Know Your History: James Earl Jones is a multi-award-winning actor of stage and screen, well known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership. He is known for providing the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars, tagline for CNN, Mufasa in the Lion King & King Jaffe Joffer in Coming to America. Because of his severe stutter he remained functionally mute for 8yrs.