<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> James Earl Jones's voice Recorded December 2009 from the BBC Radio 4 program Front Row </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> James Earl Jones's voice Recorded December 2009 from the BBC Radio 4 program Front Row </Td> </Tr> <P> James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor . His career has spanned more than 60 years, and he has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors and "one of the greatest actors in American history ." Since his Broadway debut in 1957, Jones has won many awards, including a Tony Award and Golden Globe Award for his role in The Great White Hope . Jones has won three Emmy Awards, including two in the same year in 1991, and he also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in the film version of The Great White Hope . He is also known for his voice roles as Darth Vader in the Star Wars film series and Mufasa in Disney's The Lion King, as well as many other film, stage and television roles . </P> <P> Jones has been said to possess "one of the best - known voices in show business, a stirring basso profundo that has lent gravel and gravitas to" his projects, including live - action acting, voice acting, and commercial voice - overs . As a child, Jones had a stutter . In his episode of Biography, he said he overcame the affliction through poetry, public speaking, and acting, although it lasted for several years . A pre-med major in college, he went on to serve in the United States Army during the Korean War before pursuing a career in acting . On November 12, 2011, he received an Honorary Academy Award . On November 9, 2015, Jones received the Voice Arts Icon Award . On May 25, 2017, he received an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Harvard University and concluded the event's benediction with "May the Force be with you". </P>

Who was the voice of mufasa in the lion king