James Earl Jones was a bona fide Hollywood legend, but the late on-screen star found his true home thousands of kilometres away from the bright lights of LA.
Jones, who died at the age of 93, built quite a property empire in a little village of New York, with property records revealing that he owned 10 neighbouring properties at the time of his passing, according to Realtor.
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James Earl Jones was the iconic voice of Darth Vader. Picture: Getty Images
Those properties include both homes and plots of land, although it is unclear whether the movie star built any additional houses on the acreage during his ownership.
Jones — who famously voiced “Star Wars” supervillain Darth Vader as well as “The Lion King” character Mufasa — died at his upstate New York home, according to reports. The cause of death has not yet been released.
Jones moved to the New York region of Dutchess County in 1970 after falling in love with the area during a road trip with a friend, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal.
James Earl Jones died at his compound in Hudson, New York — where he is understood to have owned 10 neighbouring properties. Picture: Realtor.com
The actor is understood to have made the journey to the neighbourhood to help his pal look for a new home. However, it was Jones who ended up securing the land.
“I liked it,” the actor told the Journal in 2012. “Big trees … they were big enough to hug.”
In the years since, Jones is understood to have become incredibly involved in the local area, which is also where he raised his son, Flynn, whom he welcomed with his second wife, Cecilia Hart. Hart died of ovarian cancer in 2016.
“One of the world’s finest actors whose contributions to Star Wars were immeasurable. He’ll be greatly missed. #RIP dad,” – Star Wars co-star Mark Hamill wrote on Instagram.
Located in the small town of Pawling, Jones found solace in a world away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Pawling is known for its stunning natural landscapes, plenty of hiking trails, and an impressive history.
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There are also multiple lakes, America’s “oldest municipality-owned golf course,” and a stunning nature conservancy.
Property records indicate that Jones purchased his 10 homes slowly over the years. One was listed as being purchased for US$320k in 2000, while another was noted as having been bought for the relatively low price of US$16.5k in 1993.
EGOT winner James Earl Jones has died at 93 years old, and is known for such classic films as “Star Wars,” “Field of Dreams,” “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” and “The Lion King.” (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
A third home, which boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms, was last sold in 1994 for US$177.5k.
That same year, Jones appears to have purchased a second home, this one with two bedrooms and one bathroom, for US$108k.
Jones achieved several incredible Hollywood feats during his time living there.
In 1970, the same year he moved to Pawling, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in “The Great White Hope.”
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Parts of this story first appeared in Realtor and were republished with permission.
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