Tue Sep 10 17:13:25 UTC 2024: ## Denzel Washington Honors James Earl Jones: “He Was Everything to Me”
**Toronto, Canada** – Renowned actor Denzel Washington has paid tribute to the late James Earl Jones, a legendary figure in film, television, and theater who passed away this week at the age of 93. Washington, who is currently at the Toronto Film Festival promoting his new August Wilson film adaptation “The Piano Lesson,” revealed that Jones was a profound influence on his early career.
“He’s my hero,” Washington shared with Variety. “My college theater career started because of ‘The Emperor Jones’ and ‘Othello’ with James Earl Jones.” Jones’ iconic performances in these plays inspired Washington to pursue acting and, according to the Oscar-winning actor, “I wanted to sound like him. He was everything to me as a budding actor. He was who I wanted to be.”
Jones, whose distinctive baritone voice was instantly recognizable from roles like Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and King Mufasa in “The Lion King,” was a role model for Washington in a time when Black actors had limited representation. “There weren’t a lot of serious Black actors for us to emulate, to follow, to admire,” Washington reflected in a 1998 interview. “There was Sidney [Poitier]; it was James Earl Jones on stage. That’s what I remember.”
Despite never sharing the screen, Jones and Washington’s careers remained intertwined through their shared passion for August Wilson’s works. Jones won a Tony Award for his performance in Wilson’s “Fences,” while Washington directed, produced, and starred in the film adaptation, earning Oscar nominations for both best picture and actor.
With Jones’ passing, two of the most influential figures in Washington’s journey as an actor are gone, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire generations of performers.
First Piper 