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James Earl Jones, Mississippi-born actor who passed away on September 9, 2024, at age 93, is mourned and celebrated for his eight-decade career in theater, film, and television.

Jones overcame a childhood stutter through poetry and drama, graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in drama in 1955, and served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army.

Jones became a groundbreaking pioneer for African American actors through iconic roles including the voice of Darth Vader in multiple Star Wars films and Mufasa in Disney's The Lion King animated and live-action versions.

Jones received numerous prestigious awards including two Emmy Awards, three Tony Awards, an Honorary Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe, and achieved EGOT status, plus honors including Kennedy Center Honors and a National Medal of Arts.

The Broadway theater where Jones made his debut in 1958 was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in 2022, making it the second Broadway venue named after a Black theatrical artist.