• last month

Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English

Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Transcript
00:00Now, he has perhaps the most recognisable voice in Hollywood,
00:04that one of the cinematic world's most fearsome characters, Darth Vader.
00:09But now the actor James Earl Jones has died.
00:12The man who overcame childhood stutter to develop such a rich voice
00:16died at the age of 93.
00:18We're going to hear from him first of all, both in character and out.
00:24You are part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor.
00:28I go where the work is. I'm a gentleman actor.
00:32James Earl Jones there, an overall revered actor,
00:34famous for many other roles as well, of course.
00:37Let's hear then from our correspondent in Los Angeles, Waseem Corning.
00:42Well, James Earl Jones, he was a voice recognisable among millions.
00:46He was seen and heard on stages and screens for over 70 years.
00:50He began his career on Broadway back in 1957,
00:52but it wasn't until 10 years later that he had his first breakout role,
00:56playing the part of troubled boxer Jack Jefferson in The Great White Hope,
01:00which he won his first Tony Award for.
01:03He continued his acting career, became the first celebrity guest on Sesame Street.
01:07But it was a two and a half voiceover for George Lucas that changed his life.
01:11The director cast James Earl Jones for the voice of Darth Vader,
01:15making him known around the world.
01:17Jones remaining modest.
01:18He even asked producers not to include his name in the credits
01:21because he didn't want to overshadow the actor playing Darth Vader.
01:25His fame and talent led him to other big voice roles,
01:28a Navy admiral in The Hunt for Red October.
01:30He and of course, Mufasa in The Lion King.
01:34In the 1990s, it became the trademark voice
01:36for the world's biggest news network with the classic tagline.
01:41This is CNN.
01:42Perhaps one of the biggest shocks when you look back at his career
01:45was the major hurdle that he had to overcome during his childhood
01:48when he developed a debilitating stutter at the time.
01:52A high school teacher helped Jones find his confidence
01:55by focusing on the poetry that the teenager loved to write.
01:59James Earl Jones found his voice once again
02:02and the entertainment industry gained a legend.
02:04Waseem Kornuvel, correspondent in Los Angeles.

Recommended