James Earl Jones, voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa, dies aged 93

The US actor voiced iconic roles such as Mufasa in Disney’s 1994 film The Lion King, and Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies.

James Earl Jones, the American actor known for being the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars, has died at the age of 93.

The Hollywood star’s voice was also lent to the likes of Mufasa in Disney’s 1994 film The Lion King, various audiobooks and to CNN for its “This is CNN” tagline.

During his career, he won a host of awards including Emmys, Tony Awards, a Grammy and he was given an honorary Oscar.

On Monday, his long time agent Barry McPherson confirmed the veteran actor had died.

Jones was already an award-winning star of stage and screen when the original Star Wars movie was being developed by George Lucas in the 1970s.

He had wowed critics with his Tony Award-winning performance as a boxer in 1968 play The Great White Hope, later taking on the lead in the 1970 movie adaptation, for which he picked up a Golden Globe.

The actor demonstrated his versatility in everything from Shakespearean epics to television dramas and comedies.

He played memorable film roles including reclusive writer Terence Mann in 1989’s Field Of Dreams and a South African minister in Cry, The Beloved Country.

In 2005, the veteran star reprised Vader for Revenge Of The Sith and he returned to the role nine years later in the first episode of Star Wars Rebels, and in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Hollywood stars are among those who have paid tribute, including Stars Wars actor Mark Hamill, who portrayed Luke Skywalker, writing on social media “#RIP dad” with a broken heart emoji.