Galactic Biography is a weekly article focusing on one of the many people who have contributed to the world of Star Wars. This week features the American actor and voice-actor James Earl Jones.

James Earl who?

Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi on January 17, 1931, James Earl Jones was raised by his grandparents. Due to a developed stutter at the age of five, he often refused to talk in his early years. It wasn’t until a high school teacher helped him by insisting he recite poems in front of his class, that he was able to overcome his selective mutism (yes that is an actual term). After training in the military, he began a career in acting. His largest role was in the film The Great White Hope and he was nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award for his role as boxer Jack Johnson.
 
But how does he relate to Star Wars?

George Lucas needed a deep and menacing voice-over for the character Lord Vader and Jones fit the bill. Though David Prowse wore the suit in the movies, James Earl Jones was the one who spoke all the lines in the original trilogy. Here is an excerpt from a Time Out Chicago interview with Jones:

TOC: Do you get Darth Vader requests all the time?
James Earl Jones: Yes, and that’s okay. I loved being a part of it.

TOC: What’s the most requested line?
James Earl Jones: “I’m your father.”

TOC: Wow, that just sent a chill down my spine. [Jones laughs.] You know, your Darth Vader voice gave me nightmares as a kid.
James Earl Jones: You’re not the only one. My son couldn’t believe I contributed my voice to a bad guy. He said, “Papa, how could you do that?” He didn’t like it at all. So you have company there. [Laughs] It was hard for me to get him to watch the movies.
 
Don't underestimate the power of voice editing!

What else did he do?

James Earl Jones was the voice of Mufasa in The Lion King and has voiced the CNN tagline “This is CNN” during the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. He has also played in movies such as Conan the Barbarian, The Sandlot, Cry, The Beloved Country, and The Hunt for Red October.

How about some trivia?

- James Earl Jones has guest starred in many sitcoms, including Frasier, Will and Grace, Two and a Half Men, and Everwood.

- At his request, he was not originally credited with his role in the first two released Star Wars films. He believed that he was just “special effects” in the movie

- Jones has also worked in the video game industry with his role as General James Solomon in Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun

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pattonrommel