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James Earl Jones, the Hollywood sensation whose booming voice reverberated across the world in the Disney animation, Lion King, has died. He was 93.
Jones died on Monday in Dutchess County, New York. No cause of death was given by the family.
In a statement released shortly after his death, Walt Disney Company chief executive officer, Bob Iger, said: “From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history. A celebrated stage actor with nearly 200 film and television credits to his name, the stories he brought to life with a uniquely commanding presence and a true richness of spirit have left an indelible mark on generations of audiences.”
He has been eulogised as one of the greatest actors of his time mainly due to his unmistakable voice. It is said that taxi drivers in New York would only know they are driving a celebrity figure when he stated his destination.
He was also mourned by his colleagues, many who co-starred with him in major productions.
“That booming voice. That quiet strength. The kindness that he radiated. So much can be said about his legacy, so I’ll just say how thankful I am that part of it includes Field of Dreams,” said Kevin Costner who co-starred with Jones in the Field of Dreams.
Jones was born in 1931 in Mississippi but grew up in Michigan, USA. His father, actor Robert Earl Jones, abandoned the family before James was born, a factor that almost eroded his confidence and had to overcome a stammer as a child.
Kenyans who were born and grew up in the 1990s were weaned on the animation where Jones voiced Mufasa, the benevolent father to a young Simba, the heir apparent but who was unschooled in the way of life in the African jungle.
In the movie, Mufasa was killed by his ambitious brother Scar, much to the consternation of young viewers who had forged an emotional attachment with Mufasa.
His Mufasa voice was next heard in the 1998 animation The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride and the 2015 The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar.
“I initially approached my character with the utmost dignity, befitting the king of the jungle. Fathers are not always grand, certainly not with their sons. When you accommodate being a father, you are often dopey and goofy. You are just Dad… In The Lion King, Mufasa urges his son, Simba, to take his place in the great circle of life—and for me, the heart of that circle is my family," Jones once said of his role in Lion King.
In a previous interview with The Standard, Richard Kimenyi, currently serving as general manager at Hemingways Nairobi, said he was honoured to have entertained Jones during his visit to Kenya in the 1980s. Kimenyi was then heading The Norfolk Hotel.
“It has been a humbling journey hosting such renowned personalities. In the hospitality industry, you have a single chance to impress. I am glad I was, and still is, in such a position,” said Kimenyi.
In an acting career spanning 68 years, Jones has in dozens of blockbuster movies such as Coming to America, where he played the no nonsense King of Zamuda.
In 2019, he became the first member of the orignal cast to reprise his role in the movie Lion King. Two years later, he again reprised his role in Coming 2 America.
Apart from being the villain in Darth Vader, his other globally-acclaimed roles include the Star Wars franchise. For decades, Jones was the voice behind global broadcaster, CNN's tagline, This...is CNN.
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