James Earl Jone is a titan of the acting world. A true artist whose presence brought gravitas and class to every performance he graced us with. The legend passed away on Monday at the age of 93, leaving an unmatched void in the lives of his fans. From “The Great White Hope,” to “Conan the Barbarian,” to “The Lion King,” to “Star Wars,” there was no genre or world he didn’t touch. His wide range of roles means his fanbase spans generations, countries and possibly galaxies. Join us in honoring this brilliant artist by taking a walk down memory lane in his most memorable roles.
Mufasa – ‘The Lion King’
The warmth and power James Earl Jones brings to Mufasa makes you feel like you can take on the world and do anything. His regal presence shines through the animation.
Darth Vader – ‘Star Wars’
In the hands of anyone else, Darth Vader would have come off as a one note villain in a space movie. However, long before the prequel trilogy was ever a thing, his nuanced performance allowed us to see the tortured man hidden beneath the machine.
King Jaffe – ‘Coming to America’
King Jaffe is the straight man to Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall’s foolishness and he’s brilliant at it. It works so well because he’s clearly taking his role as an African king seriously, not acknowledging that he’s in this over the top comedy.
Roop – ‘Claudine’
What stands out in “Claudine” is the authenticity in Jones’ performance. We know he’s playing a character, but he always makes Roop feel like a real person. It never feels like he’s putting on an act, which is something a lot of actors don’t know how to do. Plus, he and Diahann Carroll are magic together.
President Dilman – ‘The Man’
As a Black president who everyone is trying to force their own agenda on, there’s a captivating performance happening in his body language. We’re always aware of the intense frustration and exhaustion he carries around.
Leon Carter – ‘The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings’
People often forget that the legend is just as adept at comedy as he is at drama. His spot on comedic timing manages to shine through even opposite Richard Pryor.
Thulsa Doom – ‘Conan the Barbarian’
Yes, Doom is an over the top, crazy villain. But even with all the ‘80s sci-fi trappings around him and Arnold Schwarzenegger chewing scenery, James Earl Jones manages to bring an undeniable elegance to the character.
Terrence Mann – ‘Field of Dreams’
“Field of Dreams” is one of those movies that fans have a deep. emotional connection to. A big part of that comes from Jones’ Terrence Mann, who is disillusioned, grumpy, joyous and filled with wonder. He takes viewers on a masterful emotional journey.
Mr. Mertle – ‘The Sandlot’
For many us, “The Sandlot” holds special childhood memories as one of those movies you see when you’re a kid and every time you watch it, you’re instantly back in that moment. As a warm reminder of simpler times, Mr. Mertle is a beautiful gift to fans of the film.
Junius Johnson – ‘Heat Wave’
James Earl Jones was known for his larger than life characters, but he was also known for telling Black stories and showcasing Black culture. No matter how small the role or what the project was, he never let us forget a Black man was exploring the story.
Gabriel Bird – ‘Gabriel’s Fire’
The genius of James Earl Jones’ talent is in the small things. He can take a seemingly meaningless moment and show you all the emotional layers of his character in that one scene. What’s even more btilliant is that these acting masterclasses usually happen in the quiet moments.
Rev. Stephen Kumalo – ‘Cry, the Beloved Country’
The actor felt that his experience growing up in the south prepared him to play a man familiar with constant discrimination, as well as someone who has to learn to let go of the anger caused by that bigotry. Knowing exactly what to bring to a role may have been his greatest gift.
Troy Maxson – ‘Fences’
Every actor who plays this part brings something different and unforgettable to it. What we get from James Earl Jones is dignity and resolve.
Roscoe Jenkins Sr. – ‘Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins’
Obviously, there were more important and impactful roles we could’ve chose, but what he gave us in “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” was a meeting of the past and present. When someone of his magnitude appears in films like these, he’s telling the world that all our stories matter.
Himself – ‘The Big Bang Theory’
When Sheldon wants to start his own comic-con, he asks James to be his first guest. The actor hilariously plays an over the top version of himself, poking fun at his status as Darth Vader and Mufasa. It showcases how completely comfortable he was with his long lasting career.
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