- [James] It has been called
a glorious constellation of dance, music, theater,
film, and television stars. Tonight, television's
most honored program, the Kennedy Center honors a celebration of the performing arts. - [Announcer] Ladies and
gentlemen, James Earl Jones. (audience applauding) Sidney established the height
to which we act as must go. He brought an extreme
integrity to his career and to his place in society. And once he set the height,
he left it for us who followed to establish the breadth, especially African American actors. So whatever the rest of us
do, it will always be true that Sidney proves the ideal. So Sidney, much of what I
am as an actor I owe to you. - [Kelsey] I played Cassio
to his Othello in 1982 when I was a young man in the theater. James Earl Jones. You have no idea how thrilling
it was for this young actor to stand on that stage
with you every night for those 11 months and see you
inhabit the role of Othello. It was as though I was standing on stage with a force of nature. - When I was a student at
the Yale School of Drama, and you may not remember
this, I was your understudy for a production of Hedda Gabler. And although I was
attending America's greatest acting school, my real
acting classes occurred when I watched you in rehearsals. - As I look across these lights to you, seated in that place of honor, I am moved by the power of your artistry and by the professional
courage that have brought you to this place on this night. (audience applauding) (audience cheering)
(applause continues)