James Earl Jones, one of the most revered actors of our time, passed away at the age of 93. According to his rep,’ ‘he passed away Monday morning at his home in upstate New York, surrounded by family members.’

His extraordinary career spanned over six decades, leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment world. Best known for his deep, commanding voice, Jones brought to life iconic characters such as Darth Vader in Star Wars, Mufasa in The Lion King, and King Jaffe Joffer in Coming To America. His voice became synonymous with power, mystery, and wisdom, earning him a place in cinematic history.

Jones was a pioneer in breaking barriers for Black actors in Hollywood. He was highly respected not only for his voice work but also for his stage presence. His portrayal of Othello is considered one of the finest ever, while his role in The Great White Hope earned him a Tony Award and an Academy Award nomination.

Throughout his career, Jones won numerous awards, including two Emmys, a Grammy, an honorary Oscar, and three Tony Awards, making him one of the few to achieve EGOT status. He was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2011, a testament to his far-reaching impact on film and theater.

Born in 1931 in Mississippi, Jones initially struggled with a severe stutter, which he eventually overcame with the help of his teachers, allowing him to embrace a career in performance. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army before pursuing acting full-time. His resonance, both in voice and presence, touched generations, transcending genres and industries.

Jones’ influence extended beyond the stage and screen, serving as an inspiration to aspiring actors and a symbol of excellence, discipline, and perseverance. His loss leaves a significant void in the world of entertainment, but his legacy will continue to inspire and entertain audiences for generations to come. His voice, talent, and trailblazing career will forever be remembered as one of the most iconic in Hollywood history.

Sending our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones at this time.

The post R.I.P…. James Earl Jones Passes Away, Rest Easy King 🕊️ appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

His Dad is an iconic figure in entertainment, who became really popular in film in the ’70s era. If you’re a fan of old school movies, you have probably seen his Dad in at least one of them.

And if you guessed James Earl Jones- the Old School icon with an even more iconic voice- then you were correct!

His 39-year-old son’s is Flynn Earl Jones, and doesn’t he look exactly like his Pops? Flynn’s mother is actress, Cecilia Hart. She and James Earl Jones have been married since 1982.

One thing I’m wondering, is how James Earl Jones’ beloved mother would have felt about Jones’ son and his wife (pictured below). Why? Because Jones publicly revealed, in a 2011 interview with BBC News, that his mother was very “racist.” Jones loved his mother dearly, but this is what he explained about her views on race:

Embed from Getty Images

“She [his mother] was the most racist person, bigoted person I’ve ever known. She trained us that way. She would consider it defensive racism, but it’s still racism, it’s still the same poison.”

James Earl Jones is the total opposite of racist though and in some ways he’s the total opposite of his father, Robert Earl Jones, because he refused to do to his son what his Dad, who was also a pretty popular actor and boxer, had done to him. His dad, Robert, had abandoned his family shortly after his son’s birth.

“I didn’t know him and he didn’t raise me, but in high school I would see his picture in national magazines,” Jones remembers. Eventually, after Jones’ failed attempts at being a soldier in the military and attending a university to study medicine…only to realize he wasn’t good at it, he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an actor.

After Jones’ wife, Cecilia, became pregnant with their son, Flynn, while they were both performing together in a Shakesphere stage play, Jones was determined to be the best father he could be. Jones said:

“Flynn’s mother came onstage with him in her belly. I was Othello, she was Desdemona.”

Jones and his son are extremely close and in fact, they work together everyday because Flynn Earl Jones is his Dad’s personal assistant. So Flynn is right there by his Pops’ side looking out for him at the tender age of 87 years young and although work only gets tougher for James, he had this to say about it:

“I do like my rest, it was hard to get up this morning” – but he can’t ever see himself stopping. “I have no other employment. I can’t afford the amount of land you need to be a farmer and that’s the only other thing I know. The military I liked when I was in it but I’m too old. There’s nothing I would retire for, so I won’t retire.” He grins. ‘‘I’ll just keep going until I fall over.”

We’re looking forward to seeing Jones continue to do his thing in acting for many years to come.

Here’s an Old School fun fact about James Earl Jones:

Embed from Getty Images

Jones developed a severe stutter as a child, which left him extremely self-conscious and shy around other children. He refers to his voice as “salvaged”:

“If you’re in the army and you need a tank,” he says,”you fix one that’s broken and you go into battle – it’s a salvaged tank. I have a salvaged voice. And every role is an attempt to learn how to use it again.”

He refused to speak in school, until a teacher helped him out of his silence during his high school years. Jones later told the Hollywood Reporter:

“I had a great English teacher who believed in language and he looked at a poem I wrote and said, ‘It’s too good for you to have written, so to prove you wrote it, please stand up in front of the class and recite it from memory.’ And I did it without stuttering.”

[Source: metro.co.uk; Huffington Post]

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, Old School news with a new point of view

The post His Biological Dad’s An Iconic African American Actor…Many Are Stunned After Seeing Him appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The year was 1974 when we watched Claudine and witnessed Diahann Carroll display a total contrast to her sophisticated character of “Nurse Julia” from her 60s/70s TV show, “Julia.” Although many were skeptical about Diahann being able to convince us that she would be a poor single mother on welfare, raising six kids, she pulled it off and Claudine forever went down in history as a 70’s cult classic film…BUT…

There was another very popular actress whom the producers of the film were trying to convince to take the “Claudine” role, but she turned it down for the very reason that we all fell in love with the film- she didn’t want to portray an unmarried African American woman  on welfare, raising six kids on her own.

Of course that’s not the only reason we loved the film, but seeing a representation of an unfortunate reality that many of us are faced with in our own families and communities, was a reality that was very relatable for us. Nonetheless, it’s understandable that this actress couldn’t see herself playing such a character. See who this strong willed, iconic actress is below…

So THAT’S Who Turned Down “Claudine” Role…

Embed from Getty Images

It’s the beautiful Cicely Tyson! In a prior interview, Cicely revealed that she was offered the role of “Claudine” before Diahann Carroll, but she just did not want to take on that type of stereotypical role at that point in her career. Therefore, she declined.

We all know that Cicely would have nailed that character like no other, but now that we’ve seen Diahann kill it, it’s hard to imagine anyone else filling her shoes. The film would have felt totally different with any other actress loving on “Roop” (James Earl Jones’ character).

That same year in 1974, Cicely Tyson’s TV movie, The Autobiography of Jane Pittman, released and her character was a slave named “Jane,” who told the story of transitioning from being a slave to being a free person at the end of the Civil War and living into the start of the Civil Rights era at the age of 110.

Embed from Getty Images

While “Jane” was a far cry from the role of “Claudine,” it can also be argued that “Claudine” was the result of a woman, much like “Jane Pittman.”

“Jane” had to rebuild, after generations of oppression and was still trying to navigate her way through the American system – through parenthood, and the men in her life. Sure, “Claudine” had more opportunities than “Jane,” or so it seemed, but the biased ‘American system’ was still strong and in tact.

For example, “Claudine” – and women like “Claudine,” who are on welfare- still have to keep the men out of the household, or face consequences of having their government assistance stripped away from them and their children. As long as there is no man in the home, the possibility of building a strongly bonded, complete family, is very minimal and basically impossible.

So both characters -“Jane” and “Claudine”- still represent women who possess a certain level of strength and triumph, but under a different set of circumstances. Moving on…

Diahann Caroll Wasn’t The 2nd Pick Either…Diana Sands Was…

Embed from Getty Images

Another fact about the film, Claudine, is that Diahann wasn’t supposed to play “Claudine” either. Actress, Diana Sands, was originally casted as “Claudine” and production had already started in 1973 with Sands. It came to a screeching halt when Sands and James Earl Jones were doing a love scene and Jones knew something must have been wrong with Sands, when she winced in pain.

Sadly, it turned out that Sands had a terminal form cancer called leiomyosarcoma, and had to pull out of the film. It was Sands who suggested that her close friend, Diahann Carroll, take the part instead, and the rest is history. Sands sadly passed away that same year. May she continue to rest peacefully.

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, old school news with a new point of view

Source

The post Before Diahann, Another Iconic Actress Rejected “Claudine” Movie Over Stereotype appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Zuckerberg was was given an honorary ‘Doctor of Laws’ degree. This now makes Zuckerberg’s world complete…at least in the eyes of his parents, whom he says were happy he finally got the degree from what would have been his alma matar, had he not dropped out to build Facebook. For a college dropout, it’s probably safe to assume that Zuckerberg’s Mom and Pops aren’t too displeased about their $33 year old billionaire son’s outcome.

As far as Mr. Jones a.k.a. the “Simba” himself, he was honored with a ‘Doctor of Arts’ honorary degree. During the ceremony, the iconic OG seemed grateful to have been paid homage for his decades of dedication to his craft. After losing the love of his life, his wife of 34  years, Cecilia Hart to ovarian cancer in October 2016, he’s been doing his best to hold his head eye and keep on keeping on. earlier this year (2017, he starred in the American Repertory Theater’s “Night of the Iguana” at Harvard.

Jones, an 86 year old University of Michigan graduate, has just about seen it all. He’s come from the small town of Arkabutla, Mississippi to Hollywood; from having a severe stuttering problem as a kid, to one of the most recognizable powerful voices in the entertainment industry. He is a true inspiration to us all.

Zuckerberg started Facebook while at Harvard and also met his wife, Priscilla Chan, there. He gave the commencement speech this year (12 years after dropping out) and reminded the graduates that: “Change starts local. Even global changes start small — with people like us. […] And this is my story too. A student in a dorm room, connecting one community at a time, and keeping at it until one day we can connect the whole world.”

Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla- both philanthropists- have pledged to give away 99% of their wealth throughout their lifetime.

James Earl Jones- whose also known for his humanitarian work- and Mark Zuckerberg, along with the other 8 honorees, gave Harvard’s 2017 graduate class a little bit more to reach for as they embark on a brand new chapter of opportunity in their lives.

The post Wow! James Earl Jones & Mark Zuckerberg Get College Degrees…Together! appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The year was 1974 when we watched Claudine and witnessed Diahann Carroll display a total contrast to her sophisticated character of “Nurse Julia” from her 60s/70s TV show, Julia. Although many were skeptical about Diahann being able to convince us that she would be a poor single mother on welfare, raising six kids, she pulled it off and Claudine forever went down in history as a 70’s cult classic film…BUT…

There was another very popular actress whom the producers of the film were trying to convince to take the “Claudine” role, but she turned it down for the very reason that we all fell in love with the film- she didn’t want to portray an unmarried African American woman who was on welfare and raising six kids on her own. Of course that’s not the only reason we loved the film, but seeing a representation of an unfortunate reality that many of us are faced with in our own families and communities, was a reality that was very relatable for us. Nonetheless, it’s understandable that this actress couldn’t see herself playing such a character. See who this strong willed, iconic actress is below…

So THAT’S Who Turned Down “Claudine” Role…

Embed from Getty Images

It’s the beautiful Cicely Tyson! In a prior interview, Cicely revealed that she was offered the role of “Claudine” before Diahann Carroll, but she just did not want to take on that type of stereotypical role at that point in her career. Therefore, she declined.

We all know that Cicely would have nailed that character like no other, but now that we’ve seen Diahann kill that role, it’s hard to imagine anyone else filling her shoes. The film would have felt totally different with any other actress loving on “Roop” (James Earl Jones’ character).

That same year in 1974, Cicely Tyson’s TV movie, The Autobiography of Jane Pittman, released and her character was a slave named “Jane” who told the story of transitioning from being a slave to being a free person at the end of the Civil War and living into the start of the civil rights era at the age of 110.

Embed from Getty Images

While “Jane” was a far cry from the role of “Claudine,” it can also be argued that “Claudine” was the result of a woman, much like “Jane Pittman.” “Jane” had to rebuild, after generations of oppression and was still trying to navigate her way through the American system -through parenthood, and the men in her life. Sure, “Claudine” had more opportunities than “Jane,” or so it seemed, but the biased ‘American system’ was still strong and in tact. For example, “Claudine” -and women like “Claudine,” who are on welfare- still have to keep the men out of the household, or face consequences of having their government assistance stripped away from them and their children. As long as there is no man in the home, the possibility of building a strongly bonded, complete family is very minimal and basically impossible.

So both characters -“Jane” and “Claudine”- still represent women who possess a certain level of strength and triumph, but under a different set of circumstances. Moving on…

Diahann Caroll Wasn’t The 2nd Pick Either…Diana Sands Was…

Embed from Getty Images

Another fact about the film, Claudine, is that Diahann wasn’t supposed to play “Claudine” either. Actress, Diana Sands, was originally casted as “Claudine” and production had already started in 1973 with Sands. It came to a screeching halt when Sands and James Earl Jones were doing a love scene and Jones knew something must have been wrong with Sands, when she winced in pain. Sadly, it turned out that Sands had a terminal form cancer, called leiomyosarcoma, and had to pull out of the film. It was Sands who suggested that her close friend, Diahann Carroll, take the part instead, and the rest is history. Sands sadly passed away that same year. May she continue to rest peacefully.

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, old school news with a new point of view

Source

The post Before Diahann, Another Iconic Actress Rejected “Claudine” Movie Over Stereotype appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

His Dad is an iconic figure in entertainment, who became really popular in film in the 70’s era. If you’re a fan of old school movies, you have probably seen his Dad in at least one of them.

And if you guessed James Earl Jones- the Old School icon with an even more iconic voice- then you were correct!

His son’s name is Flynn Earl Jones and doesn’t he look exactly like his Pops? Flynn’s mother is actress, Cecilia Hart. She and James Earl Jones have been married since 1982.

One thing I’m wondering, is how James Earl Jones’ beloved mother would have felt about Jones’ son and his wife, because Jones publicly revealed, in a 2011 interview with BBC News, that his mother was very “racist.” Jones loved his mother dearly, but this is what he explained about her views on race:

Embed from Getty Images

“She [his mother] was the most racist person, bigoted person I’ve ever known. She trained us that way. She would consider it defensive racism, but it’s still racism, it’s still the same poison.”

James Earl Jones is the total opposite of racist though and in some ways he’s the total opposite of his father, Robert Earl Jones, because he refused to do to his son what his Dad, who was also a pretty popular actor and boxer, had done to him. His dad, Robert, had abandoned his family shortly after his son’s birth.

“I didn’t know him and he didn’t raise me, but in high school I would see his picture in national magazines,” Jones remembers. Eventually, after Jones’ failed attempts at being a soldier in the military and attending a university to study medicine…only to realize he wasn’t good at it, he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an actor.

After Jones’ wife, Cecilia, became pregnant with their son, Flynn, while they were both performing together in a Shakesphere stage play, Jones was determined to be the best father he could be. Jones said:

“Flynn’s mother came onstage with him in her belly. I was Othello, she was Desdemona.”

Jones and his son are extremely close and in fact, they work together everyday because Flynn Earl Jones is his Dad’s personal assistant. So Flynn is right there by his Pops’ side looking out for him at the tender age of 87 years young and although work only gets tougher for James, he had this to say about it:

“I do like my rest, it was hard to get up this morning” – but he can’t ever see himself stopping. “I have no other employment. I can’t afford the amount of land you need to be a farmer and that’s the only other thing I know. The military I liked when I was in it but I’m too old. There’s nothing I would retire for, so I won’t retire.” He grins. ‘‘I’ll just keep going until I fall over.”

We’re looking forward to seeing Jones continue to do his thing in acting for many years to come.

Here’s an Old School fun fact about James Earl Jones:

Embed from Getty Images

Jones developed a severe stutter as a child, which left him extremely self-conscious and shy around other children. He refers to his voice as “salvaged”:

“If you’re in the army and you need a tank,” he says,”you fix one that’s broken and you go into battle – it’s a salvaged tank. I have a salvaged voice. And every role is an attempt to learn how to use it again.”

He refused to speak in school, until a teacher helped him out of his silence during his high school years. Jones later told the Hollywood Reporter:

“I had a great English teacher who believed in language and he looked at a poem I wrote and said, ‘It’s too good for you to have written, so to prove you wrote it, please stand up in front of the class and recite it from memory.’ And I did it without stuttering.”

[Source: metro.co.uk; Huffington Post]

James Earl Jones is an incredible actor, who has accomplished many things throughout his career. He’s the infamous voice of ‘Darth Vader’ in “Star Wars,” the voice of ‘Mufasa’ in Disney’s animation, “Lion King,” he’s won many awards- Academy, Tony, Emmy, and Gloden Globe Awards- but my absolute favorite character from Mr. Jones’ resume’ will always be his role as the charismatic ‘Rupert,’ in the Old School classic, “Claudine.” Check out the video clip above and reminisce with us to that memorable scene from Claudine.

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, Old School news with a new point of view

The post His Dad Is An Iconic African American Actor & Many Are Flippin’ Out After Seeing Him appeared first on I Love Old School Music.