James Earl Jones, the actor who voiced the iconic Star Wars character Darth Vader, died on September 9 at the age of 93.
The actor’s representative, Barry McPherson, confirmed his death in a statement sent to numerous media outlets.
“He passed away this morning surrounded by his loved ones,” he said. “He was a great man.
James Earl Jones has had a long and successful career as an actor and voice actor, most notably as Darth Vader since the first Star Wars film in 1977. He was not credited for the role until the third film—a choice he made, as he reportedly considered his role minor. (Actor Dave Prowse played the character under the mask.)
Besides Star Wars, the actor has played many other notable roles throughout his long career, including Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King, Kibosh in Casper: The Ghostly Apprentice, and Martin Luther King Sr. in Our Friend, Martin.
He has won numerous awards and accolades for his work in Hollywood, including several Emmys and Tonys, as well as a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild and a Grammy Award. He also received the Honorary Academy Award in 2011.
James Earl Jones was married twice, first to Julienne Marie from 1968 to 1972, and then to Cecilia Hart from 1982 until the actress’s death in 2016. The couple have one son, Flynn.
