By Addison Burke, Sports Editor

James Earl Jones, best known as the voice of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy and the voice of Mufasa in the Lion King, passed away on Sept. 9 at the age 93. 

Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi in 1931. He had a speech impediment since his childhood and he got involved with poetry and acting as a way to overcome the challenge of his disability. He attended the University of Michigan, where he was originally a pre-med major but graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in drama. 

After he graduated college, Jones served in the army after parcipating in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Michigan. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and reported to Fort Benning for Infantry Officers Basic Course, and then to Camp Hale in Leadville, Co. to establish a cold weather training command. 

Jones began his acting career before he was commissioned into the army. After his discharge in 1953, he moved to New York City and studied at the American Theatre Wing while also working as a janitor to support himself. 

Throughout the 1960s, Jones appeared in some off-Broadway shows, many being Shakespeare plays, becoming one of the best-known Shakespearean actors of the time. In October 1968, Jones starred in The Great White Hope on Broadway, which later earning him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. 

During the early 1970s, Jones continued to star in many shows on Broadway before starring in a film called Claudine alongside Diahann Carroll. This was the start of his switch to being a part of more film and television shows. 

In 1977, Jones made his debut as the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars: A New Hope, and he continued this role through sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Jones had wished to be uncredited in the first two Star Wars films, but was credited in the third, and he was eventually credited for the first two after a special edition of the first film that was released in 1997. Also in 1977, Jones won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Recording, which is when the recognition of his voice began. 

After the fame he acquired from Star Wars, Jones returned to the stage in the 1980s and 1990s while also still taking part in many films. Those films included Coming to America and Field of Dreams. In 1994, his distinctive voice appeared in the Disney animated film The Lion King. 

In 1991, Jones won two Emmy awards, making him just one award away from being a member of the EGOT club.In 2012, Jones received an honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. This award gave him the status of being an EGOT winner, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony  In 1992, Jones received the National Medal of the Arts from President George H.W. Bush. 

Throughout his career, Jones appeared in over 71 films, 35 TV shows and 30 stage performances. His voice also can be heard in six different video games including Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. 

Jones passed away last Monday due to type two diabetes. Many people honored his legacy including his alma mater, multiple actors guilds and the Empire State Building in New York City was lit with a projection of Darth Vader.