Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 7 minutes ago
James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 – September 9, 2024) was an American actor known for his iconic voice acting roles and for his work in theater. Over his career, he received three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award.
Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, in 1931, he had a stutter since childhood. Jones said that poetry and acting helped him overcome the challenges of his disability. A pre-med major in college, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War before pursuing a career in acting. Since his Broadway debut in 1957, he performed in several Shakespeare plays including Othello, Hamlet, Coriolanus, and King Lear.[1] Jones worked steadily in theater, winning his first Tony Award in 1968 for his role in The Great White Hope, which he reprised in the 1970 film adaptation, earning him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.
Jones won his second Tony Award in 1987, for his role in August Wilson's Fences. He was again nominated for a Tony Award for his roles in On Golden Pond (2005), and The Best Man (2012). Other Broadway performances include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008), Driving Miss Daisy (2010–2011), You Can't Take It with You (2014), and The Gin Game (2015–2016). He received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017.
James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 – September 9, 2024) was an American actor known for his iconic voice acting roles and for his work in theater. Over his career, he received three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award.
Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, in 1931, he had a stutter since childhood. Jones said that poetry and acting helped him overcome the challenges of his disability. A pre-med major in college, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War before pursuing a career in acting. Since his Broadway debut in 1957, he performed in several Shakespeare plays including Othello, Hamlet, Coriolanus, and King Lear.[1] Jones worked steadily in theater, winning his first Tony Award in 1968 for his role in The Great White Hope, which he reprised in the 1970 film adaptation, earning him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.
Jones won his second Tony Award in 1987, for his role in August Wilson's Fences. He was again nominated for a Tony Award for his roles in On Golden Pond (2005), and The Best Man (2012). Other Broadway performances include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008), Driving Miss Daisy (2010–2011), You Can't Take It with You (2014), and The Gin Game (2015–2016). He received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017.
