Korean War Vet James Earl Jones passes
One of the greats passed Monday. James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, the actor who brought Jack Johnson back to life, the B-52 bombardier in “Dr. Strangelove” (his first film role, btw), the immortal voice of Terrence Mann in “Field of Dreams”, has left us. He was 93.
Born Todd Jones on Jan. 17, 1931, he grew up in Arkabutla, Mississippi, and was raised by his maternal grandparents. At age 5, the family moved to a farm in Dublin, Michigan.
“That move was traumatic somehow,” he once recalled. “My ability to communicate dropped out. I couldn’t speak to people without breaking up and stuttering,” and he pretended to be mute.
The inspiration for Cuba Gooding in “Lightning Jack”?
When an English teacher in high school encouraged Jones to read a poem to the class that he had written, he discovered that his stutter vanished whenever he spoke words that he had memorized. He won a public-speaking contest as a senior and earned a full scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he studied medicine and discovered acting.
He made his stage debut in a community theater production in Manistee, Michigan, before he left to serve in the Korean War.
Jones told THR in 2011 that his career was guided by words that his father, Robert Earl Jones — an actor who had been blacklisted from the industry by the House Un-American Activities Committee but appeared in The Sting — told him when he was just starting out.
(You probably remember his father as the unfortunate Luther who was defenestrated after the first street con.)
In college, he had also joined the Army under an R.O.T.C. commitment, then washed out of infantry Ranger School. But he did so well in cold-weather training in the Rockies that he considered a military career. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in mid-1953, after the end of the Korean War, and was subsequently promoted to first lieutenant.
In 1955, however, he resigned his commission and moved to New York, determined to be an actor.
Nothing can touch this: They will come
- Terence Mann: Ray. People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. “Of course, we won’t mind if you look around”, you’ll say. “It’s only $20 per person”. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it, for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.
- Terence Mann: People will come, Ray.
- Terence Mann: The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game; it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh…people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come. Wiki
- (I edited out the brother-in-law’s lines.)
There are a few things guaranteed to choke me up every damn time. The Star Spangled Banner, Charly, and this speech head the list. Godspeed, Mr. Jones.
Category: Army, We Remember
So many great and memorable roles. Darth Vader, Admiral Greer, Terrance Mann, King Jaffy Jafar, Mufasa, Malcom X, Thulsa Doom that is just to get started. One of the all time greats, he will be missed. 93 years, hell of a run.
Field of Dreams is the only movie where I’ve ever bawled like a baby at the end. It was a combination of James Earl Jones’ soliloquy, and that final line of; “Hey…dad? You want to have a catch?”
I’d give anything to be able to “have a catch” with my dad again.
He and Mr Jones were born only a month apart.
I believe he had a role in sandlot(?), another baseball themed movie.
And more recently, his appearances on big bang theory where on one episode, he tries to talk Sheldon into going to Tijuana.
RIP Mr. Jones, you will be missed.
“I take it back. You’re not in trouble, you’re dead where you stand.”
Damn, I LOVE the sandlot. And his appearance in TBBT is pure comedy:
“It’s not funny anymore James!!”
“Then why am I laughing? HAHAHAHA!!”
Aside from being steeped in Star Wars since I was 5 (51 currently), the first role for which I will remember him is Thulsa Doom in Conan the Barbarian. Turning into a snake. So good.
Fair winds, sir.
Gardens of Stone.
Ol SgtMaj Nelson, great movie!
RIP. Will be missed.
RIP sir, your talent will be missed
Godspeed, Fare Well, and Rest Easy, Good Sir. A Classic Actor and a Classy Gentleman in every sense of the words. He will be missed.
Slow Salute…
The voice of quiet thunder will still remain with us.
Rest in peace.
On the original star wars he was paid 2000 bucks for his voice.
Crazy
“Goody” Nelson (James Earl Jones):
You ever take biology in school, soldier?
Jackie Willow:
Yes, Sergeant-Major.
“Goody” Nelson:
How do worms copulate?
Jackie Willow:
They don’t, Sergeant-Major; they use asexual reproduction.
“Goody” Nelson:
Mmmm-hmmmm! Interesting concept! Tell me, Willow — any idea who first came up with that notion: reproducing without sex?
Jackie Willow:
Your wife, Sergeant-Major?
https://youtu.be/qe3cc7mLVIw?si=5FhnI2kwZzN6NEHZ
“Some days you eat the bear, some days the bear eats you”.
No to argue, but every article I’ve read said JEJ completed Ranger school and had the Ranger tab. I’ve never heard him claim being a Ranger, and I don’t know where the washed out story comes from. Can you elaborate?
Articles mentioned he went the school but washed out.
Huh. Conflicting info. I’m going to look into it.
https://youtu.be/RaA4ll4CoZw?si=n2ufXysKs1SEfyHi
Wife hit me this morning with a twofer…JEJ doing the Star Spangled Banner
The Many Deaths of James Earl Jones It was sad to hear the passing of one of the greatest actors of all time, but we have seen him die many times before on the big screen, the stage and the little screen. Actors are but story tellers and he told the best of stories so well. It is likely that he accounted for at least half of the greatest screen deaths of all time. Each of his deaths carried an important life lesson with it, something we could all take with us. So in no particular order, some thoughts on this not all inclusive list. Thulsa Doom – Killed in battle by Conan. This death showed us that no matter how powerful evil appears to be, it can still be defeated by a world champion body builder with a big sword and immeasurable depths of raw determination and drive. Darth Vader – Killed by Palapatine shortly after killing him. This death taught us that no one, no matter the evil they have done, is beyond redemption. The love of a father for his son can be boundless. Mufasa – killed by Scar after saving his son Simba. Mufasa talks about the circle of life just prior to his death and that is part of the lesson. The bigger lesson is about sacrifice and how far we will go to protect and save our children, much like his Vader death. King Jaffy Jafar – died peacefully after an illness. Here we find the King and patriarch of the family dead and then all the problems that come when such a towering figure dies. The young become the old and all the drama that comes with new ways and the changing of the world. Admiral James Greer – Died peacefully of cancer. The death of Jack Ryan’s mentor and champion is a huge blow. However it stirs Jack Ryan from his myopia malaise and into action. Jack is left with a hurting heart and a bag full of difficult choices. We can see Greer working through Jack in the end after his… Read more »
From above
MalcolmX – Murdered, most likely by The Nation of Islam. Malcolm’s death, portrayed by Jones, showed us the futility and waste of infighting with your brothers when the real enemy is someone else.
Finally this brings us to Terrance Mann. A man who faces his destiny and fate after so long of a time and then slips quietly away into the other side. One could argue that Terrance Mann lived on, but this flies in the face of what we know to be true in our hearts. His final words we can only hope to be true for Jones, one of our greatest story tellers; “There is something out there for me, and what a story it will make; a man being able to touch a perfect dream”.
The Voice Of CNN (8 Seconds).
Rest In Peace, Sir.
Salute.
Pretty much the only real thing on CNN.
Amen, SFC D.
Amen.
Recently, I really enjoyed his/Malcolm McDowell’s run in the Sprint commercials.
TOTES MCGOTES!
That’s the first time I’ve ever seen that!
I LOVE IT!!!
Rest in Peace Lt. Jones, and thanks for all the entertaining movies.
According to Wikipedia and a couple of other sources Jones was not a Korean war veteran. He was commissioned in mid 1953 then went to IOBC and Ranger school at Ft. Benning. According to Wiki et al. he did pass the course and receive a Ranger tab.