James Earl Jones Bio, Wife, Children, Family, Net Worth

James Earl Jones Bio, Wife, Children, Family, Net Worth
James Earl Jones (Credit: YouTube)

James Earl Jones is an American actor known for his deep and resonant voice. He has had a remarkable career in film, television, and theatre, earning accolades and recognition for his performances.

James Earl Jones remains an influential and highly respected figure in the entertainment industry, leaving a lasting impact on both film and theatre.

Who Is James Earl Jones's Parents?

Actor James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, to parents Robert Earl Jones and Ruth Connolly. His age is 92 years as of 2023.

The Jones family relocated to Dublin, Michigan when Jones was five years old. Dickson High School in Brethren, Michigan, where he received his diploma in 1949.

As per the wiki, at Manistee Summer Theatre, Jones took part in plays in 1953. Following service in the U.S. Army. After serving in the Army for two years, Jones graduated with his bachelor's in arts with a drama major from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1955.

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Jones worked various jobs and went hunting and fishing while residing on his grandparents' farm. He also went to church, where he observed his grandmother's dramatic religious displays.

Later, Jones was legally adopted by his grandparents, who then took him to Michigan in the north. Jones struggled in his unfamiliar surroundings and it was difficult for him to adopt his grandparents as his family. 

At some points in grammar school, he could only speak to himself or his close family because he had developed a stutter and found it so difficult to communicate.

When the issue persisted in high school, an English teacher advised him to memorize speeches and compete in public speaking events. This resolved Jones' issue.

Who Is James Earl Jones Wife?

Julienne Marie was James Earl Jones' first wife. Julienne is a well-known actress with well-known performances on stage and on television. She appeared in the television shows Ryan's Hope and Our Private World.

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Julienne performed in a number of stage plays, including The King and I, Gypsy, Charlie and Algernon, The Boys from Syracuse, and many others, as a lead actress. 

James Earl Jones and Julienne Marie got married in 1968 after their initial meeting in 1964. The two separated in 1972 after four years of marriage. 

Marie claimed that the reason her marriage to Jones ended was that she didn't want children and they spent too much time apart due to work.

James Earl Jones


Julienne was previously wed to Gerald Kean from 1955 to 1961 before getting together with Jones. James Earl Jones remarried after divorcing Julienne Marie.

Who Was The Second Wife Of James Earl Jones?

Cecilia Hart, another actress, was James Earl Jones' second wife. Cecilia is best known for her roles in the television and stage productions The Silent Lovers, Mr. Dot Sunshine, and Paris. 

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While co-starring in the network show Paris, Jones, and Cecilia became friends. 1982 saw the marriage of the two actors. They stayed together until Cecilia's ovarian cancer death in 2016 in their marriage.

Does James Earl Jones Have Any Children?

There are no kids between James Earl Jones and Julienne Marie, Earl's first wife. One son named Flynn was born from his second marriage with Cecilia Hart. On June 22, 1982, Jones and Cecilia welcomed Flynn Earl Jones. Despite having famous parents, Flynn avoids being covered by the media.

JAMES_EARL_JONES_AND_CECILIA_WITH_THEIR_SON_FLYNN_HDAFP

What Are Some Of The Best Movies Of James Earl Jones?

James Earl Jones, a legendary actor who is still very active on Broadway and in movies and television shows, is the man with the legendary voice.

Jones first rose to fame as a stage actor and is now revered within the acting community for his six decades of subdued performances. He has carved out a successful career, winning in a variety of media. 

In addition to receiving three Grammy nominations and winning for "Great American Documents," he was nominated for four Tony Awards, taking home two ("The Great White Hope" and "Fences") as well.

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In 2011, he received an honorary Academy Award, won a Golden Globe for "The Great White Hope" (from five nominations), eight Emmy nominations, and three wins.

Some of his finest movies include The Man, Cry, The Beloved Country, Matewan, The Lion King, etc. to name a few. 

Is James Earl Jones Still Alive?

Yes, American actor James Earl Jones is still alive but after decades of lending his voice to various stories in the Star Wars universe, Jones discovered that his voice simply didn't hold up the way it used to and was eager to retire from voicing the iconic villain, Darth Vader who is a popular faceless villain in Star Wars.

Another reason Jones quit his voiceover is his stammering problem. Jones gave Respeecher, a Ukrainian startup working with Lucasfilm to preserve and recreate the actor's threatening voice using proprietary technology, the rights to his archival voice recordings.

James Earl Jones continues to perform well at the age of over 90. His most recent stage appearance was in a Broadway production of The Gin Game, which ran from 2015 to 2016. 

He reprised his voiceover performance as Mufasa in the live-action Lion King film in 2019, and he made an appearance in the eagerly anticipated Coming to America sequel, Coming 2, in 2021. Jones revealed in 2016 that he had battled type 2 diabetes for a significant portion of his life.

How Much Is The Net Worth Of James Earl Jones in 2023?

James Earl Jones is incredibly well-liked and prosperous. Here is the information if you are one of those looking for James Earl Jones's net worth. James Earl Jones's net worth is reportedly $40 million, according to sources.

But he could have made a lot more money had he known how popular the Star Wars franchise would become. Think again if you believe that Jones received a sizable salary for the first Star Wars film.

In several interviews over the years, the actor has revealed that the first time he played Darth Vader, he only received $7,000. In 2009, Jones told the American Film Institute

"I lucked out to get a job that paid me $7,000, and I thought that was good money. "And I was able to lend my voice to a film. ".

Although lesser pay than their more well-known counterparts is to be expected for up-and-coming actors, $7,000 still seems like a low. It turns out that Jones' choice during the film's production led to the paycheck.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Jones chose a cash payment upfront over a cut of the movie's profits because he didn't know how successful Star Wars would be. According to the website, Jones could have made "tens of millions" more if he had chosen the percentage.