James Earl Jones: 17 Jan 1931 - 09 Sep 2024

[dimsum]

James Earl Jones Dies: Revered ‘Field Of Dreams’ Star, Darth Vader Voice & Broadway Regular Was 93

James Earl Jones, revered actor who voiced Darth Vader in Star Wars, starred in Field of Dreams' died September 9 at his home in Dutchess County, NY. He was 93.

deadline.com

RIP to one of the most recognizable voices in Hollywood.

 

[ArmyRick]

Very sad. He brought top notch acting to every role he did

 

[Remius]

One of those voices that can’t be fully or adequately replicated by anyone. A loss to the entertainment world to be certain.

 

[Blackadder1916]

One of my favourite performances.

 

[dimsum]

One of those voices that can’t be fully or adequately replicated by anyone. A loss to the entertainment world to be certain.

I was looking up quotes to put on here and apparently there is an audiobook of JEJ narrating the Bible.

I wouldn’t spend money on it, but I’m actually a bit intrigued…

 

[Remius]

I was looking up quotes to put on here and apparently there is an audiobook of JEJ narrating the Bible.

I wouldn’t spend money on it, but I’m actually a bit intrigued…

I think they have clips on YouTube. I’ve heard some of it and it’s good. Anytime he speaks its good lol.

Rumour is for the Kenobi series it was AI that had to do his voice. That’s how good it is. No human can replicate it.

 

[dimsum]

I think they have clips on YouTube. I’ve heard some of it and it’s good. Anytime he speaks its good lol.

Rumour is for the Kenobi series it was AI that had to do his voice. That’s how good it is. No human can replicate it.

He is perhaps one of two people that I would legit listen, if they read a phone book. Or a Wikipedia entry.

 

[dapaterson]

Best tribute ever. Star Wars, with all of Vader's dialogue overlaid with other JEJ quotes.

 

[RangerRay]

One of my favourite performances.

No wonder that guy got in shit. The placement of that private’s porno mag definitely did not meet the standard. It’s supposed be inside barrack box laid neatly and squarely on the top so the master corporal can take a reading break during morning inspection.

 

[dapaterson]

JEJ reads a Top Ten List: Top Ten Things that sound cool when spoken by James Earl Jones.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1833250913483690509

 

[rmc_wannabe]

He is perhaps one of two people that I would legit listen, if they read a phone book. Or a Wikipedia entry.

Should have got him to do the audiobook for "Fighting Spirit" then....

 

[Maxman1]

 

[Kilted]

I was looking up quotes to put on here and apparently there is an audiobook of JEJ narrating the Bible.

I wouldn’t spend money on it, but I’m actually a bit intrigued…

 

[OldSolduer]

Should have got him to do the audiobook for "Fighting Spirit" then....

Contemplate this on the Tree of Woe…

 

[NavyHopeful]

He is perhaps one of two people that I would legit listen, if they read a phone book. Or a Wikipedia entry.

The second possibility being Morgan Freeman?

I am personally impressed that, even though Darth Vader was such a high-profile role, he seemed to be ok with only being paid a pittance, comparatively speaking, to what the role was worth. I mean, he didn't even take credit for the voice work in ANH and ESB, but had his name in the credits for ROTJ, because "it was going to be the last performance of Darth Vader." (his words, not mine)

For someone who did so much for the storytelling community in Hollywood, it is personally gratifying to see that someone was more concerned with the work they were doing and the legacy they left behind than they were with what they were being compensated for their work, and how important they were. I mean, the man was a cameo in TBBT as himself, and came off as a crazed SW fan when Sheldon approached him. It was one of his funniest performances, IMHO.

He will be missed.

 

[dimsum]

For someone who did so much for the storytelling community in Hollywood, it is personally gratifying to see that someone was more concerned with the work they were doing and the legacy they left behind than they were with what they were being compensated for their work, and how important they were.

There was a documentary on Reading Rainbow (which is really awesome - go watch it) where JEJ was going to read a book, but bowed out at the last minute. Paraphrasing, it turned out that his voice wasn’t up to par that day and he didn’t want to give less than 100% performance.

He could have phoned it in for a kids TV show, but he didn’t.

James Earl Jones’ Reading Rainbow Episode Perfectly Encapsulates His Monumental Talent

James Earl Jones was a mountain of a talent who always treated his craft with the utmost respect, from Broadway to Reading Rainbow.

www.denofgeek.com

Edit to add: The Reading Rainbow doc is called Butterfly in the Sky on Netflix.

 

[Maxman1]

There was a documentary on Reading Rainbow (which is really awesome - go watch it) where JEJ was going to read a book, but bowed out at the last minute. Paraphrasing, it turned out that his voice wasn’t up to par that day and he didn’t want to give less than 100% performance.

He could have phoned it in for a kids TV show, but he didn’t.

James Earl Jones’ Reading Rainbow Episode Perfectly Encapsulates His Monumental Talent

James Earl Jones was a mountain of a talent who always treated his craft with the utmost respect, from Broadway to Reading Rainbow.

www.denofgeek.com

Edit to add: The Reading Rainbow doc is called Butterfly in the Sky on Netflix.

The same can't be said for the unnecessary remake of The Lion King, which got exactly the performance it deserves. Half his dialogue sounds tired and miserable, the other half is ripped from the original film.

 

[NavyHopeful]

There was a documentary on Reading Rainbow (which is really awesome - go watch it) where JEJ was going to read a book, but bowed out at the last minute. Paraphrasing, it turned out that his voice wasn’t up to par that day and he didn’t want to give less than 100% performance.

He could have phoned it in for a kids TV show, but he didn’t.

James Earl Jones’ Reading Rainbow Episode Perfectly Encapsulates His Monumental Talent

James Earl Jones was a mountain of a talent who always treated his craft with the utmost respect, from Broadway to Reading Rainbow.

www.denofgeek.com

Edit to add: The Reading Rainbow doc is called Butterfly in the Sky on Netflix.

Thanks for the link. I'll check that out.

Just another example of "the quality outweighs the compensation"

 

[NavyHopeful]

The same can't be said for the unnecessary remake of The Lion King, which got exactly the performance it deserves. Half his dialogue sounds tired and miserable, the other half is ripped from the original film.

That was Disney trying to save a buck.

 

[Maxman1]

That was Disney trying to save a buck.

The whole thing is a cheap cash-in. If I want to watch The Lion King, I'll just watch The Lion King, not a CGI remake that looks terrible.