Remembering James Earl Jones’ Amazing Career (Photos)
For some, he’s the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars; to others, he’ll always be the man behind Mufasa in The Lion King. But years before either of these voice roles, James Earl Jones already had a long and accomplished career, moving seamlessly between drama, comedy, and everything in between. He began acting on Broadway in 1957, and made his film debut in 1964’s Dr. Strangelove; over the next 50+ years, Jones played roles both iconic and forgotten, winning Emmys, Tonys, Golden Globes and a Grammy, and becoming one of America’s most beloved character actors in the process. In honor of his passing on September 9, 2024, here are snapshots of Jones’ amazing career — no matter what he did, Jones brought the same talent and gravitas that made him a household name.
But first, one of his most iconic scenes:
East Side/West Side (1963)
Jones made his TV debut in an episode of the George C. Scott drama East Side West Side. He and Diana Sands played young parents who are struggling to make ends meet.
The Great White Hope (1970)
Jones’s first starring film role was in The Great White Hope as Jack Jefferson (based on real-life boxer Jack Johnson). The film follows Jefferson, a successful boxer whose winning streak draws the ire of racist press and sports fans. Jones originated the role on Broadway, and picked up a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his performance.
Claudine (1974)
Jones showed a lighter side alongside Diahann Carroll in Claudine, a social realist romance that explored the difficulties of single motherhood.
The Cay (1974)
In The Cay, based on the classic young adult novel of the same name, Jones played Timothy, a skilled sailor who survives a shipwreck. The character of Timothy is elderly, while Jones was only 43 at the time, and wore special effects make to appear older.
A Piece of the Action (1977)
Jones played a detective who forces two thieves (played by Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier) to volunteer with delinquent teens, in the crime comedy A Piece of the Action. The film was the third in an informal trilogy Poitier directed and starred in with Cosby.
Paris (1979-80)
Jones had his first starring TV role in the crime procedural Paris, where he played LAPD captain Woody Paris. Created by Steven Bochco — who also created Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue — the series only lasted one season, but it did introduce Jones to his second wife, Cecilia Hart, to whom he was married from 1982 until her death in 2016.
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Though he often played sensitive, thoughtful characters, Jones is also famous for the handful of iconic bad guys he gave life to on the silver screen — like Darth Vader and Thulsa Doom, the villain who tormented Arnold Schwarzenegger in Conan the Barbarian. On set, Jones could often be heard giving the young Schwarzenegger acting advice.
Coming to America (1988)
Jones showed off his comedic chops in Coming to America, playing King Jaffe, disapproving father to Eddie Murphy‘s Prince Akeem. He reprised the role in 2021’s Coming 2 America — his final role on screen.
Field of Dreams (1989)
In the tearjerking baseball fantasy film Field of Dreams, Jones played Terrence Mann, a reclusive writer who helps Kevin Costner build a mystical baseball field that attracts the ghosts of long-dead players.
The Hunt For Red October (1990)
In the Cold War thriller The Hunt for Red October, Jones played the deputy director of the CIA, advising Alec Baldwin‘s Jack Ryan.
The Meteor Man (1993)
Jones had a small role as neighbor Earnest Moses in Robert Townsend‘s superhero film The Meteor Man. It holds the distinction of being one of the first nationally-released films to feature a Black superhero.
The Lion King (1994)
Jones touched a whole new generation of film fans as Mustafa, the tragically murdered father of Simba and king of the jungle, in The Lion King. Jones was selected for the role due to his famously sonorous voice.