YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT IN THE THEATRE, DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON OF THE EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO AND THE EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY LOS ANGELES ARCHIVAL PROJECT, IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PASSING OF AN AMERICAN ACTING LEGEND, IS THRILLED TO THE DISCUSS ONE OF THE GREATEST STAGE AND SCREEN PERFORMERS IN THE HISTORY OF THEATRE AND FILM.
THE TRULY INCREDIBLE WORK OF A LATE, GREAT TALENT.
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On September 9, 2024 the entertainment industry and millions of stage, screen and television fans around the world lost one of the globe's finest actors, Mr. James Earl Jones. An artist known for many different roles, and who reached multiple generations of audiences during his 93-year-long lifetime.
He was an acclaimed Shakespearean performer, who played many leading and featured roles in classics, as highlighted by his powerful 1974 New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park performance in the title role of the immortal Bard's "King Lear," and his acclaimed early 1980s portrayal of the title role of "Othello" opposite the late,great and revered Christopher Plummer as Iago on Broadway.
He became noted in more contemporary stage works as a leading actor in the plays of the great South African playwright Athol Fugard in New York, earning high praise for his performances in the dramatist's "The Blood Knot," "Master Harold And The Boys" and "A Lesson From Aloes."
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Yes, he was noted as one of the most distinguished stage and screen and television performers in The History of Acting. He is acclaimed in all major mediums of the entertainment industry.
With his GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING DRAMATIC VOICE alone, he is instantly recognizable to millions of movie goers around the world as THE VOICE OF DARTH VADER OF THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE, as Mufasa in the classic Disney film "The Lion King," and for years familiar to legions of viewers on an international cable news network when as an Announcer he intoned:"THIS IS CNN".
He has been honored with A 1992 National Medal of Arts from President George H. W. Bush. He has been bestowed with A 2002 Kennedy Center Honor from President George W. Bush. And, in 2009, he received an invitation to perform Shakespeare At The White House during an evening of poetry from President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. He is technically, with 2 Emmy Awards, 1 Grammy Award, 1 2011 Honorary Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement ( an Oscar ), and 3 Tony Awards, AN EGOT! And, just two years ago, in 2022, A BROADWAY THEATRE WAS REFURBISHED AND RENAMED IN HIS HONOR!
But long before these numerous honors and tributes were paid to THIS RECENTLY DECEASED LEGEND ( who was still quite active in his nineties ), he performs a definitive role in a Pulitzer Prize-winning play in New York during the 1968-1969 theatre season which forever makes him A STAGE AND SCREEN STAR AND A LEGEND!
The Great James Earl Jones Is The Very First African-American Male Performer To Win The Tony Award for Best Leading Actor In A Play On Broadway for his powerhouse performance as the unstoppable Black Heavyweight Champion of the World, Jack Jefferson ( based upon the historic Jack Johnson ) in critically-praised, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Howard Sackler's 1968 hit stage drama "The Great White Hope" ( which co-starred the critically-praised Jane Alexander, who earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress In Play for her heartfelt performance of Jack's doomed wife ).
When the majority of the original Broadway cast of "The Great White Hope" appeared in a 1969 film version of the Howard Sackler play, both Jones and Alexander made it into THE GOLD DERBY.
JAMES EARL JONES BECAME THE SECOND BLACK MALE PERFORMER TO WIN AN ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION FOR BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE AND JANE ALEXANDER EARNED AN ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION FOR BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE.
Here are some images of the 1960s stage and film productions of "The Great White Hope"
THE STORY OF AMERICA'S FIRST BLACK HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION IS COMPLICATED AND TRAGIC!
Your Humble Servant In The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, Is Delighted And Honored To Share A Link To An Important And Historic Film.
Here's the link to see TONY WINNERS AND OSCAR NOMINEES JAMES EARL JONES AND JANE ALEXANDER IN THE BIG SCREEN ADAPTATION OF PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT HOWARD SACKLER'S "THE GREAT WHITE HOPE!
Enjoy.
May this truly great thespian Rest In Peace.
