James Earl Jones Death: Hollywood stars pay tribute to James Earl Jones including Matthew Broderick, Mark Hamil, Octavia Spencer and Josh Gad
Legendary star of stage and screen James Earl Jones has died. He was 93 years old.
With hundreds of credits across the stage, the big screen, and the small screen, under his belt, plenty of Hollywood stars have had the honour of working alongside Jones.
Along with voicing the iconic Star Wars villain Darth Vader, one of Jones’ most memorable roles was as the voice of Mufasa in the 1994 animated classic The Lion King.
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Now the star’s co-star Matthew Broderick, who voiced his on-screen son Simba, has said he was “so lucky” to work with the late actor and was “always so thrilled to see him” on the occasion they crossed paths over the years.
Speaking to People, Broderick paid tribute to Jones by remembering the star for his “broad grin, lots of laughter and genuine curiosity about others.”
“He was a great listener,” the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off star shared. “Far different from what you might imagine from that austere, kingly, beautiful voice.”
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Broderick told the outlet his favourite performance from Jones was in the 1987 production Fences, for which the actor won a Tony Award.
“One of the very best of his or any generation,” Broderick dubbed the late star.
Broderick was just one of the many celebrities who paid tribute to Jones, with some of the actor’s Star Wars co-stars taking to social media after the heartbreaking news.
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Luke Skywalker actor, Mark Hamil, took to X (formerly Twitter) to remember his on-screen foe and father, writing, “#RIP dad.”
Actor LeVar Burton, who starred alongside Jones in both Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980) and Our Friend, Martin (1999) was among one of the first to post a tribute, noting that “there will never be another of his particular combination of graces.”
Octavia Spencer took to Instagram to share how “incredibly saddened” she was to learn of Jones’ passing.
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“Legendary doesn’t even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema forever,” The Help actress wrote.
“His voice and talent will be remembered always. Sending love to his family, friends and countless fans in all the galaxies, far, far away.”
Colman Domingo remembered the late star with a tribute on X.
”Thank you dear James Earl Jones for everything,” he wrote. “A master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us your best.”
Crystal Kung Minkoff, wife of The Lion King director Rob Minkoff, wrote that Jones “made a young animator’s dream come true when you accepted the role of Mufasa”.
“Thank you for all you have Done for Rob. Your memory will live on.”
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Director Paul Feig who worked with Jones on The Naked Gun noted that the actor “will never die” as “his talent, work and influence will always be with us.”
“I can’t believe it,” wrote actress Lydia Cornell who appeared alongside Jones in 1982 film Bloodtide.
“I thought he was going to live forever. My costar from my first movie. Rest in peace James Earl Jones.”
Actor Josh Gad took to Instagram to remember the star who voiced a generation.
“Shattered. There are icons and then there is this man. How do you remember someone who gave us some of the greatest stage and screen performances of all time?” Gad wrote alongside an image of him and Andrew Rannells with Jones.
“For so many of us, you defined our childhoods from Star Wars to Lion King, from Field of Dreams to The Sandlot, from Coming to America to Dr. Strangelove.
“Thank you James for giving your life to art and filling our lifetimes with some of the best performances of any resume ever.”
Garcelle Beauvais appeared with Jones in both Coming to America movies, she remembered her late co-star on Instagram thanking him for “gracing us with your talent and your spirit.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger paid tribute to the actor in a statement, crediting him for giving “voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history.
“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 continued.
“On behalf of all of us at Disney, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Filmmaker Ana Duvernay posted a series of images on her Instagram story.
“Thank you for showing us ourselves. Our complicated selves, our dignified selves, our smiles our pain,” she wrote.
“A job well done. A gift beautifully shared. Bless you as you journey on.”
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