- "I am happy to be a part of the whole cult movement. But they are scary. People are fanatics. I went to a comic-book convention once. George Lucas wrote me a statement to make as nasty as Dark Vader. It was a salutation. But at least I had something to do. I don't sign autographs."
- ―James Earl Jones on Star Wars conventions
James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor who voiced the masked Darth Vader in the Star Wars films, including the Holiday Special. He does not actually appear onscreen, as his voice was dubbed over while the suit was worn by David Prowse and stuntman Bob Anderson in the original trilogy, the Holiday Special, and while Hayden Christensen wore the suit in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. He reprised the role in anthology film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.[2]
Jones attended the University of Michigan. Although born in the state, he spent his childhood in Mississippi.
In March of 1977, Jones spent only one day recording Darth Vader's voice-over dialogue for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope at Goldwyn Studios.[3] As such, Jones refused to be credited until the release of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, even going as far as telling people it wasn't he who did the voice-over.[4]
Work in Star Wars[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- The Star Wars Holiday Special
- Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars: The Interactive Video Board Game
- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
- Star Wars Rebels
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
- The Jedi Master's Quizbook
"Speaking for Darth: The Magic of James Earl Jones"—Star Wars Insider 25- Star Wars Insider 49
- James Earl Jones on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars: The Complete Vader
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
- ↑
James Earl Jones on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ Breznican, Anthony (June 23, 2016). Darth Vader Lives!. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved on June 23, 2016.
- ↑ Star Wars Insider 95
- ↑ Wloszczyna, Susan (January 25, 2009). A lifetime of achievement, but James Earl Jones isn't done. USA TODAY. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved on June 23, 2016.
