There is no denying James Earl Jones’ influence on the motion picture business. Amidst an enviable and astounding discography encompassing over sixty years, several film works are notable for their cultural influence. James Earl Jones, well-known for his powerful voice and imposing presence, has played many legendary roles in various genres. His ability to bring sincerity and depth to every part and his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most renowned and respected performers are cemented. James Earl Jones died suddenly at his Dutchess County, New York, home early on September 9, 2024. He was ninety-three.
Jones’ impact goes beyond the big screen; viewers worldwide are impacted by his Broadway stage productions and voice acting. A new generation of actors and artists has been motivated to follow their talents with integrity and dedication by his commitment to advocacy and mentoring. Jones, an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) winner, has acted in over 60 films and has received over 200 screen credits. His incredible filmography, which includes performances and characters that will never be forgotten, has helped him to maintain his prominence in the entertainment sector.
But his most influential role is as the voice of the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies. He’s voiced him 13 times, and we’re ranking every performance.
13. Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Jones did not receive credit for the first two Star Wars films as he wished. He would, however, be given credit for the third film and, ultimately, for the first film’s 1997 “Special Edition” rerelease. In a 2008 Newsday interview, he elaborated:
When Linda Blair did the girl in The Exorcist, they hired Mercedes McCambridge to do the voice of the devil coming out of her. And there was controversy as to whether Mercedes should get credit. I was one who thought no, she was just special effects. So when it came to Darth Vader, I said, no, I’m just special effects. But it became so identified that by the third one, I thought, OK I’ll let them put my name on it.
James Earl Jones’s voice is heard when Kylo Ren Meets Palpatine (“…inside your head”). Darth Vader only has a short voice cameo, so it’s not very impressive. But it is him.
By this time, he had become a legendary and beloved actor—a far cry from his first performance. Initially, James Earl Jones received $7,500 for recording every word of Darth Vadar for Star Wars in about 2.5 hours. He later said it was a lot of money to him, saying, “$7000 was big money for me in those days. I was broke and needed the money to pay rent and buy groceries!”
12. Monopoly Star Wars (1997)
Based on the board game Monopoly, this 1997 Star Wars CD-ROM video game is set in a fictional Star Wars world. It’s one of several video game adaptations of Monopoly. Artech Studios developed the game, and Hasbro Interactive handled its publishing. The game was only made available for Microsoft Windows-powered PCs.
The game follows the same fundamental rules as classic Monopoly, but instead of the standard game pieces and properties, the Star Wars theme uses well-known characters and locations. Today, you can download a copy from the Abandonware site.
Darth Vader is a playable character in the game. He doesn’t say much, though.
11. Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Lucasfilm developed the American space opera television drama Obi-Wan Kenobi for the Disney+ streaming service. It belongs to the Star Wars saga. Ten years following the events of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), which saw the purge of the Jedi Order, the series centers on the remaining Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, who comes out of hiding to save Princess Leia from the Inquisitors of the Galactic Empire. This puts Darth Vader, Kenobi’s former apprentice, at odds with him.
In the series, Hayden Christensen reprises his role as Vader from the movie. As with other Star Wars material, James Earl Jones’s voice is utilized for Darth Vader; however, his words in the series were created using an artificial intelligence tool called Respeecher. This tool was also used for Luke Skywalker in The Book of Boba Fett, using recordings of Jones from the films. So, technically, he doesn’t record his lines for the show.
10. The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
David Prowse portrayed Darth Vader in costume during the film trilogy. However, the director, George Lucas, thought Prowse’s thick West Country accent was too strong for the role, so Jones dubbed Vader’s speech in postproduction. He would later do the voice for every incarnation of Darth Vader
The television program “The Star Wars Holiday Special” debuted on CBS on November 17, 1978. It takes place in the same universe as the film series. Directed by Steve Binder, it was the first Star Wars spin-off. It took place between the events of the first movie and the then-unreleased sequel, The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Along with introducing Boba Fett, who would subsequently appear in other films, it stars the primary cast of the original Star Wars.
Chewbacca and Han Solo try to travel to the Wookiee home planet of Kashyyyk to celebrate “Life Day” in the narrative that unites the special and takes place after the first movie’s events. Agents of the Galactic Empire, who are looking for Rebel Alliance members on the planet, are pursuing them. Three members of Chewbacca’s family are introduced in the special: his son Lumpy, his wife Malla, and his father Itchy.
While waiting for his father, Chewbacca, to come home for Life Day, the young Wookiee Lumpawarrump watches the cartoon on his video book in the Holiday Special. In the cartoon, Luke and his pals become friends with Boba Fett, an enigmatic creature. It soon becomes clear that Boba was employed by the Empire and Darth Vader.
The special is infamous for its poor quality. James Earl Jones only has a few lines, but they’re impressive (most impressive). He was first credited as Darth Vader’s voice in the Star Wars special since he was not credited for his role in the first two movies.
9. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue (2011)
The Star Tours—The Adventures Continue attractions may be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Disneyland. Star Tours—The Adventures Continue is a Star Wars-themed travel experience that transports guests around a chaotic galaxy. At the same time, droids C-3PO and R2-D2 try to return a spy to the Rebel Alliance safely.
The Adventures Continue incorporates places and characters from all nine films of the Skywalker story. The attraction first debuted on May 20, 2011, at Disneyland, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tokyo Disneyland, and on May 7, 2013, at Disneyland. It closed on March 26, 2017, at Disneyland Paris.
Jones’s voice intermittently interrupts the ride to threaten the riders. Considering this probably took him an afternoon’s work, the 80-year-old actor gave it the right amount of gravitas. to thrill.
8. Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
The Phantom Menace (1999) and Attack of the Clones (2002) are the prequels of the American epic space opera film Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, released in 2005. The third movie in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the sixth in the main Star Wars film series, and the third chronological part of the “Skywalker Saga” are all included. George Lucas, who also served as executive producer, wrote and directed the film.
Attack of the Clones established that the Clone Wars began three years before the events of Revenge of the Sith. The Jedi are engaged in a full-scale conflict with the Separatists spanning the whole galaxy. To end the conflict, the Jedi Council sends Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) to battle General Grievous, the commander of the Separatist army, and Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). The Council assigns Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) to spy on Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, and, in secret, the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious, after seeing visions of his wife Padmé Amidala passing away during delivery. Sidious tricks Anakin into joining the dark side of the Force and becoming Darth Vader.
By this time, Anakin is injured and rebuilt as the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader. Jones’ sonorous and familiar voice replaces Hayden Christianson’s. He gives Vader voice pathos and heartbreak as he’s told his wife Padme is dead. It gives way to the most memefied “Nooooo” in history. But there’s no denying the character’s pain and loss in that critical moment.
6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Gareth Edwards is the director of the 2016 American epic space opera film Rogue One (also known as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story). Based on a story idea devised by Gary Whitta and inspired by John Knoll, Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy wrote the script. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributed the movie, which Lucasfilm produced. It is a direct prequel to Star Wars (1977) and the chapter of the first Star Wars anthology series. The story, which takes place one week before the events of Star Wars, centers on a gang of rebels who team together to steal the blueprints for the Death Star, the Galactic Empire’s most powerful weapon. It describes the Rebel Alliance’s first successful confrontation with the Empire, which was initially mentioned in the Star Wars opening crawl.
At 85, James Earl Jones reprised his role as Vader’s disquieting voice. The Dark Lord of the Sith isn’t the main villain, but he and Krennic trade barbs in one scene, which shows Vader’s love of Dad jokes (“Be careful not to choke on your aspirations”).
5. Star Wars: Rebels (2014)
Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, Star Wars Rebels is an animated television series set in the Star Wars world and features 3D animation. It advances toward the events of the first Star Wars movie in 1977 and takes place 14 years after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). It shows a growing uprising against the Galactic Empire erupting as it tracks down the remaining Jedi. Along with several characters from the original trilogy and the previous animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2020), the series also includes new characters. There are four seasons of the show.
James Earl Jones appeared in only five episodes over the show’s two-year run, but the veteran actor made them count. In my opinion, Rebels’ portrayal of Vader is the best since the Original Trilogy. For example, how he addresses Imperial officers and the sequences where he attacks the Phoenix Squadron during the Siege of Lothal solidify this Vader portrayal as the best since the Original Trilogy.
It’s also good that the authors didn’t employ him excessively. He was in so many powerful scenes that all gave the character justice.
4. Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
A 1983 American epic space opera film, Return of the Jedi (also titled Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi) is a follow-up to Star Wars (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980). It is the sixth chronological film in the “Skywalker Saga” and the third installment of the original Star Wars trilogy. Richard Marquand is the director, and George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan wrote the script from a scenario that Lucas wrote. Lucas also served as the executive producer. The film chronicles the continuing conflict between the Rebel Alliance’s freedom warriors and the evil Galactic Empire, the Empire’s second Death Star, as the Rebels attempt to destroy it. Luke Skywalker seeks to bring his father, Darth Vader, back from the dark side of the force.
Before Marquand agreed to helm the picture, David Cronenberg, David Lynch, and Steven Spielberg were all considered. Throughout pre-production, the production team depended on Lucas’s storyboards. Lucas, Kasdan, Marquand, and producer Howard Kazanjian met for two weeks to discuss ideas for the shooting screenplay while it was being written.
James Earl Jones doesn’t say much during the fight with the Emperor. Most of the acting in this scene is by Prowse. But after the climactic battle, Jones turns his voice tender and loving as he pleads with Luke to remove his helmet so that he can see his son with his own eyes. In that moment, Jones gives Vader his moment of redemption as xxx carries the performance home with the words, “Tell your sister… you were right.”
2. Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
George Lucas is the writer and director of the 1977 American epic space opera film Star Wars (later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope), released by Twentieth Century Fox and produced by Lucasfilm. It is the fourth chronological chapter of the “Skywalker Saga” and the first movie in the Star Wars film series to be produced. The tale, which takes place “a long time ago” in a made-up galaxy ruled by the despotic Galactic Empire, centers on the Rebel Alliance, a group of liberation warriors out to destroy the Empire’s most recent weapon, the Death Star.
At times, particularly in A New Hope, Jones gives Vader an intriguing rhythm, with his words rising and falling in a way that truly emphasizes how inhumane Vader is. However, it also adds an intriguing element to his words when he meets Obi-Wan again: he adds, “Now I am the master,” with a cool arrogance.
1. Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The 1980 American epic space opera film The Empire Strikes Back, often referred to as Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, was directed by Irvin Kershner and was based on a narrative by George Lucas. Screenplay credits went to Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan. The second movie in the Star Wars series and the fifth chronological chapter of the “Skywalker Saga” is the follow-up to Star Wars (1977). The film, which takes place three years after the events of Star Wars, tells the story of the conflict between Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia and the Rebel Alliance, commanded by the evil Emperor of the Galactic Empire. Luke practices mastering the Force as the Empire advances to face Darth Vader, the Emperor’s formidable follower.
With Star Wars’ commercial success, Lucas brought in Brackett to pen the follow-up. He prepared the next draft of the Star Wars trilogy after she passed away in 1978, after which he hired writer Joe Kasdan of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) to improve it. Instead of taking on the stress of helming Star Wars, Lucas gave Kershner the reins and concentrated on growing Industrial Light & Magic, his special effects firm.
James Earl Jones is mighty in this film. He gives Darth Vader terror and pathos. Vader’s reveal that he’s Luke’s father breaks his evil path. His often misquoted line, “No, I am your father,” is said with powerful emotion. It also establishes that he’s a man with a heart as he begs his son to join him on the Dark Side.
James Earl Jones is still regarded as one of the most beloved vocalists, despite the fact that his filmography only included a tiny number of voice appearances. Not only did his performances as Vader and Mufasa demonstrate his range, but they also gave legitimacy to an acting style that is still not often accepted. As we honor Jones’ life and honor his body of work, it’s important to keep in mind the immense value a talented voice actor can offer to a role or project. After all, without him, Star Wars and Darth Vader would not exist.
What is your favorite Star Wars role by James Earl Jones?
