09/09/2024
RIP James Earl Jones
RIP Michigan's James Earl Jones, the voice of Star Wars Darth Vader & Lion King Mufasa (age 93). A great man from Michigan.
From age 5, Jones was raised by his grandparents on their farm near Manistee. They'd moved from Mississippi in the Great Migration.
Because of his stutter, Jones could barely speak until high school, when his English teacher encouraged him to speak his own poetry, which became that familiar booming voice.
Jones went to University of Michigan & graduated 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Jones also worked stage crew & acted at Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee.
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