James Earl Jones () | Playbill

James Earl Jones

Performer

Things improved once Mr. Jones reached high school, when he was challenged by a teacher. “I had started writing poetry in high school and he said of one of them, ‘Jim, this is a good poem. In fact, it is so good I don’t think you wrote it. I think you plagiarized it. If you want to prove you wrote it, you must stand in front of the class and recite it by memory.’ Which I did. As they were my own words, I got through it.”

Read Full Obituary
  • Born: Jan 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA
  • Death: Sep 09, 2024 in Pawling, New York, USA

Roles (27)

The Gin Game Playbill - Opening Night The Gin Game
Opened October 14, 2015
  • as Weller Martin (Original)
The Gin Game Playbill - Opening Night
You Can't Take It With You Playbill - Opening Night You Can't Take It With You
Opened September 28, 2014
  • as Martin Vanderhof (Original)
You Can't Take It With You Playbill - Opening Night
The Best Man Playbill - Opening Night The Best Man
Opened April 01, 2012
  • as Former President Arthur Hockstader (Original)
The Best Man Playbill - Opening Night
The 65th Annual Tony Awards Playbill - June 12, 2011 The 65th Annual Tony Awards - 2011
Opened June 12, 2011
  • as Participating Artist (Original)
Driving Miss Daisy Playbill - Opening Night Driving Miss Daisy
Opened October 25, 2010
  • as Hoke Coleburn (Original)
Driving Miss Daisy Playbill - Opening Night
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Playbill - Opening Night Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Opened March 06, 2008
  • as Big Daddy (Original)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Playbill - Opening Night
The 60th Annual Tony Awards - June 11, 2006 The 60th Annual Tony Awards - 2006
Opened June 11, 2006
  • as Participating Artist (Original)
The 59th Annual Tony Awards - June 5, 2005 The 59th Annual Tony Awards - 2005
Opened June 05, 2005
  • as Participating Artist (Original)
On Golden Pond Playbill - Opening Night, March 2005 On Golden Pond
Opened April 07, 2005
  • as Norman Thayer, Jr. (Original)
On Golden Pond Playbill - Opening Night, March 2005
The 50th Annual Tony Awards Playbill - June 2, 1996 The 50th Annual Tony Awards - 1996
Opened June 02, 1996
  • as Participating Artist (Original)
The 47th Annual Tony Awards Playbill - June 6, 1993 The 47th Annual Tony Awards - 1993
Opened June 06, 1993
  • as Participating Artist (Original)
The 44th Annual Tony Awards Playbill - June 3, 1990 The 44th Annual Tony Awards - 1990
Opened June 03, 1990
  • as Participating Artist (Original)
Fences Playbill - April 1987 Fences
Opened March 26, 1987
  • as Troy Maxson (Original)
"Master Harold"...and the Boys. Playbill - May 1982 "Master Harold"...and the Boys
Opened May 04, 1982
  • as Sam (Replacement)
Othello Playbill - Opening Night, Feb 1982 Othello
Opened February 03, 1982
  • as Othello (Original)
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 A Lesson From Aloes
Opened November 17, 1980
  • as Steve Daniels (Original)
The 34th Annual Tony Awards Playbill - 1980 The 34th Annual Tony Awards - 1980
Opened June 08, 1980
  • as Participating Artist (Original)
Paul Robeson Playbill - Jan 1978 Paul Robeson
Opened January 19, 1978
  • as Paul Robeson (Original)
Of Mice and Men Playbill - Dec 1974 Of Mice and Men
Opened December 18, 1974
  • as Lennie (Original)
Of Mice and Men Playbill - Dec 1974
The Iceman Cometh Playbill - Dec 1973 The Iceman Cometh
Opened December 13, 1973
  • as Theodore Hickman (Original)
Les Blancs Playbill - Nov 1970 Les Blancs
Opened November 16, 1970
  • as Tshembe Matoseh (Original)
The Great White Hope Playbill - Oct 1968 The Great White Hope
Opened October 03, 1968
  • as Jack Jefferson (Original)
The Great White Hope Playbill - Oct 1968
A Hand Is on the Gate Playbill - Sept 1966 A Hand Is on the Gate
Opened September 21, 1966
  • Performer
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 Danton's Tod
Opened October 21, 1965
  • as Philippeau (Original)
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 The Cool World
Opened February 22, 1960
  • as Harrison Thurston (Original)
Sunrise at Campobello Playbill - Jan 1958 Sunrise at Campobello
Opened January 30, 1958
  • as Edward (Original)

Awards

Drama Desk Award
2008 Special Award Winner
1987 Outstanding Actor in a Play Winner
1978 Outstanding Actor in a Play Nominee
1973 Outstanding Performance Hamlet Winner
1973 Outstanding Performance The Cherry Orchard Winner
1971 Outstanding Performance Winner
1969 Outstanding Performance Winner
1965 Vernon Rice Award Othello Winner
Outer Critics Circle
2012 Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Winner
2008 Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Winner
2005 Outstanding Actor in a Play Nominee
1987 Outstanding Actor in a Play Winner
Theatre World Awards
1962 Theatre World Award Moon on a Rainbow Shawl Winner
Tony Award
2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
2012 Best Actor in a Play Nominee
2005 Best Actor in a Play Nominee
1987 Best Actor in a Play Winner
1969 Best Actor in a Play Winner
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