James Earl Jones

With a career spanning over 60 years since his Broadway debut in 1957, James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) earned his first critical recognition in the form of a Tony Award in 1969 for his role in The Great White Hope. He reprised the role in the film version in 1970, which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Male, and an Academy Award nomination in the Best Actor in a Leading Role category. Jones is also known for his voice work as Darth Vader in the Star Wars film franchise and Mufasa in Disney's The Lion King (1994 and 2019). The recipient of an Honorary Oscar in 2012, Jones went on to be honored with a Disney Legend Award in 2019 for his contributions as a voice actor.