On September 26th, Broadway will honor the late actor James Earl Jones by dimming its marquee lights for one minute — a traditional ceremony that began in the 1950s to pay homage to deceased performers who significantly impacted the world of theater. Previous recipients include legendary composer Stephen Sondheim and original West Side Story actress Chita Rivera, and Jones will join their ranks with two Tony awards and countless unforgettable performances.
Jones has been a valuable member of the Broadway community ever since his 1957 debut as an understudy for The Egghead, a legacy that will now be officially commemorated with Broadway’s iconic lights-dimming ceremony this Thursday at 6:45 p.m/ET. The gesture recognizes Jones’s artistry and impact across numerous genres and mediums — including what is perhaps his most well-known role, the voice of Darth Vader — but seeks to specifically highlight Jones’s expansive legacy on the Broadway stage, for which he was recently honored with the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017.
Jason Laks, Interim President of the Broadway League, also addressed Jones’s impact on the theatre community during his announcement of the Broadway League’s official decision to recognize Jones in a lights-dimming ceremony.
“James Earl Jones was a true pillar of the Broadway industry, providing unforgettable experiences to multiple generations of theatregoers – all while accumulating many well-deserved honors, awards, and achievements for his iconic performances in other entertainment fields. While we acknowledge and celebrate Mr. Jones’ significant legacy across multiple mediums, we are particularly proud of his legacy on Broadway, and are grateful for the many memorable performances with which he graced our stages.”
Paying Tribute to One of the Greats
Broadway’s lights-dimming ceremony is far from the only tribute to James Earl Jones. With a career spanning nearly seven decades, the acclaimed actor and performer has left legacies all across the entertainment industry. He is one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT, winning multiple Emmys, one Grammy, one Oscar, and two Tony Awards, and has received numerous other accolades for his work in television, film, and on-stage. Although most know Jones for his deep, distinctive bass voice that he lent to Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, he was also a stunning Shakespearean actor, a guest star in many popular TV shows including NBC’s Law and Order and CBS’s Big Bang Theory, and an iconic trailblazer for Black actors in the entertainment industry.
Since his passing, fans and colleagues alike have united across the world to pay homage to James Earl Jones’s legendary achievements. Mark Hamill and George Lucas both delivered heartfelt statements about Jones’s unforgettable impact on the Star Wars universe, while Denzel Washington recalled looking up to Jones for inspiration during Washington’s days as a budding college actor. Fans also honored Jones through inspiring artwork commemorating his most popular roles in Star Wars, The Lion King, and Conan the Barbarian. A true legend, James Earl Jones will certainly be missed.