James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American
actor who in a career spanning more than 60 years has become known as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors and "one of the greatest actors in American history." Since his
Broadway debut in 1957, Jones has won many awards, including a
Tony Award and
Golden Globe Award for his role in
The Great White Hope. Jones has won three Emmy Awards, including two in the same year in 1991, and he also earned an
Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in the film version of
The Great White Hope. He is also known for his voice roles as
Darth Vader in the
Star Wars film series and
Mufasa in
Disney's
The Lion King as well as many other film, stage, and television roles.