The well-known Hollywood actor James Earl Jones, who voiced King Mufasa in Disney’s animated film “The Lion King,” has passed away.
Surrounded by his family, the 93-year-old actor from theatre and television passed away on Monday in his Dutchess County, New York, home.
The person who delivered the news on his behalf did not disclose a cause of death.
Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, on January 17, 1931, Jones began his acting career at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan.
He worked as a stage carpenter in 1953 and as an actor and stage manager from 1955 to 1957. He played “Othello” in his debut acting season at the Ramsdell.
He began his long career in theatre, television, and film as Lt. Lothar Zogg in the political satirical picture “Dr. Strangelove” released in 1964.
With his role as the first black heavyweight champion in American history in “The Great White Hope,” Jones became well-known in 1970.
Among the myriad of box office hits he starred in included ‘Field of Dreams’ (1989), ‘Coming To America’ (1988), ‘Conan the Barbarian’ (1982), and ‘Star Wars’ where he was the supervillain Darth Vader.
His theater work included ‘Sunrise at Campobello‘ (1958–1959), ‘Danton’s Death’ (1965), ‘The Iceman Cometh’ (1973–1974), ‘Of Mice and Men’ (1974–1975), ‘Othello’ (1982), ‘On Golden Pond’ (2005), ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ (2008) and ‘You Can’t Take It with You’ (2014–2015).
Jones was married twice; the first to Julienne Marie, the actor and singer, between 1968 and 1972.
He also tied the knot with the actor Celia Hart in 1982. The union would produce a son, Flynn, the same year. It lasted until Hart’s death in 2016.
