Muhammad Ali rearranged the brains of all Americans in ways they did not understand in the moment and are still grappling to fathom. His soaring poetry and bee-like sting will live on in the pantheon of American greatness.
He was the first villain I was terrified of as a child— that voice! And as I grew older, he is the actor that taught me that one character did not define who you were as an actor. I got to see return of the Jedi in theaters when I was a kid— and then later on of course, The Lion King.
James Earl Jones never let anyone define that voice as one thing or another. And of course, later in my life when I became aware of theater, seeing all the roles that he inhabited— the complexity and the unending variety of that man, that voice, that legend.
I was going to post something as well yesterday listing all the roles that he had done that many folks didn’t realize he had done— but like you, I don’t have enough words, although by the length of my response, you might raise an eyebrow at that statement
A few weeks ago, we were re-watching an episode of The Big Bang theory. In it, James Earl Jones plays a version of himself, dragging Sheldon all over doing all manner of things just because he can. He is having a time of his life while Sheldon is horrified. I looked at my husband at that time and said “what are we gonna do when he’s gone?” My husband shook his head and said, “I don’t know.” I feel like his voice will be with us forever, and with that voice, the strength of who he was.
I love that he started out on soap operas, and if people go look at his IMDb page and his Playbill page, I think they’d would be surprised. I love that he played on The Big Bang theory-that in his own meta-way he got to show all the joy he must’ve had inhabiting such a variety of roles in his career.
Please understand I’m only speaking from the point of view of his acting and vocal career. I know he had to fight to get roles in his life— but he became that voice of CNN and I hope that he reveled in the joy of his talents and that it brought him joy.
And thank you, sir, for showing the world how skilled an actor can be. W. Kamau Bell rightfully claims that Denzel Washington is the Greatest Actor of all Time Period. However, when I watch Denzel Washington do the "Ain't never liked me" scene from Fences, I still love the guy. But when I watch James Earl Jones do the same scene, I'm genuinely scared - the emotion of fear is heavily induced in me. That, is effective acting. He was also in a mini series on PBS in the 90s where he was an "Exiting Counselor" for people who were in a cult- He was very adamant about his title of Exiting Counselor - he was NOT a "de-programer" (part of the storyline), but I can't remember the name of the show and I could not find it in IMDB. My friend and I also saw Conan the Barbarian in the cinema when it come out, because we were so much into long-haired, hippy freaks ^_^ He showed us all how it's done ^_^
I first saw him in "The Great White Hope" & thought it was hilarious when he mooned the reporters. I sure am gonna miss Bubba--one of the best of the best. <3
Make that Muhammad Ali instead!
Congrats Sue!
Muhammad Ali rearranged the brains of all Americans in ways they did not understand in the moment and are still grappling to fathom. His soaring poetry and bee-like sting will live on in the pantheon of American greatness.
Sue! You win! Email us at hello@wkbindustries.com and we'll get your new bag in the mail.
He was the first villain I was terrified of as a child— that voice! And as I grew older, he is the actor that taught me that one character did not define who you were as an actor. I got to see return of the Jedi in theaters when I was a kid— and then later on of course, The Lion King.
James Earl Jones never let anyone define that voice as one thing or another. And of course, later in my life when I became aware of theater, seeing all the roles that he inhabited— the complexity and the unending variety of that man, that voice, that legend.
I was going to post something as well yesterday listing all the roles that he had done that many folks didn’t realize he had done— but like you, I don’t have enough words, although by the length of my response, you might raise an eyebrow at that statement
A few weeks ago, we were re-watching an episode of The Big Bang theory. In it, James Earl Jones plays a version of himself, dragging Sheldon all over doing all manner of things just because he can. He is having a time of his life while Sheldon is horrified. I looked at my husband at that time and said “what are we gonna do when he’s gone?” My husband shook his head and said, “I don’t know.” I feel like his voice will be with us forever, and with that voice, the strength of who he was.
I love that he started out on soap operas, and if people go look at his IMDb page and his Playbill page, I think they’d would be surprised. I love that he played on The Big Bang theory-that in his own meta-way he got to show all the joy he must’ve had inhabiting such a variety of roles in his career.
Please understand I’m only speaking from the point of view of his acting and vocal career. I know he had to fight to get roles in his life— but he became that voice of CNN and I hope that he reveled in the joy of his talents and that it brought him joy.
And thank you, sir, for showing the world how skilled an actor can be. W. Kamau Bell rightfully claims that Denzel Washington is the Greatest Actor of all Time Period. However, when I watch Denzel Washington do the "Ain't never liked me" scene from Fences, I still love the guy. But when I watch James Earl Jones do the same scene, I'm genuinely scared - the emotion of fear is heavily induced in me. That, is effective acting. He was also in a mini series on PBS in the 90s where he was an "Exiting Counselor" for people who were in a cult- He was very adamant about his title of Exiting Counselor - he was NOT a "de-programer" (part of the storyline), but I can't remember the name of the show and I could not find it in IMDB. My friend and I also saw Conan the Barbarian in the cinema when it come out, because we were so much into long-haired, hippy freaks ^_^ He showed us all how it's done ^_^
Muhammad Ali
james baldwin?
Richard Pryor or Bill Cosby
Harry Belafonte
Muhammad Ali
My guess was Sidney Poitier, yet I see it’s Ali! Great choice too❣️
Denzel Washington : )
One more swing: Jackie Robinson
Dick Gregory
I first saw him in "The Great White Hope" & thought it was hilarious when he mooned the reporters. I sure am gonna miss Bubba--one of the best of the best. <3
Arthur Ashe