James Earl Jones James Earl Jones attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on Sept. 28, 2015, in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/WireImage) (Walter McBride/WireImage via Getty Images)
ByMichael Rothman
Legendary actor James Earl Jones, best known for his innumerable movie roles and the booming voice of the character of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, has died, his representative confirmed to ABC News.
He was 93 years old.
Jones died on Monday morning at his home in Dutchess County, New York, surrounded by his family, according to longtime agent Barry McPherson.
PHOTOS: James Earl Jones Through The Years
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Opening Night Of "On Golden Pond" NEW YORK - APRIL 7: (U.S. TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actor James Earl Jones attends the opening night of "On Golden Pond" after party at Blue Fin April 7, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images) (Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)
"Driving Miss Daisy" On Broadway Celebrates James Earl Jones' 80th Birthday NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 17: Actor James Earl Jones celebrates his 80th birthday by blowing the candles out on his cake at The Golden Theatre on January 17, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
James Earl Jones 399864 01: Actor James Earl Jones reacts to a person who asked him if he could perform one of his movie character voices January 19, 2002 at the Lauderhill Boys and Girls Clubs of America in Lauderhill, FL. Jones was there to participate in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
James Earl Jones Honored By The YMCA NEW YORK - OCTOBER 24: Actor James Earl Jones speaks during the annual YMCA Arts & Letters Auction and Reception at the Rainbow Room October 24, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images) (Scott Gries/Getty Images)
The American Theatre Wing Annual Dinner CBS And Leslie Moonves NEW YORK - APRIL 11: Actor James Earl Jones answers a few questions from the television press upon arriving at the American Theater Wing Annual Dinner honoring CBS Television and it's chairman Leslie Moonves at Cipriani's 42nd St. April 11, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images) (Fernando Leon/Getty Images)
15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Show LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 25: Actor James Earl Jones accepts the Life Achievement award during the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
"You Can't Take It With You" Final Curtain Call NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 22: James Earl Jones(C) and the cast of 'You Can't Take It With You' during the final curtain call at Longacre Theatre on February 22, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images) (Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images)
James Earl Jones Honored By The YMCA NEW YORK - OCTOBER 24: Actor James Earl Jones reads to children during the annual YMCA Arts & Letters Auction and Reception at the Rainbow Room October 24, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images) (Scott Gries/Getty Images)
The thespian, whose powerful, deep voice brought to life the iconic villain, acted for more than six decades. In the 1950s and ‘60s, Jones was a Broadway staple. From On Golden Pond to The Best Man, his work earned four Tony nominations, winning for The Great White Hope in 1969 and Fences in 1987.
Almost simultaneously, he was garnering acclaim on TV, as well. The eventual two-time Emmy Award winner earned his first nod in the 1960s for his work on East Side/West Side.
He picked up both his Primetime Emmy wins in 1991, for best supporting actor in the miniseries Heat Wave and best actor for the series Gabriel's Fire. He also won a Daytime Emmy for the children's special Summer's End in 2000.
Jones later earned his first Oscar nod, adapting The Great White Hope to the silver screen in 1970, playing boxer Jack Jefferson. Jones was just the second Black actor after Sidney Poitier — who was nominated in 1958 and 1963 — to be recognized by the academy with a nomination.
For the better part of the 1970s, Jones continued to juggle his work on stage, TV and film. Then, in 1977, he was cast as the voice of a new villain, Darth Vader, in the space saga Star Wars: A New Hope.
While bodybuilder David Prowse would be the figure behind the black mask of the Sith lord, Jones was the voice that uttered so many iconic lines in the film and its sequels — including "I find your lack of faith disturbing," and then, of course, to Luke Skywalker in 1980's The Empire Strikes Back, his big reveal, "No, I am your father."
From 1977 to 1983, the three original Star Wars films would become some of the most revered and original movies of their time, not just for special effects, but also for the shocking plot and themes.
After Star Wars, Jones made memorable appearances in Eddie Murphy's 1988 film Coming to America, then starred opposite Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams in 1989. A few years later, he once again lent his voice to a famous character, starring in the Disney animated feature The Lion King as Mufasa.
Jones had almost 200 credits to his name, according to IMDB, as he stayed active for more than 60 years.
In 2011, Jones was given an honorary Academy Award for the breadth of his acclaimed work and in March 2022, it was announced that Broadway's Cort Theatre would be renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre.
Jones married twice. His second wife, Cecilia Hart, died in 2016 after 34 years of marriage. The couple is survived by their son, Flynn Earl Jones.
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