Plenty of actors elicit emotion with their expressions, but few can deliver goosebumps with their voice alone. And no voice was as powerfully evocativeor iconicas the deep, throaty rumble of James Earl Jones. While you may be most familiar with his Darth Vader quotes, Jones had a long and celebrated career.
He made his professional acting debut in 1957 with the Broadway play The Blackstone. In the more than six decades that followed, he was featured in well over 100 movies, television shows and stage productions. From the comedic King Jaffe Joffer in Coming to America to the serious Admiral Greer in the Jack Ryan movies to the poignant Reverend Kumalo in Cry, the Beloved Country, he played an astoundingly wide range of characters. That said, most people remember him as either Darth Vader, one of Hollywood’s most notorious villains, or Mufasa, one of Hollywood’s most beloved heroes.
So our hearts were broken when we heard Jones passed away on Sept. 9, 2024, at the age of 93. In his honor, we have collected our favorite quotes from his biggest movies, including some of the most memorable Field of Dreams, Lion King and Star Wars quotes. They’ll make you laugh and cry, inspire you, give you chills and maybe even prompt some deep thoughts about the meaning of life. We hope that as you read these, you’ll hear them in Jones’s “voice of God” timbre.
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Role: Voice of Darth Vader
The original Star Wars trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) centers on Luke Skywalker, a young farm boy who ultimately saves the entire galaxy. Along the way, he finds a mentor in Jedi masters Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, learns how to use the Force and fights the dark Sith Lord Darth Vader (who, spoiler alert, turns out to be his dad).
Jones’s iconic voice of Darth Vader, perhaps Hollywood’s most notorious villain, was a huge part of what made the character so scaryand the movies so much fun to watch. And to fans’ delight, Jones voiced Vader not only in the original Star Wars trilogy but also in the prequel films and later Star Wars projects.
Read on for our favorite Darth Vader quotes. (And yes, they’re a million times better in Jones’s deep voice.)
Role: Voice of Mufasa
This animated Disney film was a childhood staple for generations of kids. The story starts with King Mufasa, who’s preparing his son, Simba, to rule in his stead. Mufasa’s murder by his brother, Scar, is the catalyst that sends Simba on a journey, eventually leading him to save the pride and rule as the lion king.
Part of what made this movie so memorable was Jones’s masterful portrayal of Mufasa. We still tear up during the seminal “remember who you are” scene featuring Jones’s resonant, fatherly voice. It’s more proof that Jones was an expert in stoking our emotions, whether he was portraying an evil dark lord or virtuous lion king. “The best thing about acting is that you get to step into someone else’s shoes and see the world through their eyes,” Jones once said. “It’s an opportunity to explore different facets of human experience and to express something deep and meaningful.”
Role: Terence Mann
Baseball lover Ray Kinsella is prompted by a mysterious voice”If you build it, he will come,” it saysuntil he gives in and builds a baseball field in the middle of a cornfield. Soon, a fantastical team of dead baseball greats shows up to play. Jones plays Terence Mann, the reclusive writer who aids Kinsella in his quest. Mann’s speech, voiced by Jones, about the enduring magic of baseball is a highlight of the film.
Role: Admiral James Greer
In this Cold War thriller, based on Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan book series, Jones plays Admiral James Greer, the CIA’s gruff deputy director. He helps Ryan hunt down a Soviet nuclear submarine that is fast approaching America. The twist, Ryan discovers, is that the Soviet submarine captain is planning to defect rather than launch a nuclear attacksomething he has to work hard to convince Greer of. (Spoiler: The crisis is averted.)
Role: Admiral James Greer
Jones reprised his role of Greer in the next two Jack Ryan moviesPatriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. In Patriot Games, Ryan inadvertently thwarts an assassination attempt on a British royal, making him the target of a group of Irish extremists. Greer’s wisdom and experience help save the day.
Role: King Jaffe Joffer
In this comedy, Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) of the fictional African nation of Zamunda comes to New York City to find a woman who will fall in love with him for who he really is rather than the fact that he’s a prince. In disguise, he learns about American culture and finds love. Akeem’s exploits are a riot, but a good number of the laughs (and funny quotes) come courtesy of Jones’s character, Akeem’s father, King Jaffe Joffer.
Role: Rev. Stephen Kumalo
Set in apartheid-era South Africa, this movie follows Stephen Kumalo, a rural South African priest portrayed by Jones. Kumalo travels to Johannesburg hoping to find his son and is instead confronted with the harsh realities of racism and social decline. He discovers his son has been charged with the murder of a White boy. Instead of seeking revenge, Kumalo builds a relationship with the murdered man’s father. The powerful film offers some of the most moving movie quotes on this list.
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