Renowned stage, film and TV actor James Earl Jones will be recognized this year with a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in theater.
The awards administration committee announced Thursday that Jones, revered for his distinctively deep voice, will be recognized at a June 11 ceremony.
The 86-year-old actor has appeared in 20 Broadway plays, starting with “Sunrise at Campobello” in 1958. He most recently appeared in a revival of “The Gin Game” in 2015, and has won two Tonys, one in 1969 for “The Great White Hope” and the other in 1987 for “Fences.”
Jones, the voice of Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” films, has also performed in numerous films and TV shows, including “Dr. Strangelove,” “The Lion King” and the 1970s classic “Claudine.”
