Actor James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931 to Robert Earl Jones and Ruth Connolly in Arkabutla, Mississippi. Jones’ family moved to Dublin, Michigan in 1936, and Jones developed a severe stutter. In 1949, Jones graduated from Dickson High School in Brethren, Michigan. In 1953, he participated in productions at Manistee Summer Theater. After serving in the U.S. Army for two years, Jones received his B.A. degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1955.
Following graduation, Jones relocated to New York City where he studied acting at the American Theatre Wing. In 1957, Jones understudied for Lloyd Richards in The Egghead on Broadway, and for Ivan Dixon in Wedding in Japan off-Broadway. Jones’ first speaking role on Broadway was as the valet in Sunrise at Campobello in 1958. Then, in 1960, Jones portrayed Michael Williams in Henry V for Joseph Papp’s Shakespeare in Central Park while playing the lead in The Pretender. Geraldine Lust cast Jones as Deodatus Village in Jean Genet’s The Blacks in 1961. Jones appeared in his first significant television role on East Side, West Side on CBS in 1963.
The following year, he appeared in his first buy viagra price film role in Dr. Strangelove, directed by Stanley Kubrick. In 1964, Joseph Papp cast Jones as Othello for the Shakespeare in Central Park production of Othello. Jones portrayed champion boxer Jack Johnson in Howard Sackler’s The Great White Hope in 1969 and starred in the 1970 film adaptation. In 1974, Jones portrayed Lennie in Of Mice and Men on Broadway. Beginning in 1977, Jones provided the voice for Darth Vader in Star Wars in addition to its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). Jones portrayed Troy Maxon in August Wilson’s Fences in 1987. Two years later, he portrayed Terrence Mann in The Field of Dreams and was cast as Gabriel Bird in Gabriel’s Fire.
Jones was nominated for numerous awards, including the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. In 2011, he received the Academy Honorary Award. In 1969, Jones won his first Tony Award for The Great White Hope. He received his second Tony Award for his portrayal of Troy Maxon in Fences. In 1991, Jones received Emmy Awards for his roles in Gabriel’s Fire and Heat Wave.