LEGENDARY JAMES EARL JONES PASSES AWAY AT 93

On Monday, the great American born African actor James Earl Jones passed away at the age of 93. This clip is from a 1987 performance of the broadway hit Fences and showcases his amazing talent - and why critics have described him as an “elemental force” on stage. Jones continued to perform on stage up until his mid-80s, sometimes putting in eight performances a week with a discipline and stamina that could put younger actors to shame. He tackled some of the biggest roles in theatre - including Shakespeare’s Othello and King Lear.

Jones also starred in many films, among them Field of Dreams, Coming to America and Conan the Barbarian. His distinct and powerful voice brought to life King Mufasa in the Lion King and will always be remembered as that of Star Wars supervillain Darth Vader.

Jones was born 17th January 1931 in Arkabutla. He was the son of boxer and actor Robert Earl Jones and Ruth Williams, a tailor. Early in life he had a stutter, something that he was determined to overcome. The Oscar-nominated actor said in a 2014 interview with The Times: “If I hadn’t been a stutterer, I would never have been an actor.”

In 1965, Jones became one of the first African-American actors in a continuing role on a daytime drama (As the World Turns). In 1971, he became the second Black man to have been nominated for an Academy Award for best actor, after Sidney Poitier.

Jones once said, “I realised early on, from people like Athol Fugard [an anti-apartheid South African playwright], that you cannot change anybody’s mind, no matter what you do … As a preacher, as a scholar, you cannot change their mind. But you can change the way they feel.”

Indeed, his performances have created powerful feelings in generations of theatre and movie goers. He will be deeply missed.

Rest easy, James Earl Jones!

Video credit: Fences, 1987, 46th Street Theatre