James O Jones January 17 1931 September 9 2024 was an American actor known for his film roles and for his work in theater Jones has been described as one of America's most distinguished and versatile actors for his performances on stage and Screen he has also been called one of the greatest actors in American history he was one of the few performers to achieve the egot Emmy Grammy Oscar and Tony Jon was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985 and honored with the national medal of Arts in 1992 the Kennedy Center Honor in 2002 The Screen Actors Guild life Achievement Award in 2009 and the academy honorary award in 2011 born in arkabutla Mississippi in 1931 he had a stutter since childhood Jones said that poetry and acting helped him overcome the challenges of his disability a pre Med major in college he served in the United States Army during the Korean War before pursuing a career in acting his deep voice was praised as a stirring basso profundo that has lent gravel and gravitz to his projects Jones made his Broadway debut in 1957 in Sunrise at Campa belloo 1957 he gained prominence for acting in numerous Productions with Shakespeare in the park including AO Hamlet coriolanus and King Lea Jones worked steadily in theater winning the tiny Award for best actor in a play for his role as a boxer in the Great White Hope 1968 which he were prised in the 1970 film adaptation earning him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations Jones won his second tney Award for best actor in a play for his role as a workingclass father in August Wilson's fences 1987 he was a Tony Award nominee for his roles as the husband in Ernest Thompson's On Golden Pond 2005 about an aging couple and as a former president in the gore vidle play The Best Man 2012 his other Broadway performances included Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 2008 Driving Miss Daisy 2010 to 2011 you can't take it with you 2014 and the Gin game 2015 to 2016 he received a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in 2017 Jones made his film debut in Stanley ku's Dr stranger love 1964 he received a Golden Globe award nomination for Claud D 1974 Jones gained International Fame for his voice role as Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise beginning with the original 1977 film Jones's other notable films include the man 1972 Conan the Barbarian 1982 made one 1987 Coming to America 1988 8 Field of Dreams 1989 The Hunt for Red October 1990 sneakers 1992 The Sandlot 1993 The Lion King 1994 and Cry the Beloved Country 1995 on television Jones received eight prime time any awards nominations winning twice for his roles in Thriller film Heatwave 1990 and the crime series Gabriel's fire 1991 he also acted in Roots 1977 Jesus of Nazareth 1977 Picket Fences 1994 homicide life on the street 1997 and Everwood 2004