# James Earl Jones

> American actor (1931–2024)

**Wikidata**: [Q203960](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q203960)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Earl_Jones)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/james-earl-jones

## Summary

James Earl Jones was born January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla.[1][2][3][4][5][6] He held United States citizenship. His field was acting.[7]He worked as a television actor, film actor, stage actor, voice actor, and actor.[7] His education included University of Michigan, Ranger School, and University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance.He was married to Julienne Marie (1968–1972) and Cecilia Hart (1982–2016). He received the National Medal of Arts, Daytime Emmy Award, Theatre World Award, Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, and Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award + 2 more.[8] He died September 9, 2024, in Pawling.[9][10][11].

## Summary
James Earl Jones was an American actor whose career spanned from 1953 to 2021. He was a versatile performer known for his work as a film, television, stage, and voice actor, particularly recognized for his roles in *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope* and *The Lion King*.

## Biography
- **Born**: January 17, 1931
- **Died**: September 9, 2024
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**: University of Michigan; Ranger School
- **Known for**: Acting in film, television, theatre, and voice acting
- **Field(s)**: Acting
- **Conflict**: Korean War

## Contributions
James Earl Jones contributed to the performing arts across multiple media. In film, he is noted for his appearance in *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope* (1977). In animation, he provided voice work for *The Lion King* (1994). His stage career is commemorated by the James Earl Jones Theatre, a Broadway theater in Manhattan, New York. His professional work period spanned from 1953 to 2021.

## FAQs
**What awards did James Earl Jones receive?**
He received numerous awards including the National Medal of Arts, Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, Daytime Emmy Award, Primetime Emmy Awards (for Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie), Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honors, Academy Honorary Award, Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor, Theatre World Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, CableACE Award, Horatio Alger Award, Humanitarian of the Year, and the Paul Robeson Award. He was also named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and received an honorary doctorate from Harvard University.

**Where did James Earl Jones receive his education?**
He was educated at the University of Michigan and the Ranger School.

**What are James Earl Jones's most notable works?**
His notable works include the film *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope* and the animated film *The Lion King*.

## Why They Matter
James Earl Jones matters as a defining figure in American acting, distinguished by his versatility across stage, film, television, and voice acting. His deep voice became iconic in global culture, particularly through his contributions to major franchises like *Star Wars* and *The Lion King*. His career, spanning nearly seven decades, set a standard for dramatic performance, evidenced by his sweep of major American entertainment awards (EGOT-qualifying wins). The naming of the James Earl Jones Theatre on Broadway solidifies his legacy in live theatre.

## Notable For
-   **Versatile Acting Career**: Occupations include film actor, television actor, stage actor, and voice actor.
-   **Iconic Film Roles**: Notable work in *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope* (1977).
-   **Voice Acting**: Notable work in *The Lion King* (1994).
-   **Theatre Legacy**: The James Earl Jones Theatre on Broadway is named after him.
-   **Award Achievements**: Recipient of the National Medal of Arts, Kennedy Center Honors, Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, Academy Honorary Award, and multiple Tony and Emmy Awards.
-   **Academic Recognition**: Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and recipient of an honorary doctor of Harvard University.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931. He pursued higher education at the University of Michigan, a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He also attended the Ranger School, a United States Army leadership training course.

### Military Service
Jones was associated with the Korean War, which took place between 1950 and 1953.

### Career Overview
Jones's professional acting career began in 1953 and extended until 2021, covering a work period of nearly seven decades. He held occupations across the entertainment industry, functioning as a television actor, film actor, stage actor, and voice actor. He is listed as a human (Homo sapiens) and a citizen of the United States.

### Notable Works
Jones is associated with two major cinematic works:
-   **Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope**: The 1977 film directed by George Lucas.
-   **The Lion King**: The 1994 animated film directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff.

### Theatre and Legacy
A significant honor in his career is the James Earl Jones Theatre, a Broadway theater located in Manhattan, New York, which bears his name. The theater itself was originally established on December 20, 1912.

### Awards and Honors
Jones received a wide array of recognition for his contributions to the arts:
-   **National Medal of Arts**: An award and title created by the United States Congress in 1984.
-   **Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play**: An honor presented at the Tony Awards.
-   **Primetime Emmy Awards**: He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.
-   **Daytime Emmy Award**: An American TV award established in 1974.
-   **Academy Honorary Award**: An award instituted in 1928.
-   **Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award**: An award first presented in 1962.
-   **Kennedy Center Honors**: An annual American honor in the performing arts established in 1978.
-   **Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor**: A film award category active from 1948 to 1983.
-   **Theatre World Award**: An American theatre award originating in 1945.
-   **CableACE Award**: An award established in 1978.
-   **Horatio Alger Award**: An award conferred by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.
-   **Humanitarian of the Year**: A Harvard Foundation award.
-   **Paul Robeson Award**: Bestowed by the Paul Robeson Citation Award Committee of the Actors' Equity Association.
-   **Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences**: An honorary fellowship from the academy established in 1780.
-   **Honorary Doctor**: Received an honorary doctorate from Harvard University.

### Affiliations
Jones was affiliated with the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a United States honorary society and policy research center.

## References

1. [James Earl Jones, Dutchess County resident, dies at 93. 2024](https://www.dailyfreeman.com/2024/09/09/james-earl-jones-dutchess-county-resident-dies-at-93/)
2. BnF authorities
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. [Member Profile – Horatio Alger Association](https://horatioalger.org/members/member-detail/?id=003j000000f219cAAA)
5. [James Earl Jones. Harvard Foundation](https://harvardfoundation.fas.harvard.edu/media-gallery/detail/141956/137071)
6. [History of honorary degrees. Harvard University](https://www.harvard.edu/on-campus/commencement/honorary-degrees)
7. BlackPast.org
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. CiNii Research
11. MusicBrainz
12. [Source](https://archives.nypl.org/scm/20712)
13. IMDb
14. SNAC
15. Internet Broadway Database
16. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
17. Proleksis Encyclopedia
18. Munzinger Personen
19. [James Earl Jones, legendary actor known for unmistakable baritone voice, dies at 93. 2024](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/james-earl-jones-dead-93-rcna42405)
20. [Source](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce81rkg87w8o)
21. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
22. [Celebrities and other famous people who have had stutters. Business Insider. 2019](https://www.businessinsider.com/stuttering-celebrities-famous-people-2019-11)
23. [BnF authorities](http://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb13987977j)
24. BBC Things
25. X
26. Quora
27. The Movie Database
28. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/James_Earl_Jones-GRPWVJ)
29. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data
30. [Regional Database of the Central Bohemian Research Library in Kladno](https://ipac.svkkl.cz/arl-kl/cs/detail-kl_us_auth-p0091327-Jones-James-Earl-1931)