James Earl Jones has reportedly passed away at the age of 93, he died this morning at his home in Dutchess County, NY., according to Deadline.

 Often described as one of the greatest and most distinguished actors in American history, Jones was a respected master of the craft. With a seven-decade career, he gave audiences earnest performances regardless of their medium. Whether in theater, film or television, Jones’ versatile portrayals consistently garnered acclaim. His deep, bellowing voice and stately presence was welcomed in everything from romantic dramas like Claudine to laugh-out-loud comedies like Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America, Jones’ acting skills and range arguably elevated the productions that he was attached to.

Famously known as the voice of Darth Vader, one of the most successful film franchises in history, Jones’ unmistakable tone and spellbinding diction were viewed by many as an iconic masterpiece. A writer for The New York Times once described it as “majestic.”

It’s hard to believe that the man with such a recognizable voice spent a portion of his early life not uttering a word.

 Born January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones was mostly raised by his maternal grandparents. His father, Robert Earl Jones, was a boxer and actor who wasn’t present in his son’s life as a child. Jones eventually moved from Mississippi with his grandparents to Michigan.  

In childhood, he developed a severe stutter, which caused him to remain silent out of fear of being mocked or ridiculed for the speech disorder. After years of being self-conscious and timid in school, a high school teacher helped him find and share his voice.

“I had a great English teacher who believed in language," Jones once told the Hollywood Reporter.

 Jones eventually overcame stuttering and attended the University of Michigan to study medicine, but his plans changed and acting became his true passion. Following college, he served in the military. After his discharge, he moved to New York City to pursue his acting career. He studied at the American Theatre Wing. It was during his early career as an actor that Jones got to know his father, who was also working in the arts.

 Broadway came calling in the late 1950s and Jones made his big stage debut in the play, Sunrise at Campobello. Over the years Jones played in a variety of roles on stage and the big and small screens. In the early 1960s, he participated in the early years of the Shakespeare in the Park program. It was there where he played Othello on several occasions.

His performance on the TV show East Side/West Side earned him his first Emmy Award nomination in 1963. The following year he played alongside Peter Sellers in the war satire film, Dr. Strangelove. In 1968, he married actress and singer, Julianne Marie. The couple divorced four years after their union.

Although he found tremendous success on screen, the stage always called him. He got a big break on The Great White Way when he scored the role as boxer Jack Jefferson (loosely based on Jack Johnson) in The Great White Hope. His portrayal earned him his first Tony Award. Jones starred in numerous Broadway productions throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Of Mice and Men and Fences, the latter of which won him a second Tony Award. A true student of the art, Jones never chose one medium over the over. He continued to work on film and television in cultural classics like Claudine and Roots in 1977. In 1982, he married his second wife, Cecilia Hart.

 Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the Mississippi native appeared in dozens of productions across genres and outlets. One of his most notable performances during this time was his role as an admiral in 1990’s The Hunt for Red October. He would reprise his part in Patriot Games in 1992 and then again in 1994’s Clear and Present Danger. In between filming that popular trilogy, in 1993 he released his memoir, Voices and Silences. The following year, he voiced the character of Mufasa in the classic animated film, the Lion King. He would later reprise that role too in the 2019 live-action remake co-starring Beyoncé Knowles.

Over the years, Jones was the recipient of many accolades, including a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002 and an honorary Academy Award in 2011. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bestowed the award to Jones "for his legacy of consistent excellence and uncommon versatility," according to the organization's website.

Not many actors are afforded a long, illustrious career as Jones had, but he never took it for granted.

He once told New York Times Magazine that the key to his longevity in show business was staying the course and remaining humble. “The secret is never forgetting that you’re a journeyman actor and that nothing is your final thing, nothing is your greatest thing, nothing is your worst thing. I still consider myself a novice,” he said.

Jones was preceded in death by Cecilia, his wife of 34 years. He is survived by his son, Flynn Earl Jones.