Happy Birthday, James Earl Jones!
January 17th is truly a special day. On this day 88 years ago, the man who would provide the unmistakable voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa was born.
We know James Earl Jones as the voice of the Sith Lord in Star Wars and Simba's father in The Lion King. However, there is so much more to the man with the famous basso profondo.
Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi and was raised in a farm in Michigan. Interestingly, the man with the iconic voice started out trying to hide it because he developed a stutter at a young age. However, the shyness was stripped away when the young Jones discovered a knack for writing poetry. His teacher encouraged him to read his poems out loud and Jones eventually began to use his voice.
Although he started out as a stage carpenter, the acting bug finally bit Jones in 1955. His stage performances led to minor roles in films like Dr. Strangelove and The Comedians but Jones later landed a lead part in The Great White Hope in 1970. He was nominated for the Best Actor Award for his portrayal of boxer Jack Jefferson, making him the second African-American after Sidney Poitier to earn a nomination.
Jones is also known for films like Conan the Barbarian where he played the villainous Thulsa Doom and Coming To America where he was the King of Zamunda. He will return to provide the voice of Mufasa in the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Lion King, which hits theaters on July 19.
Related: The Lion King Trailer Is Out And The Light Is Magical
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