The film industry has lost one of its greatest talents of all time, with the news that the legendary actor James Earl Jones has died on Monday at the age of 93. Jones, a decades-long veteran of the stage and screen, was beloved around the world for his versatility, easygoing charisma and endlessly audible double bass voice. This last quality is also why most people probably know his name, because although he gave many engaging performances in a variety of films, television shows and theater productions, his most famous role will always be that of the voice of Darth Vader from the Star Wars franchise. He is widely considered one of the non The the most iconic villains in film historyDarth Vader is the role for which Jones will be most remembered, which makes it all the more remarkable that the only aspect of the character he directly contributed was his voice.
Vader was always a team effort, derived from his striking visual design of Ralph McQuarries the original concept art, the physical performance of David Prowse, who wore the suit on set in the original films, Sebastian Shaw playing Vader without a mask in Return of the Jedi, and Jones dubbing for Prowse to give the character his unforgettable voice. They all deserve credit for their contributions to the character, but it was Jones who gave Vader not only his intimidating presence, but also the facets of humanity that were slowly revealed in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as audiences learned more about the man behind the mask. To honor his life, let’s look back and see why Jones’ vocal performance as Darth Vader represents his most lasting achievement.
James Earl Jones and the Lord of the Sith
From the moment Darth Vader stepped on screen in the original Star Wars, audiences knew he was going to be a powerful villain. His instantly recognizable, samurai-inspired black armor contrasts not only with the white armor of his subordinate stormtroopers, but also with the entire décor of the Tantive IV, the Rebel ship the Imperials are attacking. That’s not even mentioning how haunting and evocative the mere sound of his breathing is. But it’s not until we hear his voice for the first time, as he interrogates the ship’s captain and barks orders at his subordinates (“I want them alive!”) that we really feel what his presence means. He’s not the most powerful man in the Galactic Empire, since we know the Emperor exists (though we don’t see him until the next film). But Vader is the most powerful feared Man in the Empire, which is a whole different matter.
Although the Sith Lords and their ideology were not detailed until the prequel trilogy (the word “Sith” first appeared in Alan Dean Foster’s 1977 novelization of the film, but was not used in the final cut), Vader’s bright red lightsaber and the hints of backstory we get from Obi-Wan set him up as a dark contrast to the heroic ideal of the Jedi that Luke Skywalker strives for. Yet there is also great tragedy and regret about Vader even in this first film, where he is portrayed as a fallen student who turned to the dark side and betrayed the Jedi Knights, and Obi-Wan in particular. Despite Vader’s intimidation, Jones’ weighty dignity in his portrayal hints at the tragic nature of the character, a thread that the sequels would continue to follow as they revealed more about his past.
The way Jones adds character depth through pronunciation gives his confrontation with Obi-Wan, as well as the trench flight where he pilots the TIE Advanced Fighter, a tangible meaning. “The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was only the learner, now I am the master” could have been typical villain dialogue in anyone else’s hands, but it instead suggests a stronger sense of myth and history in the Star Wars universe than is actually portrayed in the original film. Likewise, the emphasis Jones places on “the Force is strong in this one” while chasing Luke’s X-Wing underscores that even this universe’s greatest villain respects and remains loyal to the same mystical Force that the heroes have invested so much in. These may seem like small details in the moment, but they helped give Star Wars the specificity it needed to reach a worldwide audience, an audience that would find Vader only more captivating in the film’s sequels.
Darth Vader’s Call to the Light
Spoiler for one of the most popular films of all time: Darth Vader is Luke’s father (!). What probably became the most famous twist in film history was a complete shock when it reached audiences in 1980, so much so that many fans and even Jones himself didn’t believe it at the time. If you think about Get to know the famous twistJones said, “He’s lying, I wonder how they’re going to construe that lie.” But you’d never know about Jones’ doubts from watching the scene where Vader says, “No, I’m your father,” as if that were the axis on which the world rotates. And it is, because it’s not only the key moment when Luke’s deepest beliefs are shaken, but also when the binary of good and evil that he’s believed so much in turns out to be far more complex than he’d like to admit. It’s the emotional thread of his story arc through the trilogy, and none of it works without Jones selling Vader’s evil character. And his lighter impulses at the same moment.
Finally, another important part of this scene is Vader’s desire to reunite with his son to use Luke to help him overthrow the Emperor. “Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son” is so rich because Jones adds a genuine desire for reconciliation to the line, adding complexity to his goal of turning Luke to the dark side. This complexity is further expanded upon in Return of the Jedi when Luke surrenders to Vader (one of the best scenes in the trilogy) and Vader expresses genuine regret over his fall to the dark side: “Obi-Wan once thought as you did” and “It’s too late for me, son.” Jones portrays the anguish in Vader’s soul here, giving the character so much depth with just a few words. Without this scene, without Jones making us feel the seeds of doubt in Vader’s mind, his redemption in turning against the Emperor to save Luke would have no meaning. We can believe in Vader’s goodness even before we see his face, and that’s the power of a truly great voice actor.
Mufasa and the father dichotomy
This capacity for good was something Jones could portray just as adeptly as his villainous roles, making his second most famous role as Mufasa in The Lion King just as memorable as Vader. It’s fascinating how Jones’ versatility led him to play one of the most famous heroic father figures and perhaps the most famous villainous figure, but that’s how incredible he was at it. His deep, commanding voice immediately lends both characters a sense of respectability and authority, yet the way he channels it leads to drastically different results. Although Mufasa doesn’t make it halfway through the film before being murdered by his brother Scar, Jones fills his early scenes with young Simba with Mufasa’s genuine love and admiration for his kingdom and all the creatures in it, giving Simba the basic morality to strive for later when he accepts that he must overthrow Scar and restore the Pride Lands.
Conveying all the complex emotions and character work we’ve discussed is hard enough for any actor, but doing all of that without physical support on screen is truly demanding. Jones, of course, had a long history on screen and stage, so he was used to being influenced by other actors and the camera in many of his roles. Although Vader was his first dedicated speaking role, he helped create one of the most beloved movie characters of all time. It’s a testament to his creative mind and phenomenal talent that he threw himself into a whole new type of acting that required a completely different skill set and nailed it the first time. To this day, Vader remains one of the most iconic speaking roles in movie history, and the character would likely have been far less memorable if he had walked around with his face in full glory. What makes Vader so compelling is the mystery surrounding him, where audiences had to take in Jones’ line readings and form their own interpretation of who this man was.
Even though his voice acting roles made up only a small portion of his filmography, James Earl Jones will always be one of the most beloved singers. His work as Vader and Mufasa not only showcased his versatility, but lent credibility to a style of acting that still struggles for respect today. As we look back at Jones’ work and celebrate his life, we should remember how much a great voice actor can bring to a character and a project. After all, Darth Vader (and Star Wars) wouldn’t exist without him.
Carlos Morales writes novels, articles and essays on Mass Effect. You can follow his fixations on Þjórsárdalur.
