James Earl Jones

Jones in 2009, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Date of Birth: January 17, 1931

Place of Birth: Arkabutla, Mississippi, U.S.

Date of Death: September 9, 2024

Place of Death: Pawling, Dutchess County, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: African-American

James Earl Jones was an American actor. His roles include the films Dr. Strangelove, The End of the Road, The Great White Hope, Claudine (1974), The River Niger, Swashbuckler, The Greatest (1977), A Piece of the Action, Conan the Barbarian (1982), City Limits, Soul Man, Matewan, Coming to America, and its sequel; Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October, Grim Prairie Tales, Patriot Games, The Sandlot, The Lion King (1994), and its remake (2019), as Mufasa; Jefferson in Paris, Cry, the Beloved Country; A Family Thing, Gang Related, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, and The Angriest Man in Brooklyn; and the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars universe. He also had a lengthy and acclaimed stage career, winning several Tony Awards; and provided the vocals “this is CNN.” He was known for his deep basso voice.

James was the son of Ruth (Connolly), a teacher and maid, and Robert Earl Jones, or Earl Jones, who was also an actor, as well as a butler, chauffeur, and boxer. He was partly raised by his maternal grandparents, on their farm in Dublin, Michigan. James served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was married to actress Cecilia Hart, until her death. The couple had a son.

His parents were both black. James had stated that he had Irish, Choctaw Native American, and Cherokee Native American ancestry. It is not clear if any of these lineages have been verified/documented.

James had a totem pole erected in front of his house as a tribute to his Native American ancestry. He said that it is an emblem of Native American culture as a whole.

James’s paternal grandfather was named Robert Washington Jones (the son of George Washington Jones and Virginia). Robert was born in Bolivar County, Mississippi.

James’s paternal grandmother was Elnora/Nora Wallace (the daughter of Pitcher/Petcher Wallace and Sally Hunter). Elnora was born in Tate County, Mississippi.

James’s maternal grandfather was John Henry Connolly (the son of Wyatt Connolly and Sharlett/Charlotte Jeeter/Jeter). John was born in Tate County, Mississippi. Wyatt was the son of Brice Connolly and Parthenia. Parthenia was said to have been a white Irish woman who married an African-American man, Brice. However, the 1870 U.S. Census lists both Brice and Parthenia as “Black”, and both as having been born in Alabama. James’s great-grandmother Sharlett was the daughter of Ned Jeeter and Janet.

James’s maternal grandmother was named Maggie/Margaret Lee Anderson. Maggie was born in Mississippi.

James was a second cousin, three times removed, of actor Jak Knight. James’ maternal great-grandparents, Brice Connolly and Parthenia, were also Jak’s maternal great-great-great-great-grandparents.

Sources: Interview of James Earl Jones, along with pictures of James’s family – http://www.achievement.org

Genealogies of James Earl Jones – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
https://www.findagrave.com

James’s father on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

James’s paternal grandparents, Robert Washington Jones and Elnora/Nora Wallace, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

James’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
James’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

James’s maternal great-grandparents, Wyatt Connolly and Sharlett/Charlotte Jeeter/Jeter, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Wyatt Connolly and Sharlett/Charlotte Jeeter/Jeter on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Wyatt Connolly and Sharlett/Charlotte Jeeter/Jeter on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Sharlett/Charlotte Jeeter/Jeter on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Sharlett/Charlotte Jeeter/Jeter on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

James’s maternal great-grandfather, Wyatt Connolly, on the 1870 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org