James Earl Jones was an American actor best known for his work in cinema and theater. Jones was perhaps best known for his voice work, most famously as Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, starting with the original film in 1977. His deep, resonant voice also brought Mufasa to life in Disney’s The Lion King (1994) and James Earl Jones its 2019 remake.
However, tragedy struck on September 10 when news broke that James Earl Jones had passed away on Monday at the age of 93. Following the announcement of his death, many fans have expressed interest in learning more about him, including his net worth. In this article, we will discuss James Earl Jones’ net worth.
What Was James Earl Jones Net Worth At The Time Of His Death?
According to Celebrity net worth. James Earl Jones net worth At the time of his death was estimated at $40 million. Jones, whose career lasted seven decades, became one of cinema’s most legendary voices, but he also made an early decision that lost him tens of millions of dollars. Despite his huge contributions to the Star Wars franchise, Jones made a disastrous decision when making the original picture in 1977, costing him a fortune.
James Earl Jones Surprising ‘Star Wars’ Salary
James Earl Jones was skeptical of the project’s potential when he received the opportunity to voice Darth Vader in 1977’s “Star Wars” (later titled “A New Hope”). James Earl Jones chose to accept an upfront cash payment for his voice performance, despite the promise of a percentage of the film’s gross revenue.
After spending a couple of hours in the studio recording his lines, he received a total payment of $7,000 for his efforts. For James, this was a terrific deal because he was short on cash at the moment and needed money to buy groceries. To put things in perspective, $7,000 in 1977 is equivalent to approximately $27,000 in today’s dollars.
Unfortunately, Jones’ decision to pay in cash proved to be a disastrous one. As everyone knows, the “Star Wars” franchise grew in popularity and success, thanks in large part to James’ foreboding voice performance. The first film grossed more than $775 million in 1977 alone (not adjusted for inflation).
This makes it the third-highest grossing film in history. So, what did all this mean for James Earl Jones? In summary, he suffered a significant financial loss. James would subsequently say in an interview that the decision to take $7,000 up front instead of points cost him “tens of millions of dollars” on the first picture alone!
In contrast, Sir Alec Guinness chose to accept a portion of box office earnings as part of his contract (despite his own reservations about the film’s prospects). To date, this ruling has resulted in almost $95 million in payouts to his estate and heirs. This explains what Jones lost out on.
The Early Life Of James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkansas, Mississippi. When his father abandoned the family to pursue an acting career in New York and Hollywood, his grandparents raised James mostly on a farm in Dublin, Michigan. Jones developed speech problems immediately after leaving Mississippi. Initially, he refused to talk at all, keeping completely silent until entering high school.
Jones enrolled in the pre-med program at the University of Michigan after graduating from high school. Part of his motivation for being engaged in drama was simple: he wanted to do something fun before being called into service during the Korean War, as he was unsure he would ever return from the battle. He attended Ranger School, followed by a cold weather training command in Colorado. Before his discharge, he achieved the rank of first lieutenant.
James Earl Jones: Career
James Earl Jones started his theater career in Michigan. In 1955, he appeared in an adaptation of “Othello.” This marked the start of a long career in Shakespeare performances, with Jones becoming a well-known Shakespearean actor in the 1960s.
Jones also began his cinematic career in the 1960s, with performances in films such as “Dr. Strangelove” and “The Comedians.” He later garnered acclaim for his role in the play “The Great White Hope” and its film adaptation. Following additional theater work and performances in films such as “The Man” and “Claudine,” James took a voiceover part as Darth Vader in 1977’s “Star Wars: A New Hope.” He later repeated his part in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”
After more theater work, Jones starred in several hit films in the 1980s, including “Conan the Barbarian,” “Coming to America,” and “Field of Dreams.” Throughout the 1990s, he had a streak of blockbuster film performances, including “The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games,” “Clear and Present Danger,” and many others. During this time, he also advanced his voice acting career, taking on the role of Mufasa in “The Lion King.” During this time, he also appeared in television shows like “Gabriel’s Fire,” “Roots: The Next Generations,” and “Heat Wave.”
Jones appeared in numerous television shows over the years, including “Law & Order,” “Will & Grace,” “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and “The Simpsons.” In the 2010s, Jones returned to a more theatrical approach.
James Earl Jones: Personal Life
In 1968, James Earl Jones married his first wife, Julienne Marie, an actress. Their marriage lasted four years and ended in divorce. Jones married Cecilia Hart, a fellow actress, in 1982. They had one kid together before Hart died from ovarian cancer in 2016.
FAQ’S
What was James Earl Jones’ most famous role?
James Earl Jones is perhaps most famous for voicing Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King (1994) and its 2019 remake.
When did James Earl Jones pass away?
James Earl Jones passed away on September 10 at the age of 93.
What was James Earl Jones’ net worth at the time of his death?
At the time of his death, James Earl Jones’ net worth was estimated to be around $40 million.
Why did James Earl Jones lose out on millions from Star Wars?
Jones made a decision to take a $7,000 upfront payment for his role as Darth Vader in the original Star Wars (1977), instead of a percentage of the film’s gross revenue. As a result, he lost tens of millions of dollars, as the film became one of the highest-grossing of all time.
What was James Earl Jones’ salary for voicing Darth Vader?
For his voice work as Darth Vader in 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope, Jones was paid $7,000. Adjusted for inflation, this is approximately $27,000 in today’s dollars.
What were some of James Earl Jones’ other famous works?
Apart from his work in Star Wars and The Lion King, Jones appeared in notable films such as Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America, Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October, and Patriot Games. He was also a prominent Shakespearean actor and appeared in various television shows like Law & Order, The Big Bang Theory, and Will & Grace.
Did James Earl Jones serve in the military?
Yes, Jones served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He achieved the rank of first lieutenant before being discharged.
Who were James Earl Jones’ wives?
James Earl Jones married actress Julienne Marie in 1968; the couple divorced after four years. He later married actress Cecilia Hart in 1982, with whom he had a son. Hart passed away from ovarian cancer in 2016.
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