(OSV News) — James Earl Jones, a distinguished actor known for his resonant voice and a Black Catholic, died Sept. 9 in Dutchess County, New York, at age 93.
His numerous and versatile roles over an illustrious 70-year career included the voice of Darth Vadar in “Star Wars,” beginning in 1977, and Mufasa in “The Lion King” (1994); a reclusive author in “Field of Dreams” (1989); and Admiral James Greer in three movies based on Tom Clancy novels including “The Hunt for Red October” (1990). He was also the dramatic voice behind CNN’s tagline “This is CNN.”
A convert to the Catholic faith as a young man, Jones wrote in 1993, “Perhaps my greatest honor came when I was asked to read the New Testament on tape,” pointing to an unabridged recording of the King James Version of the New Testament he made in the 1980s that TOPICS Entertainment remastered for CD in 2002.
“Even if he didn’t do this Bible and you said, ‘Whose voice sounds like God?’ — it would be James Earl Jones,” Greg James, TOPICS president, told The Seattle Times in 2006. “He just has such a beautiful, rich voice, it’s amazing.”
Jones’ passing coincided with the feast of St. Peter Claver, a patron saint of Black Catholics.
His grandfather’s command of language and public speaking both impressed and intimidated the young Jones, who struggled with a stutter. “I could talk, all right. Our farm animals knew that. I found it easy to call the pigs, tell the dogs to round up the cows, and vent my feelings to Fanny, the horse whose big brown eyes and lifted ears seemed to express interest in all I said. But when visitors came and I was asked to say hello, I could only stand, pound my feet, and grit my teeth,” Jones recalled in a 1993 essay for Guideposts magazine.
When he was 14, a retired college professor began teaching at Jones’ school, and began to mentor the teen, who shared his love for poetry. He encouraged Jones to write and recite poetry, helping him overcome his speech impediment. With that obstacle removed, Jones began to dream of acting like his estranged father, Robert Earl Jones.
After graduating from the University of Michigan, he served with the U.S. Army in Colorado, where he met a Jesuit chaplain who, Jones wrote, “helped me understand who God really was.” While in the Army, he joined the Catholic Church.
Jones pursued acting, came to know his father, and launched a successful acting career. His role in “The Great White Hope” (1970) catapulted him to stardom, establishing him “as America’s premier black actor, a status yet to be challenged” in the mid-1980s, The New York Times reported at the time. He took on a variety of Broadway roles and acted in Shakespearean plays, while also acting in film and TV, playing Alex Haley in the television mini-series “Roots.”
His talent earned him the elusive “EGOT,” having garnered Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. The Oscar was an honorary Academy Award granted in 2011.
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James Earl Jones: A Legendary Actor and Devout Black Catholic
James Earl Jones, a renowned actor known for his iconic voice and illustrious 70-year career, passed away on September 9, 2024, at the age of 93 in Dutchess County, New York. The esteemed actor was also a devout Black Catholic, who found solace in the Catholic faith during his time in the U.S. Army [3].
Jones’ remarkable voice, which was often described as the “voice of God,” was a hallmark of his illustrious career. He lent his voice to iconic characters such as Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise, Mufasa in “The Lion King,” and Admiral James Greer in the Tom Clancy novel adaptations. Additionally, his rich voice was synonymous with CNN’s tagline “This is CNN” [2].
One of Jones’ most notable achievements was reading the New Testament on tape, an experience he described as his “greatest honor” [1]. His rendition of the King James Version of the New Testament, recorded in the 1980s, was remastered for CD in 2002 and praised for its beauty and rich tone.
Born on January 17, 1931, Jones struggled with a stutter as a young boy, which made it difficult for him to speak in front of others. However, with the help of a retired college professor who mentored him, Jones overcame his speech impediment and developed a passion for poetry and acting [1].
After graduating from the University of Michigan, Jones served in the U.S. Army in Colorado, where he met a Jesuit chaplain who helped him understand the true nature of God. It was during this time that Jones converted to Catholicism, a faith he remained devoted to for the rest of his life [3].
Jones’ passing coincided with the feast of St. Peter Claver, a patron saint of Black Catholics, a fitting tribute to his dedication to the Catholic faith and his own identity as a Black Catholic.
James Earl Jones’ remarkable life and career serve as a testament to his talent, perseverance, and devotion to his faith. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come, and his iconic voice will remain etched in our collective memory as the “voice of God.”
What role did James Earl Jones’ Catholic faith play in his life and career as an actor?
James Earl Jones: A Legendary Actor and Devout Black Catholic
James Earl Jones, a renowned actor known for his iconic voice and illustrious 70-year career, passed away on September 9, 2024, at the age of 93 in Dutchess County, New York. The esteemed actor was also a devout Black Catholic, who found solace in the Catholic faith during his time in the U.S. Army[[[3]].
Jones’ remarkable voice, which was often described as the “voice of God,” was a hallmark of his illustrious career. He lent his voice to iconic characters such as Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise, Mufasa in “The Lion King,” and Admiral James Greer in the Tom Clancy novel adaptations. Additionally, his rich voice was synonymous with CNN’s tagline “This is CNN”[[[2]].
One of Jones’ most notable achievements was reading the New Testament on tape, an experience he described as his “greatest honor”[[[1]]. His rendition of the King James Version of the New Testament, recorded in the 1980s, was remastered for CD in 2002 and praised for its beauty and rich tone.
Born on January 17, 1931, Jones struggled with a stutter as a young boy, which made it difficult for him to speak in front of others. However, with the help of a retired college professor who mentored him, Jones overcame his speech impediment and developed a passion for poetry and acting[[[1]].
After graduating from the University of Michigan, Jones served in the U.S. Army in Colorado, where he met a Jesuit chaplain who helped him
