James Earl Jones, voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in Lion King, dies aged 93
James Earl Jones has died at the age of 93
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James Earl Jones, who was best known for being the vice of Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, has died.
The US actor's agent confirmed the news to Deadline but the 93-year-old's cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Jones received three Tony awards, two Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award throughout his acting career.
The iconic Hollywood actor starred in hundreds of memorable roles during his 60-years on television, but is widely-recognised for voicing Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy.
He reprised the role as the villain in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith in 2005 as well as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in 2016 and Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.
He also featured in television's Obi-Wan Kenobi and Star Wars: Rebels.
James Earl Jones has died at the age of 93
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His iconic Lion King role was also reprised after the 1994 Disney animation when he took on the same role for the 2019 hybrid remake.
Jones was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during the 1990s, but only shared the news publicly in 2016.
In a 2018 interview, he recalled: "I didn't notice any symptoms. I had gone to a diet and exercise program hoping to lose some weight and ended up falling asleep sitting on a bench in the gymnasium."
He continued at the time: "My doctor, who happened to be there, said that's not normal. He encouraged me to go get a test, and I did — and there it was: type 2 diabetes. It hit me like a thunderbolt."
James Earl Jones is best known for voicing Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King
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He grew up in Mississippi, with his father - a boxer - having starred in films such as The Sting in 1973 and Trading Places in 1983.
Jones studied drama at the University of Michigan before going on to serve in the Korean War.
After completing his service, he moved to New York and rose to prominence in the 1960s for his theatre work, where he was praised for his roles in Shakespeare's Othello and King Lear.
As his film career launched, his distinctive voice saw him rise to fame. He talked candidly about how he had overcome a severe stutter before he became one of Hollywood's most recognised voices.
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James Earl Jones died at his New York home on Monday
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Speaking to NPR in 2014, he recalled how it had been "bad enough" for him to not "want to talk" throughout his childhood.
He is survived by his son, Flynn, who he had with his late wife Cecilia Hart, who died in 2016. The couple were married until her death.