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James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor of
stage and
screen, well known for his deep
basso voice. To modern audiences, he is best known for providing the voice of
Darth Vader in the
Star Wars franchise, Terrence Mann in
Field of Dreams, and
Mufasa in
The Lion King.
Early life
Childhood
Jones was born in
Arkabutla, Mississippi, the son of Ruth (
née Connolly), a teacher and maid, and
Robert Earl Jones (1910-2006), an actor,
boxer, butler, and chauffeur who left the family before James Earl's birth.
Jones and his father reconciled many years later in the 1980s and 1990s. Jones was raised by his
maternal grandparents,
farmers Maggie and John Henry Connolly,
and is of
African,
Irish,
Choctaw and
Cherokee descent.
