Have you ever wondered who the narrator is for is the CNN slogan “This is CNN”? Or found similarities between this and the voice of Darth Vader in “Star Wars: A New Hope” (1977), its sequels, and Mufasa in “The Lion King” (1994)? about artist James Earl Jones.
The respected and versatile actor, who has been hailed not only as one of the finest voices in show business, but also as one of the greatest actors in American history. He has received several awards for his numerous roles. These include two Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmys, a Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album, a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, and an Honorary Academy Award.
Biography (Age)
James Earl Jones was born to Ruth and Robert Earl Jones on January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi. His mother worked as a maid and teacher while his father was a boxer, butler and chauffeur before later becoming an actor.
However, Jones was raised only by his mother and then later at the age of five by his maternal grandparents, John Henry and Maggie Williams, in Jackson, Michigan, after his father abandoned his family shortly after his birth.
In his formative years, Jones was a severe stutterer. Because of this, he was selectively mute until he entered high school, where his English teacher, who loved him for his ability to write poetry, helped him overcome his reluctance to speak and combat his stutter.
career
After graduating, Jones took a part-time job as a carpenter at the Ramsdell Theater in Manistee, Michigan. He was later promoted to lieutenant, which led to posts at Fort Benning, Fort Leonard Wood and later Camp Hale. He later rose to the rank of first lieutenant before being discharged from the military.
James Earl Jones returned to pursue his acting career in 1955, with his first work in Shakespeare’s Othello. He also acted in other stage and film roles such as “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bombshell” (1964), “The Comedians” (1967) and then in “The Great White Hope” (1969) which gave him his first Tony and Golden Globe brought in an award.
In 1977, Jones, who was a major stutterer in the past, won a Grammy Award for Best Voice Album on Great American Documents. Other notable films and television series in which he appeared earlier in his career include The Cay (1974), Claudine (1974), Conan the Barbarian (1982), Matewan (1987), Coming to America (1988), At Dawns Early Light (1990) and Heat Wave (1990).
Wealth (income and earnings)
James Earl Jones, who was paid a whopping $7,000 for voicing Darth Vader in 1977, is now believed to have a net worth of $45 million. This was calculated from his earnings from films and other commercials over a career spanning over 60 years.
wife and children
James Earl Jones was married to actress Cecilia Hart, who starred opposite him in the CBS police drama Paris from 1982 until her death on October 16, 2016, following a year-long battle with ovarian cancer. The couple have only one child together, a boy named Flynn Earl Jones.
Prior to his marriage to Hart, Jones was married to actress and singer Julienne Marie. Their marriage lasted only four years when they divorced in 1972.
Is James Earl Jones dead?
James Earl Jones is very much alive. In fact, the veteran actor is still going about his business, most recently starring as Chief Justice on the TNT drama series Agent X in December 2015. The same year that Coming to America the actor was a victim of the internet death hoax Series that has left more than a few of our favorite TV stars dead.
He was most recently present at Harvard University on May 25, 2017, where he received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree.