As America mourns the death of James Earl Jones — the man the New York Times calls “a stuttering farm child who became a voice of rolling thunder as one of America’s most versatile actors in a stage, film and television career that plumbed race relations, Shakespeare’s rhapsodic tragedies and the faceless menace of Darth Vader” — his many friends and fans at the Westport Playhouse have particularly fond memories.
Jones died yesterday at his home in Dutchess County, N.Y. He was 93.
In May of 2006, the actor graced the Playhouse stage in the stunning world premiere of the one-man show “Thurgood.” He played Thurgood Marshall, the Black attorney who rose from the streets of Baltimore to the US Supreme Court.
He was met backstage afterward by Cecilia Marshall, Thurgood’s widow; Jack Lemmon; Sigourney Weaver; Tom Brokaw; Vernon Jordan; Joseph Califano; Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee; Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, and others.
But he made time for many more than those world-famous men and women. Despite exhaustion after his long performance, he met with each person waiting at the stage door, one on one in his dressing room.
He said, “They pay my salary. I owe it to them.”
James Earl Jones, in the Westport Country Playhouse world premiere of “Thurgood.” (Photo/T. Charles Erickson)
He especially enjoyed meeting students. Jones visited Thurgood Marshall Middle School for Social Justice in Bridgeport, to plant a tree.
When asked to say a few words, he flipped his ball cap backwards and began speaking as Mufasa from The Lion King.
That enraptured the hundreds of youngsters. But when he switched to the voice of Darth Vader, the response was thunderous.
Jones talked to the students about the importance of reading, learning and family. He urged them to “find something you love to do and, no matter what anyone else says, do it the very best you can.”
Throughout his life — including his memorable run at the Westport Country Playhouse — James Earl Jones truly did all of that. (Hat tip: Pat Blaufuss)
James Earl Jones, at Bridgeport’s Thurgood Marshall School for Social Justice. (Photo/Patricia K. Weber)
What a great man and loss for us. They don’t come like James anymore. What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man as En Vogue song said back in the day.
BJ Magnes, that song was actually by Salt N Peppa but either way, he definitely was a mighty good man.
I saw his one man show, “Thurgood” at the Westport Country Playhouse. It was a superb and most memorable play!
I recall reading the article from the Reader’s Digest many moons ago that detailed Jones’ transformation from an incurable stutterer to a young man with an awesome speaking voice. I so enjoyed hearing him say, “This is CNN” on television. He was wonderful on Gabriel’s Fire which was renamed Pros and Cons. His magnificent voice was heard on the Star Wars saga and The Lion King. That he stayed humble despite his fame is a testament to his character. He will be missed by all.
I recall reading the article from the Reader’s Digest many moons ago that detailed Jones’ transformation from an incurable stutterer to a young man with an awesome speaking voice. I so enjoyed hearing him say, “This is CNN” on television. He was wonderful on Gabriel’s Fire which was renamed Pros and Cons. His magnificent voice was heard on the Star Wars saga and The Lion King. That he stayed humble despite his fame is a testament to his character. He will be missed by all.