Happy Birthday James Earl Jones

“One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter” - James Earl Jones

(James Earl Jones)

James Earl Jones was born on January 17th, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA. After being born his father left the family. Jones was raised by his grandparents. At 5 years old he moved to Michigan.

(Jones as a child)

He developed a stutter and refused to speak until he entered high school. He attended the University of Michigan. He was drafted and sent to fight in the Korean war. He was a 1st lieutenant when he left the military. In 1955 he graduated college. Also in 1955 he performed in the play “Othello”.

(Jones in 1955)

In 1963 he appeared in the TV show “Channing”. In 1964 he appeared in the movie Dr. Strangelove.

(Jones in Dr. Strangelove (1964))

In 1967 he appeared in the movie “The Comedians”. In 1969 he won a Tony award for the play “The Great White Hope”. In 1970 he starred in the film The Great White Hope. In 1974 he appeared in the play “Of Mice and Men”. Also in 1974 he starred in the film Claudine.

(Jones (Left) in Claudine (1974))

In 1977 he played the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars Ep. 4 A New Hope. In 1979 he appeared in the TV series “Roots The Next Generations”.

(Jones in “Roots The Next Generations” (1979))

Also in 1979 he appeared in the TV show “Paris”. In 1980 he voiced Darth Vader in Star Wars Ep. 5 The Empire Strikes Back.

(Jones in 1980)

In 1982 he starred in the movie Conan the Barbarian.

(Jones in Conan the Barbarian (1982))

In 1983 he voiced Darth Vader in Star Wars Ep. 6 Return of the Jedi. In 1987 he won a Tony award for the play “Fences”. In 1988 he starred in the movie Coming to America.

(Jones in Coming to America (1988))

In 1989 he starred in the TV show “Long Ago and Far Away”. In 1990 he appeared on “The Simpsons”. In 1991 he appeared in the TV show “Gabriel’s Fire”. In 1993 he appeared in the movie The Sandlot.

(Jones in 1993)

In 1994 he voiced Mufasa in The Lion King. In 1995 he starred in the TV show “Under One Roof”. In 1996 he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In 2005 he starred in the play “On Golden Pond”. Also in 2005 he voiced Darth Vader in Star Wars Ep. 3 Revenge of the Sith.

(Jones in 2005)

In 2008 he starred in the play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. In 2009 he appeared in the TV show “House, M.D.”. In 2010 he starred in the play “Driving Miss Daisy”.

(Jones in 2010)

In 2012 he starred in the play “The Best Man”. In 2013 he starred in the play “Much Ado About Nothing”. In 2014 he starred in the play “You Can’t Take it With You”. Also in 2014 he voiced Darth Vader in the TV show “Star Wars Rebels”.

(Jones in 2014)

In 2015 he starred in the play “The Gin Game”. In 2016 he voiced Darth Vader in Rogue One A Star Wars Story.

(Jones in 2016)

Today he turns 86 years old and we would all like to say happy birthday James Earl Jones.

Movies starring James Earl Jones

• Dr. Strangelove (1964) as Lt. Lothar Zogg
• The Comedians (1967) as Dr. Magiot
• The Great White Hope (1970) as Jack Jefferson
• End of the Road (1970) as Dr. D
• The Man (1972) as Douglass Dilman
• Claudine (1974) as Roop
• Deadly Hero (1975) as Rabbit
• Swashbuckler (1976) as Nick Debrett
• The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars & Motor Kings (1976) as Leon Carter
• The River Niger (1976) as Johnny Williams
• Star Wars: Ep. 4 A New Hope (1977) as Darth Vader (Voice)
• Exorcist 2: The Heretic (1977) as Older Kokumo
• A Piece of the Action (1977) as Joshua Burke
• The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) as Sheikh
• Star Wars: Ep. 5 The Empire Strikes Back (1980) as Darth Vader (Voice)
• The Bushido Blade (1981) as The Prisoner
• Conan: The Barbarian (1982) as Thulsa Doom
• Bloodtide (1982) as Frye
• Star Wars: Ep 6 Return of the Jedi (1983) as Darth Vader (Voice)
• City Limits (1984) as Albert
• Soul Man (1986) as Pro. Banks
• Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986) as Umslopogaas
• My Little Girl (1986) as Ike Bailey
• Gardens of Stone (1987) as Goody Nelson
• Matewan (1987) as Few Clothes
• Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (1987) as Emperor of the Night (Voice)   
• Coming to America (1988) as King Jaffe Joffer
• Field of Dreams (1989) as Terrence Mann
• Best of the Best (1989) as Frank Couzo
• Three Fugitives (1989) as Dugan
• The Hunt For Red October (1990) as Admiral Greer
• The Ambulance (1990) as Lt. Spencer
• Grim Prairie Tales: Hit the Trail...to Terror (1990) as Morrison
• Terrorgram (1990) as Retribution (Voice)
• True Identity (1991) as himself
• Convicts (1991) as Ben Johnson
• Scorchers (1991) as Bear
• Patriot Games (1992) as Admiral Greer
• Sneakers (1992) as NSA Agent Bernard Abbott
• Freddie as F.R.O.7. (1992) as Narrator (Voice)
• Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (1992) as Narrator
• The Sandlot (1993) as Mr. Mertle
• The Meteor Man (1993) as Earnest Moses
• Sommersby (1993) as Judge Issacs
• Excessive Force (1993) as Jake
• Dreamrider (1993) as William Perry
• The Lion King (1994) as Mufasa (Voice)
• Naked Gun 33 ⅓: The Final Insult (1994) as himself
• Clear and Present Danger (1994) as Admiral James Greer
• Clean Slate (1994) as John Dolby
• Judge Dredd (1995) as Narrator (Voice)
• Jefferson in Paris (1995) as Madison Hemings
• Cry, The Beloved Country (1995) as Rev. Stephan Kumalo
• Looking For Richard (1996) as himself
• A Family Thing (1996) as Ray Murdock
• Good Luck (1996) as James Bing
• Gang Related (1997) as Arthur Baylor
• Primary Colors (1998) as CNN voice over (Voice)
• Fantasia 2000 (1999) as himself
• Undercover Angel (1999) as The Judge
• The Annihilation of Fish (1999) as Fish
• On the Q.T. (1999) as Leo
• Finder’s Fee (2001) as Avery Phillips
• Star Wars: Ep. 3 Revenge of the Sith (2005) as Darth Vader (Voice)
• Robots (2005) as voice box at hardware store
• Click (2006) as Narrator of Michael’s past
• The Benchwarmers (2006) as Darth Vader (Voice)
• Scary Movie 4 (2006) as Narrator
• Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins (2008) as Papa Jenkins
• Jack and the Beanstalk (2009) as The Giant (Voice)
• Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey (2010) as Admiral (Voice)
• Gimmie Shelter (2013) as Frank McCarthy
• Milius (2013) as himself
• Muse of Fire (2013) as himself
• The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014) as Ruben
• Driving Miss Daisy (2014) as Hoke
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) as Darth Vader (Voice)

Videos of James Earl Jones

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSbPqin3L6E  “The Bomb Run Sequence from Dr. Strangelove”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjFVa3hPxC4  “Great White Hope, The 1970)trailer”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP-v7kxrwdE  “CLAUDINE Official Trailer 1974”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfcpxetTHr0  “James Earl Jones as Alex Haley discovers his Roots (2/24/1979)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1ZtoR962tw  “Conan the Barbarian 1982 HD Trailer Arnold Schwarzenegger James Earl Jones Max von Sydow”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-5nJa2sUXg  “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi - Official® Trailer [HD]”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqfJqLFQSIk  “Coming to America (1988) Trailer”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sj1MT05lAA  “The Lion King (Trailer)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAJgnUix2kI  “James Earl Jones On Being The Voice Of Darth Vader”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2LkdNls4bw  “James Earl Jones and His Unmistakable Voice”