9 September 2024, the world woke up to a shock that will certainly take a while to recover from. As the man behind the gravelly yet iconic voice of Star Wars character Darth Vadar—James Earl Jones—left for his heavenly abode, many were left with a deep hollow in their chests. But what helps in this emotional time is knowing that the impact of his work will echo through the ages!

His distinguished work set a lofty benchmark. Well, Vadar’s voice of thunder certainly pumped life into the antagonist’s role in the mega-franchise, Star Wars. But he was so much more than that. A two-time Emmy awardee, the man from Mississippi sure left us with a treasure trove of memories!

At home in New York, surrounded by his family, the legendary actor James Earl Jones passed away at 93. As the world grieves the man’s loss, it’s safe to say that Jones’ indelible legacy lives on, in people’s hearts and via his work on celluloid. Now some might remember the American actor for his distinctive roles on screen—The Lion King, Field of Dreams, and so many more parts that he did justice to. But the sports community has more reasons to keep him in mind.

While he loved and has mastered his craft as an actor, James Earl Jones voiced one of the mightiest sports campaigns ever! Yes, the late actor was also the voice behind the stellar NBC Olympics introduction for the 2000 Sydney Games. Over 7 minutes on video, he spoke with such inflection that set the tone for the grand affair perfectly.

As ‘The Perfect Storm’ played in the background, the notes were complimented beyond reproach by James Earl Jones’ description. Indeed, one can say that he had a voice that carried! Also, this, in a way, made him part of one of the best opening ceremonies in Olympic history. Sydney ranks in the top three on the charts. However, James Earl Jones navigated many rough seas before he touched this rank. Especially, with his voice, which eventually went on to become one of his strongest assets.

James Earl Jones battled stuttering as a child

Not many know that Jones, whose voiceovers have been key elements of his decorated career, struggled at first. At the age of 5, he moved to Michigan to live with his grandparents. It was then identified that he stuttered severely, so much so that he feared speaking. His inclination for writing and poetry were identified by an English teacher, who then helped him by conducting poetry recitals in class. This exercise seemed to have helped him a lot to move past the speech issue.

However, James Earl Jones considered it to be the result of his own actions. He had once remarked that he would imitate one of his relatives, Uncle Randy or Duke, as they called him, who stammered. “I used to imitate him, mock him we used to say, and so in a way, I was cursed for mocking him,” he claimed on the Charlie Rose Show in 1993. But not being able to express via speech is want made him leverage his characters significantly.

“You have your feelings, convictions, feelings that you want to share, and so as an actor, I ended up being able to share those spoken through other characters, you know,” he once confessed. Indeed, James Earl Jones was one whose passion for his art spoke through. And now he leaves us with a lasting legacy! Do you know he also has a connection with two of America’s star Olympic gymnasts?