Actor James Earl Jones Will Speak at Commencement Class of 2002 president Andrew Sachs says he and his cabinet are very excited about their choice of James Earl Jones as Commencement speaker. That’s understandable. With Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, and an Oscar nomination among his honors, James Earl Jones is one of the most recognizable individuals in the entertainment world. He almost certainly has the most recognizable voice. Even with his many on-screen successes, he may be best known for the roles in which he isn’t seen. His distinctive voice can be heard in the Star Wars films as Darth Vader and in The Lion King as Mufasa; on CNN as an announcer; and even on the telephone as the "voice" of Verizon Communications. Jones began his acting career after earning a drama degree from the University of Michigan. He has long been associated with the New York Shakespeare Festival and has earned three Obie Awards for his off-Broadway work. His leading role in Broadway’s The Great White Hope earned him the 1969 Tony Award for best dramatic actor, and his appearance in the film version two years later brought him an Oscar nomination. He earned his second best-actor Tony for Fences in 1987. From his debut in Dr. Strangelove, Jones has acted in such varied movies as Field of Dreams, Patriot Games, and Coming to America. He played the title character in the television series Gabriel’s Fire --- for which he won the 1991 Emmy as outstanding lead actor in a drama --- and portrayed Alex Haley in Roots: The Next Generation. He published his autobiography, James Earl Jones: Voices and Silences, in 1997. Jones has been awarded the National Medal of Arts and the NAACP Hall of Fame Image Award, as well as honorary degrees from Yale, Princeton, and the University of Michigan. "Few actors have had as impressive a career as James Earl Jones," says Ithaca College president Peggy R. Williams. "I am delighted that he has agreed to share his talents with our graduating seniors and their guests." [More commencement info]
	Table of Contents | ICQ Home | ITHACA

A. Ozolins, Ithaca College Office of Publications, 21. Mar. 2002