James Earl Jones RIP

[Richard M Roberts]

Damn, but he made it to 93. One of the finest American Actors of the late 20th-early 21st Century on stage and in films when he got the opportunity (and hey, let him pick up good paychecks for doing Darth Vader's voice and commercials, more power to him).

And when he got the opportunity, he was also fine in comedy: DR. STRANGELOVE of course, but also in odd movies like Marty Feldman's THE LAST REMAKE OF BEAU GESTE (1977). Perhaps his best comic role was in the very underrated THE BINGO LONG TRAVELLING ALL-STARS AND MOTOR KINGS (1976) with Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor.

His Father, Robert Earl Jones, was also a fine actor, though he got fewer opportunities in films to shine (he's Luther Coleman, Robert Redford's partner who gets murdered in THE STING (1973)), but he and James did get to do OF MICE AND MEN together on stage in 1967.

My partner Linda got to look after him when he came to Eastman House to do an awards presentation, she said he was warm and nice and a pleasure to be around, even when he was terribly tired and jetlagged after flying in from overseas to come to Rochester. She had nothing but good memories of him.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Jones.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

[William Ferry]

Wow, I had no idea "Luther" was his dad. How about that!