MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jackson, Frazier, Hickman, Thomas, Simmons (13th), Boyd, DeBar, Horhn, McMahan, Norwood, Seymour, Simmons (12th), Sparks, Turner-Ford, Barnett
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND CAREER OF MISSISSIPPI-BORN STATE AND SCREEN ICON JAMES EARL JONES, WHO FORGED A PATH FOR BLACK ACTORS AND INFLUENCED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS AMERICANS THROUGH HIS STORIED CAREER, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE ON THE PASSING OF THIS ACTING LEGEND.
WHEREAS, James Earl Jones, the iconic Mississippi-born actor, whose prominent roles and performances influenced individuals around the globe, passed away on September 9, 2024, at the age of 93; and
WHEREAS, in a career that spanned eight decades, Jones established himself as one of Hollywood's greats. On both the stage and the screen, Jones captivated audiences of all ages and backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi. After moving to Michigan to live with his grandparents at age 5, Jones overcame a childhood stutter by writing and reciting poetry at the encouragement of a high school English teacher. His love of poetry eventually bloomed into a career in both Shakespearean acting and spoken word; and
WHEREAS, after high school, Jones attended the University of Michigan and joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. After his junior year of college, he moved his focus from pre-med to drama with the hope of studying something he loved before military service. In 1955, Jones graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in drama; and
WHEREAS, after completing his degree, Jones honorably served his country via military service and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1953 as the Korean War drew to a close. Upon being commissioned, he reported to the then-named Fort Benning to attend the Infantry Officers Basic Course. Eventually, his unit was sent to establish a cold-weather training command in Colorado, and his battalion became a training unit in the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains. Jones was ultimately promoted to First Lieutenant; and
WHEREAS, upon completion of his military service, Jones moved to New York City, where he studied at the American Theatre Wing; and
WHEREAS, Jones began his illustrious acting career in Michigan, where he portrayed Othello at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan. In addition to theatre, he also appeared in the ABC radio anthology series Theatre-Five; and
WHEREAS, in 1957, Jones made his Broadway debut as an understudy in The Egghead, before creating the feature role of Edward the butler in Sunrise at Campobello. For the next several years, Jones continued performing in New York productions of Othello, King Lear, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Measure for Measure, Hamlet, The Blacks, and The Merchant of Venice, among others; and
WHEREAS, Jones made his feature film debut in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, before quickly appearing in The Comedians alongside other Hollywood mainstays Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Alec Guiness;
WHEREAS, in 1977, Jones made his debut in his iconic voiceover role as Darth Vader in George Lucas' space opera blockbuster film Star Wars: A New Hope. He lent his voice to Darth Vader for further Star Wars projects, including Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Rebels, Rogue One, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, among others. Jones' rich baritone voice made Darth Vader one of the most memorable villains in cinematic history; and
WHEREAS, among other notable roles, Jones also lent his distinctive baritone voice to Mufasa in both the animated and live action versions of Disney's The Lion King. He was the only cast member from the original animated film to reprise his role for the live action version, and his performance as Mufasa has long been heralded as one of Disney's most celebrated and beloved characters; and
WHEREAS, over the course of his storied career, Jones received many awards for his outstanding and distinguished work. In addition to numerous award nominations, he won two Primetime Emmy Awards, three Tony Awards, the Honorary Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word, a Golden Globe Award, and two NAACP Image Awards, among others. Due to these honors, Jones is considered one of a exclusive group of entertainers to have achieved EGOT status; and
WHEREAS, Jones was further honored for his inspirational work with a National Medal of Arts in 1992, a Career Achievement Award from the National Board of Review in 1995, Kennedy Center Honors in 2002, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2009, and the Oscar Micheaux Award from the Chicago Film Critics Association in 2011; and
WHEREAS, after his death, James Earl Jones was honored by his alma mater, the University of Michigan, as well as the NAACP, SAG-AFTRA, The Public Theater, Major League Baseball, Vice President Kamala Harris, President Bill Clinton, and numerous members of the entertainment industry. Following his passing, The New York Times described him as "one of the most-admired American actors of all time." Additionally, the Empire State Building in New York City was lit up to resemble his iconic character, Darth Vader; and
WHEREAS, Jones is recognized as a groundbreaking pioneer for African Americans for his significant roles in film, television, and on the stage. In 2022, the Cort Theatre, where Jones made his Broadway debut in 1958, was renamed after James Earl Jones, becoming the second Broadway venue named after a Black theatrical artist; and
WHEREAS, James Earl Jones will continue to be celebrated for his impact on American pop culture and the international entertainment industry:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we mourn the loss and celebrate the contributions and career of Mississippi-born state and screen icon James Earl Jones, who forged a path for Black actors and influenced the lives of countless Americans through his storied career, and express the sympathy of the Legislature on the passing of this acting legend.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of James Earl Jones; forwarded to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences; and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.