ASALH mourns the loss of iconic Oscar-winning actor James Earl Jones who passed away Monday, September 9, 2024, at 93 years old. Let us take the time to celebrate his brilliant career which spans over 6 decades. In his last screen role, Jones reprised the revered character King Jaffe Joffer in the hit movie Coming 2 America. An unforgettable theatrical orator, Jones provided the voice for one of the greatest villains of all time, Darth Vader, in the epic Star Wars franchise. Another acclaimed voice-over character distinguished by Jones’ billowing tone is that of Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King.
An “actor’s actor” Jones was a chameleon on the stage and screen. Easily commanding roles from Shakespeare and the genres of suspense, drama, comedy, epic history, and romance to name a few. His portrayal of Black manhood and fatherhood in movies such as Claudine and Roots: The Next Generation placed him in a league of his own. The array of honors and recognitions acquired throughout his career led to EGOT status, induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame, the National Medal of Arts, and a Kennedy Center Honor. We cherish his memorable performances with leading ladies such as Diane Carol, Cicely Tyson, and Madge Sinclair.
Jones was revered by African Americans as a prominent thread in the tapestry of Black history and culture. While he may not have been known as a frontline figure in the Civil Rights movement many of the characters he portrayed either commemorated or celebrated Black life. As ASALH prepares to host its 109th Annual Conference focused on Blacks in the Arts we would be remiss not to recognize Jones’ contributions to the complexities, strength, and beauty of Black male figures in film and theater. We honor your contributions! Rest in peace, our Brother.