Legendary actor James Earl Jones, best known for his iconic role as the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, passed away Monday morning at his home in Dutchess County, New York. He was 93.
But according to reports, that won’t be the last you’ve heard of Jones. The late actor signed over the rights to his Darth Vader voice in the future to Lucasfilm in 2022, allowing for its preservation through A.I. technology.
Jones, whose career spanned over seven decades, left an indelible mark on both stage and screen. With 190 screen credits to his name, he starred in acclaimed films such as “Field of Dreams” and “The Hunt for Red October,” and lent his distinctive bass voice to characters like Mufasa in “The Lion King.”
However, it was his role as the menacing Sith Lord Darth Vader that cemented his place in pop culture history. Jones first voiced Vader in 1977’s “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” and continued to do so for over 40 years.
krainian startup Respeecher used A.I. technology to recreate Jones’ voice for the Disney+ series “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and will do so in future projects, too, ensuring that Vader’s iconic sound would endure.
Fellow Star Wars actor Mark Hamill paid tribute, calling Jones “one of the world’s finest actors whose contributions to ‘Star Wars’ were immeasurable.”
Jones’ final screen credit was “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” marking the end of an era for one of Hollywood’s most beloved and respected voices.