James Earl Jones Passes Away at 93

James Earl Jones, the voice of Star Wars’ Darth Vader and a celebrated actor, died in his New York home.

Jones’ representative confirmed the 93-year-old’s passing on September 9 though the exact cause of death hasn’t been disclosed. During a 2018 interview on the Rachael Ray Show, the performer narrated how he was diagnosed with diabetes in the 90s.

“I was lucky that it was discovered as it was quite by accident,” he said on the show. “ I was in a center for weight control and diet, trying to lose some weight and I fell asleep on the bench in the middle of the gymnasium one day,” Jones continued.

“The doctor who was there said, ‘That’s not normal,’ and he encouraged me to go and get checked out. Then I got a test and there it was, type 2 diabetes. It hit me like a thunderbolt,” he admitted.

Known for his distinctive baritone voice, Jones became famous for voicing Darth Vader, one of Star Wars’ greatest antagonists. As an unknown Hollywood newcomer at the time, Jones wasn’t credited for the role until the franchise’s third installment, The Return of the Jedi. For the first two movies, he was simply listed as part of “special effects.”

From then on, the Michigan native lent gravitas to his most famous roles: Mufasa’s voice in Lion King, King Jaffe Joffer in Coming To America, Terence Mann in Field of Dreams, and Admiral Greer in The Hunt for Red October. During the 80s and 90s, he became one of the most prolific African American actors.

Jones also acted on stage. He was the lead in Fences by August Wilson, the chauffer Hoke Colburn in the 2010 revival of Driving Miss Daisy, Jack Jefferson in The Great White Hope, and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing.

He is one of the few actors who has won the EGOT—an assembly of industry awards that include an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. His immense talent and commanding presence have allowed him to earn two Primetime Emmy awards, one Daytime Emmy, a Grammy Award, and three Tony Awards.

After hearing about Jones’ death, Star Wars filmmaker George Lucas referred to him as an “incredible actor, a most unique voice both in art and spirit. For nearly half a century he was Darth Vader, but the secret to it all is he was a beautiful human being. He gave depth, sincerity, and meaning to all his roles, amongst the most important being a devoted husband to the late Ceci and dad to Flynn. James will be missed by so many of us…friends and fans alike.”