American actor James Earl Jones who was celebrated for his iconic voice to King Mufasa and Darth Vader, was pronounced dead on Monday, September 9, 2024, and has been drawing significant attention where most people are mourning his demise but some are curious to know his ethnicity and background. So far, innumerable searches have been made about the late actor James Earl Jones’s ethnicity, compelling us to delve into the details of his personal and early life. Besides sharing James Earl Jones’s ethnicity and background information, we have also shared a glimpse into his legendary career that spanned over the decades. You are suggested to follow this article to the end and take a peek at the following sections. Kindly stick with this page. Swipe down the page.
Needless to say, James Earl Jones was an imposing screen presence who overcame a childhood shutter to develop a stentorian voice that was acknowledged and recognized by the whole world as he voiced King Mufasa and Darth Vader. According to the reports, James Earl Jones passed away on Monday, September 9, 2024, peacefully at his home. When the legendary actor breathed his last, he was surrounded by his loved ones, family members, and his agent Barry McPherson as well. James Earl Jones lived for 93 years. At the time of conveying this saddening news, no cause of death was revealed by his family. However, it is known that he had been struggling with diabetes for a long time.
James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931. He boasted mixed ethnicity with Irish, American-Indian, and African-American heritages. Speaking about his ethnic background, in an interview James Earl Jones said that his parents were of different origins and mixed heritage. His statement was “I am part Irish, part African, and part Cherokee”. Notably, the actor had established a totem pole in front of his house to pay tribute to his native American background, which he used to describe as a symbol of Native American culture.
Little do we also know about his grandparents, his paternal grandmother was Elnora Wallace and his paternal grandfather was Robert Washington Jones. James Earl Jones’s maternal grandparents were Maggie Margaret Lee Anderson and John Henry Connolly who was born to Wyatt Connolly and Charlotte Jeeter. Furthermore, about his family background, James Earl Jones’s maternal grandfather’s father Wyatt Connolly was born to Brice Connolly who was an African-American man, and Parthenia who was a white Irish woman. To note, the US Census classified both Parthenia and Brice as Black in 1870.
Talking about his parents, James Earl Jones was born Todd Jones to his parents, father Robert Earl Jones who was a boxer, butler, and chauffeur, and his mother Ruth Connolly who was a teacher and maid. While growing up in the US, James Earl Jones eventually developed an interest in acting. He surged to fame and found prominence through his roles in films like The Cotton Club, Trading Places, Lying Lips, and The Sting.
On September 7, 2006, James Earl Jones’s dad died of natural causes at the age of 96. After his father’s demise, his family moved to rural Mississippi to live with his maternal grandparents. From there, they went to Dublin, Michigan, when James Earl Jones was 5 years old. In 1949, he passed out from Brethren High School formerly known as Dickson Rural Agricultural School, and in 1955 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in drama from the University of Michigan. In his family, he has a younger brother named Matthew Earl Jones who is both an actor and producer. Stay tuned to this website for more details and further updates.
