Remembering Actor James Earl Jones

Fresh Air

NPR

Tv & Film, Arts, Society & Culture, Books

4.4 • 34.4K Ratings

🗓️ 13 September 2024

⏱️ 52 minutes

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Summary

James Earl Jones was the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mafusa in The Lion King, and once the voice of CNN. But there was a time when he didn't want to be heard. We revisit his 1993 interview with Terry Gross about how he overcame his stutter. Jones died this week at 93.

Also we remember late guitarist Russell Malone. He played with Diana Krall and Harry Connick Jr.

Film critic Justin Chang reviews His Three Daughters.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Celebrate the women who shaped music history with NPR's new book, How Women Made Music.
0:05.6	From Beyonce to Odetta, Joan Jet to Dolly Parton,
0:08.6	this beautiful book is filled with interviews, original writing, illustrations, photos, and more.
0:14.0	Also available as an audiobook featuring interview excerpts with legendary musicians.
0:19.0	Visit NPR.org slash How Women Made Music to Pre-order Now.
0:24.6	This is Fresh Air.
0:26.6	James Earl Jones gave voice to one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in film history,
0:33.0	giving a deep resonant quality and menacing tone
0:35.8	as Darth Vader in Star Wars.
0:38.2	If you only knew the power of the Dark Side,
0:42.1	the demanding and sinister Mufasa in the Lion King,
0:44.8	Look inside yourself Simba. You are more than what you have become.
0:51.2	And for a time he read the promos for a new cable news network.
0:55.0	This is CNN.
0:58.0	James Earl Jones died Monday at the age of 93.
1:02.0	He got his start in the 1950s in theater, which remained
1:05.8	his first love. He returned to the stage throughout his career, playing Othello, Macbeth, and King
1:11.5	Lear.
1:12.6	He earned a Tony Award for his performance
1:14.8	in August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize winning play,
1:17.5	Fences, playing an embittered father talking to his son.
1:21.8	Let's get this straight right now.
	...

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