Colman Domingo, LeVar Burton, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Other Stars Pay Tribute to the Late James Earl Jones
By Tomás Mier
September 9, 2024
Hollywood is in mourning after the passing of legendary actor James Earl Jones, best known for voicing iconic characters like Mufasa in The Lion King and Darth Vader in Star Wars. Jones died at his New York home at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy that has deeply impacted cinema and television.
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, paid a touching tribute on X (formerly Twitter), posting, “RIP dad,” referencing the famous "I am your father" line delivered by Jones in The Empire Strikes Back.
Colman Domingo shared a heartfelt message alongside a vintage photo of Jones, writing, “Thank you, dear James Earl Jones, for everything. A master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us your best.”
Octavia Spencer expressed her sadness, sharing a portrait of Jones and writing, “Legendary doesn’t even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema forever. His voice and talent will be remembered always. Sending love to his family, friends, and countless fans in all the galaxies, far, far away.”
LeVar Burton, who co-starred with Jones in Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, tweeted, “There will never be another of his particular combination of graces.”
Other stars joined in, including Moonlight director Barry Jenkins, who posted “Forever and always legendary on Instagram, and actress Garcelle Beauvais, who said, “Words cannot express how sad this makes me! Thank you for gracing us with your talent and your spirit!”
Crystal Kung Minkoff, wife of *The Lion King* director Rob Minkoff, shared a touching tribute along with a photo of her husband and Jones holding a statuette of Mufasa, writing, “Rest in Power, Mr. Jones. You made a young animator’s dream come true when you accepted the role of Mufasa.”
Director George Lucas, who cast Jones as Darth Vader, once said, “It was a choice between Orson Welles and James Earl Jones... James Earl Jones won hands down. He created, with very little dialogue, one of the greatest villains that ever lived.”
Jones’ contributions extended far beyond Star Wars. A two-time Tony Award winner and a three-time Emmy Award recipient, he also won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word in 1977. Jones was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild and the Tonys, as well as the Kennedy Center Honors in 2002.
Paul Feig, Yvette Nicole Brown, and D-Nice were among the many who expressed their admiration for Jones’ unparalleled legacy, ensuring his contributions to entertainment will never be forgotten.
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