CASPER, Wyo. — James Earl Jones, the actor famous for voicing Darth Vader in the original Star Wars movies and Mufasa in Disney’s “The Lion King,” among other roles, has passed away. He was 93.
Originally from Mississippi, Jones served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before pursuing a career in acting. His first roles were on the stage, as his first acting credits were in plays and musicals.
He made his screen acting debut in Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.”
Jones became a household name in 1977 with his turn as the iconic Star Wars villain Darth Vader. Over the years, Jones’s distinctive voice could be heard in many other films, including “The Sandlot,” “The Hunt for Red October,” “Coming to America” and “Field of Dreams.”
According to reports, Jones died Monday morning at his home with family members. At time of publication, a cause of death has not been released.
