After Gordon and Tana got married, they faced difficulties conceiving a child. Initially, Tanya was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, and later, Gordon encountered fertility issues. However, they didn’t give up and decided to try IVF. Fortunately, it worked, and in 1998, their first daughter Megan was born. But they didn’t stop there, and about a year later, the family welcomed two adorable twins, Jack and Holly.
In 2001, another addition to the family arrived. Little Matilda was born, and from the age of 9, she participated in her father’s culinary shows.
After the birth of their four children, Gordon and Tana had to endure a loss. In May 2016, they announced that they were expecting another child. However, a month later, Gordon revealed that the baby would not be born. At that time, his support was crucial for Tana. She shared that Gordon couldn’t be there when their four children were born, but he was with her at the most critical moment.
The loss only strengthened the family, and the couple became even more attentive to each other. Gordon never left Tana’s side, and in April 2019, he was there when their fifth child, Oscar, was born.
The birth of their sixth child was a miracle for the family. Gordon is 57 years old, and Tana is 49. The arrival of the new addition to the family brought out the tender side in both parents. Tana admitted that Gordon is, in fact, a very gentle and vulnerable person.
Despite Gordon’s well-known bold on-camera persona, he disclosed that his wife, Tana, is the stronger of the two. “Tana’s super fierce, an ex-Montessori school teacher. So, I’m the softie,” he said. His wife also confirmed this, “He is, believe it or not, incredibly sensitive.”
Following the baby’s birth, Gordon, 57, was the first to announce the news, sharing snapshots of their newest addition to the Ramsay family. On his Instagram gallery, the Kitchen Nightmares host captioned, “What an amazing birthday present please welcome Jesse James Ramsay, 7lbs 10oz whopper,” he captioned the post.
The heartwarming photo captured the baby boy in a snug white onesie decorated with tiny red, blue, and gray stars. Wrapped in a blanket, the little one looked more than cozy. Tana, 49, expressed her feelings in the caption, “One month of this little one already, loving every minute.”
Motherhood after 40 is becoming more and more common. Take a look at other stars who have given birth after the age of 40, and some even after 50.
Preview photo credit tanaramsay / Instagram, gordongram / Instagram
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