Connect with us

Entertainment

James Earl Jones, the man behind the voice for all time, has died at the age of 93

Published

on

Famed for his distinctive deep, resonant baritone, James Earl Jones was an enormous on stage and screen.

Jones’s profession spanned greater than six many years, and he has been described as “one of America’s most distinguished and versatile” actors. He was one of the few performers to receive an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT) Award. His award-winning performances included a job in Howard Sackler’s play “The Great White Hope”, which was loosely based on the life of the first black American heavyweight boxer, Jack Johnson.

American actor James Earl Jones looks at himself in a dressing room mirror before happening stage on December 10, 1968, to star in “The Great White Hope” as Jack Jefferson on Broadway in New York City. (Photo by Harry Benson/Daily Express/Getty Images)

But it was his distinctive voice — described in Washington Post as “a moving basso profundo that added grit and seriousness” — which sets him apart. Younger generations will recognize him as Darth Vader from the “Star Wars” series and Mufasa from “The Lion King.”

The famous star died at the age of 93 on Monday, September 9, at his home in Dutchess County, New York, Deadline reports.

But Jones’ voice will continue to exist for the world to listen to. Every day, his baritone carries the words, “This is… CNN.”

Overcoming adversity

Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi. His father, Robert Earl Jones, was a boxer, valet, and chauffeur, and his mother, Ruth, was a teacher and maid. The couple separated just before he was born. Robert left to pursue an acting profession, appearing on each stage and in movies. (Father and son didn’t meet or reconcile until the Fifties.)

From the age of 5, Jones’ grandparents raised him on a farm in rural Michigan that had been in the family since Reconstruction. The move to Michigan proved traumatic, and Jones developed a debilitating stutter. At a young age, he decided not to talk. and he once said in an interview“My first year of school was my first year of muteness, and then those years of muteness continued until high school.”

Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Kennedy Center
(From left to right) Actress Elizabeth Taylor, actor James Earl Jones, First Lady Laura Bush, U.S. President George W. Bush, actress Chita Rivera, conductor James Levine and singer Paul Simon pose for a photograph after the presentation of the 2002 Kennedy Center Honors at the White House on December 8, 2002 in Washington, D.C. Each 12 months, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honors a select group of artists for a lifetime of achievement and influence on American culture. (Photo by Eric Draper/White House/Getty Images)

Jones’ English teacher, Donald Crouch, helped him overcome his challenges and end his years of silence through poetry. Crouch encouraged Jones to read his poems aloud to his class. Jones was soon competing in debates and oratory competitions in highschool, winning a public speaking competition in his senior 12 months.

Jones also received a scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he hoped to review medicine. But drama and theater caught his attention and he soon modified his focus. He graduated in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in drama and served for two years as a U.S. Army Ranger during the Korean War.

After his military service, Jones moved to New York City to pursue acting, studying at the American Theater Wing with famed theater director and actor Lee Strasberg. To make ends meet, he worked as a janitor, polishing floors.

Broadway debut

Jones made his Broadway debut in two small roles, the first as an understudy in Lloyd Richards’ The Egghead in 1957, and the following 12 months he played the lead in Dore Schary’s Sunrise at Campobello. He then appeared in several Shakespearean plays, including Othello, Hamlet, Coriolanus, and King Lear.

In the Nineteen Sixties, Jones gained the attention of critics and audiences, earning critical praise and awards for his work in quite a few off-Broadway plays. In 1961, he joined an organization of unknown actors to star in French playwright Jean Genet’s “The Blacks.” The provocative play also starred Cicely Tyson, Maya Angelou, Louis Gossett Jr., Roscoe Lee-Browne, Godfrey Cambridge, Raymond St. Jacques, and Charles Gordone. The following 12 months, he appeared in “Moon on a Rainbow Shawl,” for which he won several awards. He won an Obie Award for Best Actor for his role in “Clandestine on the Morning Line.” In 1965, he won two Obie Awards for his performances in Bertolt Brecht’s “Othello” and “Baal.”

In 1968, he won his first Tony Award for his critically acclaimed performance in “The Great White Hope.” He reprised the role in the 1970 film version, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Leaving his mark on film and tv

Over the next many years, Jones not only made his mark on the stage, but additionally on film and tv. His film debut got here in 1964 as Lieutenant Lothar Zogg in Dr. Strangelove

James Earl Jones (center) and the forged of “You Can’t Take It With You” during the final curtain call at the Longacre Theatre on February 22, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images)

In total, he has appeared in over 70 movies and tv series. Among his most memorable roles were the role of Alex Haley in the television series Roots II and the role of a South African Anglican priest in the film Cry, My Beloved Country. He also had a recurring role as Admiral Greer in the film series based on Tom Clancy’s novels, The Hunt for Red October (1990), Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994).

In 1991, he became the first actor to win two Emmy Awards in the same 12 months: for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Gabriel’s Fire and Best Supporting Actor for the television movie Heat Wave.

Jones received the National Medal of Arts for his contribution to American culture in 1992. His peers at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Two years later, he received an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, making him technically one of the few EGOT recipients.

In 2017, Jones received a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre.

He is survived by his son Flynn, whom he shared along with his wife and actress Cecilia Hart. Hart died of ovarian cancer in 2016.

(*93*) Stories

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit

Published

on

By

Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”

She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.

Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.

Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez shows off a “winter white” look, weeks after critics slammed her busty latex outfit. (Photos: @laurenwsanchez/Instagram, Theimagedirect.com via Page Six)

On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”

One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.

Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.

When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.

Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”

Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”

Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.

Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.

Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape

Published

on

By

India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.

“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”

Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.

Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.


Singer India Shawn grew up singing in church with her family. “I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” she said.

India Shawn

Name:
India Shawn

Hometown:

Los Angeles

Artistic soundscape

Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric

The oldest musical memory

Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.

Influences

For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.

Creative process

Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”

Challenges and development

As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”

Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.

Current project

There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”

Sheila Matthews is a digital producer at Andscape and a proud HBCU graduate. She believes “Return of the Mack” must have won a Grammy, and her Twitter mentions are open to all debate.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
Continue Reading

Entertainment

ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence

Published

on

By

Instagram

With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.

Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.

From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.

In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending