George Lucas, the creator of “Star Wars”, issued a statement in which he remembered Jones as “an incredible actor, a unique voice in art and spirit”. “For half a century he was Darth Vader, but his secret was that he was a wonderful man. He gave his roles depth, honesty and meaning, and among his most important were the husband of the late Ceci and the father of Flynn,” we read further.
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, the son of Darth Vader, in “Star Wars,” wrote on his Portal X account “Rest in peace, dad,” attaching a broken heart icon to the message.
Jones was also remembered by Kevin Costner, who starred with him in Field of Dreams. “That booming voice. That quiet strength. The tenderness he radiated. There’s so much you can say about his legacy, so I’ll just say how grateful I am that Field of Dreams is a part of it. If you’ve seen the movie, you know it wouldn’t be the same with anyone else in the role. Only Jones could bring that kind of magic to a movie about baseball and an Iowa cornfield. I’m grateful to have witnessed his magic,” the actor wrote.
“Dear James Earl Jones, thank you for everything. A master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. (…) You gave us the best,” wrote Colman Domingo, nominated for an Oscar for his leading role in “Rustin,” on the X portal.
“I am incredibly saddened to hear today about the passing of James Earl Jones. The word ‘legendary’ does not even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema. His voice and talent will be forever remembered. Sending love to his family, friends and countless fans across the galaxy,” Octavia Spencer, who won an Oscar for her supporting role in “The Help,” wrote on Instagram.
“Legendary – always and forever,” Barry Jenkins, director of the Oscar-winning best picture “Moonlight,” wrote on Instagram.
“James Earl Jones never died. His talent, his roles, and his influence will be with us forever. Rest in peace, Mr. Jones,” director Paul Feig wrote on X.
James Earl Jones was one of the most respected American stage and film actors. He was the winner of an honorary Oscar, two Tony Awards, three Emmy Awards and a Grammy. He appeared in, among others, “The Great White Hope”, for which he received an Oscar nomination, “Conan the Barbarian” and “The Prince of New York”.
He made history with his voice roles in “Star Wars” and “The Lion King”. In Lucas’ series, he played Darth Vader, the ruthless Sith lord. In the Disney animation, he created Mufasa, the loving and demanding father of Simba. As of 2022, Jones was retired. He died in his home at the age of 93.