Denzel Washington Pays Touching Tribute to the Late James Earl Jones

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As a lifelong fan and admirer of the enigmatic world of cinema, I can confidently say that the passing of James Earl Jones leaves a void that is virtually impossible to fill. His voice, his presence, and his indomitable spirit have graced our screens for nearly six decades, and it’s hard to imagine a Hollywood without him.

It’s interesting to note that the man who brought the memorable voice of Darth Vader, Mr. James Earl Jones, is a hero to Mr. Denzel Washington. Although it’s not surprising, what’s astonishing is that these two giants of Hollywood, Jones and Washington, never collaborated on any project for television or cinema. However, after the passing of Jones, Washington has paid tribute to the person he “aspired to be.” In a statement via Variety, Washington expressed his admiration for the legendary actor.

He’s my idol. My college theater journey began thanks to ‘The Emperor Jones’ and ‘Othello’, performances by James Earl Jones. I didn’t aspire to match his fame, but I admired his voice so much. He was a significant figure for me as an emerging actor. He was the person I aspired to emulate.

Jones is best known for voicing the iconic character Darth Vader, a role he brought to life on the big screen over four decades ago in the original “Star Wars” movie from 1977. George Lucas, who was deeply involved with Jones during the creation of that space epic set in a distant galaxy, also paid tribute to his colleague and friend in a statement (as reported by the BBC).

[He was] an exceptionally distinct voice, not only in his art but also in spirit. For almost half a century, he embodied Darth Vader,

Kevin Costner Remembers His Field of Dreams Co-Star

On Monday, September 9, James Earl Jones passed away at the age of 93, and since then, an overwhelming outpouring of love for the cherished actor has been visible online. Besides Denzel Washington and George Lucas, Mark Hamill from “Star Wars” paid tribute to his “father” on social media platforms. Similarly, Kevin Costar, Jones’ co-star in “Field of Dreams,” is remembering the Academy Award (Honorary Award) recipient. In a post shared via Instagram, Costner wrote:

Learning about the passing of James Earl Jones.

There’s no doubt in my mind that no other actor could have breathed life into this baseball-and-cornfield movie like he did. I feel fortunate to have witnessed his unique enchantment on screen. Farewell, my friend.

The portrayal of Terence Mann by Jones was not just noteworthy, but it played a crucial role in what made Field of Dreams stand out as a deeply emotional baseball movie. Essentially, the essence of the film revolves around relationships, most notably between Ray Kinsella (Costner) and his deceased father, John (Dwier Brown).

Yet, one aspect of the screenplay that particularly resonated with Jones was the development of his character, Mann, delivering a powerful monologue which ultimately persuaded Ray to retain his property and the baseball field he constructed. Here is James Earl Jones’ emotional response upon learning about and receiving his Oscar in 2011 (see below):

RIP James Earl Jones.

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2024-09-11 00:02