The death of an American actor who has deeply entered the collective unconscious of American culture. American actor James Earl Jones died Monday, September 9 at the age of 93, his agents announced. While his name may not be familiar, almost everyone knows his voice: he became known for lending his voice to Darth Vader and Moufasa, from The Lion King, and for his prolific career in theater and cinema.
For generations of viewers, his voice simply embodied evil, the dark side of the force in the Star Wars saga. It’s not him in the costume, but it’s the voice of James Earl Jones behind Darth Vader’s respirator.
« I am your father “, either ” I am your father “: a phrase that has become a pop culture classic and resonates with his own life. In addition to the legendary villain of the saga Star Warsthe actor also dubbed Mufasa in the cartoon The Lion King.
« Rest in peace dad ” reacted on X the actor Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in George Lucas’ intergalactic opera.
James Earl Jones initially refused to have his name appear in the film’s credits, out of respect for British actor David Prowse, who played Vader on screen.
More than 60 years of careers that have overcome a very serious illness
In the theater, the actor notably played in The Insurgenta play retracing the career of Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight champion boxer, and in The BlacksJean Genet’s play entitled “Les Nègres” in French, alongside the poet Maya Angelou.
- RFI