James Earl Jones’ influence went far beyond voiceovers: 'Master of our craft'
After his death, actors are praising James Earl Jones for his skill and remembering Jones as a path-blazer who broke color barriers.
When New York’s Cort Theatre was renamed after James Earl Jones in 2022, Samuel L. Jackson said, “If you are an actor or you aspired to be an actor or you pounded the pavement in these streets looking for jobs and doing things — one of the standards that we always had was to be a James Earl Jones.”
Jones was the “standard” for actors. He died Monday at age 93.
In the wake of his death, actors have shared poignant messages about Jones’ influence, calling him a path-blazer for actors like Denzel Washington and others who came after him.
James Earl Jones, with Rosalind Cash and Ellen Holly, in "King Lear" in Central Park in New York in 1973. Jack Mitchell / Getty Images“Thank you dear James Earl Jones for everything,” the Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo wrote Monday in a post on X. “A master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us your best.”
Jones is best known for voicing the iconic characters Darth Vader and Mufasa, and for his roles in movies like “Coming to America.” Initially a stage actor, he began his film career with “Dr. Strangelove” in 1964 and most recently reprised his role as King Joffer in “Coming 2 America,” the 2021 sequel. Although he wasn’t a leading movie star in his early years, like Sidney Poitier or Harry Belafonte, Jones had a lengthy acting career that served as a touchstone for later generations.
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