(NewsNation) — Revered actor James Earl Jones, most famously known as the voice of Darth Vader, has died at the age of 93.
The cause of Jones’ death is currently unknown, but NewsNation can independently confirm via his reps at IAG that he died at his Dutchess County, New York, home Monday morning.
The pioneering Jones, who in 1965 became one of the first Black actors in a continuing role on a daytime drama (“As the World Turns”) and worked deep into his 80s, won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was also given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. In 2022, a Broadway theater was renamed in his honor.
Jones played a starring role in “Coming to America” and played Mufasa in “The Lion King” among other roles. He graced the stage and screen for seven decades, but Jones was a voice that the world almost never got to hear due to a stutter and his interest in the medical field.
However, Jones ultimately graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in theater before arriving in New York to chase his dream after a stint in the Army.
Jones’s first big break came in “The Great White Hope,” where he played talented yet troubled boxer Jack Jefferson.
In 2022, the James Earl Jones Theater was unveiled on Broadway as a tribute to his legacy.
Jones also compelled audiences with his roles in “Field of Dreams,” “The Sandlot” and “Conan the Barbarian” to name a few.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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