James Earl Jones

Shakespearian-trained actor with distinguished roles in theater, film and television. Recipient of Tony Awards for The Great White Hope (1969) and Fences (1987), and four Emmys for outstanding work on television. Acclaimed performances in Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear. Recognized as the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars saga and Mufasa in The Lion King (1994). With the Verizon Foundation’s Literacy Initiative he traveled across the country reading to children and talking to them about the importance of reading. Appointed to the James Madison Council of the Library of Congress (1993) and recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor (2002).