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110-809: The Producers Guild of America Awards were originally established in 1990 by the Producers Guild of America (PGA) as the Golden Laurel Awards , created by PGA Treasurer Joel Freeman with the support of Guild President Leonard Stern , in order to honor the visionaries who produce and execute motion picture and television product. The ceremony has been hosted each year by celebrity host/presenters, including Nick Clooney , Michael Douglas , Robert Guillaume , James Earl Jones , Jack Lemmon , Shirley MacLaine , Garry Marshall , Walter Matthau , Ronald Reagan , Marlo Thomas , Grant Tinker , Ted Turner , and Karen S. Kramer among others. * Denotes

220-593: A Golden Globe Award nomination for Claudine (1974). He gained international fame for his voice role as Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, beginning with the original 1977 film . Jones's other notable films include The Man (1972), Conan the Barbarian (1982), Matewan (1987), Coming to America (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Sneakers (1992), The Sandlot (1993), The Lion King (1994), and Cry,

330-562: A Grammy Award . He also was the recipient of a Golden Globe Award and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award . In 2011, he received an Academy Honorary Award . As such, he has been described as being an EGOT , having won all four Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. There is debate as to if the definition of EGOT extends to non-competitive winners such as Jones, Barbra Streisand , Liza Minnelli , and Harry Belafonte . In 1985, Jones

440-553: A Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play nomination for her performance. On September 23, 2015, Jones opened in a new revival of The Gin Game opposite Cicely Tyson , at the John Golden Theater , where the play had originally premiered (with Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy ). The play had a planned limited run of 16 weeks. It closed on January 10, 2016. In 2013–2014, he appeared alongside Malcolm McDowell in

550-413: A "a prodigious body of work" and called him "one of America's most versatile actors in a stage, film and television career". The Hollywood Reporter referred to Jones as "one of the most-admired American actors of all time". The Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw wrote, "like Sidney Poitier or Harry Belafonte or Paul Robeson , [Jones] was an African American actor with a beautiful voice which

660-694: A Hot Tin Roof , directed by Debbie Allen and staged at the Broadhurst Theatre . In November 2009, James reprised the role of Big Daddy in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre in London's West End . That production also starred Sanaa Lathan as Maggie, Phylicia Rashad as Big Mamma, and Adrian Lester as Brick. In 2009, for his work on film and television, Jones was presented with

770-648: A Play for his role as a boxer in The Great White Hope (1968), which he reprised in the 1970 film adaptation , earning him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Jones won his second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a working class father in August Wilson 's Fences (1987). He was a Tony Award nominee for his roles as the husband in Ernest Thompson 's On Golden Pond (2005) about an aging couple, and as

880-532: A correspondent for NBC News, to report on Weinstein in The New Yorker . Farrow revealed his earlier attempts to report on Weinstein's misconduct to NBC , suggesting the network faced pressure not to publish. Farrow's report included testimonies from executives and assistants who witnessed Weinstein's misconduct. Since the initial reports in 2017, over 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, assault, or rape. Led by Italian actress Asia Argento ,

990-402: A film that also won a corresponding Academy Award Since 2002, this award has been given for films that "illuminate provocative social issues" Producers Guild of America The Producers Guild of America offers several benefits to its members, including seminars and mentoring programs, and entrance to special screenings of movies during Oscar season . The PGA traces its roots back to

1100-536: A former president in the Gore Vidal play The Best Man (2012). His other Broadway performances included Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008), Driving Miss Daisy (2010–2011), You Can't Take It with You (2014), and The Gin Game (2015–2016). He received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017. Jones made his film debut in Stanley Kubrick 's Dr. Strangelove (1964). He received

1210-414: A group of alleged victims released a list of over 100 instances of sexual abuse by Weinstein, spanning from 1980 to 2015, including eighteen allegations of rape. Weinstein allegedly lured young actresses or models into hotel rooms or offices under the guise of discussing their careers, then demanded massages or sex, often citing Gwyneth Paltrow as an example. Former colleagues claim that Weinstein's behavior

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1320-455: A hostile work environment, offer preventative measures for both on-set and off-set scenarios, and provide resources for those experiencing discomfort in their work environment. These proposals were crafted with input from Time's Up and were subsequently endorsed by the PGA's Anti-Sexual Harassment Task Force. Lucchesi and McCreary expressed gratitude to Time's Up for their assistance in developing

1430-608: A production of Much Ado About Nothing directed by Mark Rylance at The Old Vic , London. From February to June 2013, Jones starred alongside Dame Angela Lansbury in an Australian tour of Driving Miss Daisy . In 2014, Jones starred alongside Annaleigh Ashford as Grandpa in the Broadway revival of the George S. Kaufman comedic play You Can't Take It with You at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway. Ashford received

1540-595: A safe place, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to make sure they feel safe for the rest of the PGA Show. In 2021, Scott Rudin , an American film, television and theatre producer, withdrew from his Broadway , film, and streaming endeavors after allegations of abusive behavior toward his employees surfaced in The Hollywood Reporter . As a consequence, his name was scrubbed from several forthcoming films, and his partnership with A24 studio

1650-764: A senator who unexpectedly becomes the first African-American president of the United States. In 1973, Jones played Hickey on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theater in a revival of Eugene O'Neill 's The Iceman Cometh and starred in the title role of William Shakespeare 's King Lear opposite Paul Sorvino , René Auberjonois , and Raul Julia at the New York City Shakespeare Festival in Central Park , which

1760-618: A series of commercials for Sprint in which the two dramatically recited mundane phone and text-message conversations. In 2015, Jones starred as the Chief Justice Caleb Thorne in the American drama series Agent X alongside actress Sharon Stone , Jeff Hephner , Jamey Sheridan , and others. The television series was aired by TNT from November 8 to December 27, 2015, running only one season and 10 episodes. Jones officially reprised his voice role of Darth Vader for

1870-663: A series of summits that brought together members of the New Media and traditional producing communities, producer Marc Levey spearheaded an initiative to revise the Producers Guild of America constitution to provide for the representation of New Media producers. This led to the formation of the New Media Council. Since its formation, the Council has sought to identify and address issues relevant to New Media and

1980-411: A son, Flynn. Hart died from ovarian cancer on October 16, 2016. She was 68 years old. In April 2016, Jones spoke publicly for the first time in nearly 20 years about his long-term health challenge with type 2 diabetes . He was diagnosed in the mid-1990s after his doctor noticed he had fallen asleep while exercising at a gym. Jones was a devout Roman Catholic , having converted during his time in

2090-725: A statement praising Jones as "a brilliant actor who brought to life some of the most iconic characters ever". Actor Denzel Washington paid tribute to Jones calling him his "hero" adding, "I wasn't going to be as big as him. I wanted to sound like him. He was everything to me as a budding actor. He was who I wanted to be." Numerous members of the entertainment industry also paid tribute to Jones including George Lucas , Mark Hamill , Kevin Costner , Arnold Schwarzenegger , Barry Jenkins , Spike Lee , Viola Davis , Whoopi Goldberg , Courtney B. Vance , and Alec Baldwin . Following his death, The New York Times described Jones's career as

2200-425: A statement, the PGA expressed deep concern over ongoing allegations of workplace harassment and abuse in the industry, pledging solidarity with those who spoke out against such violence and intimidation. The guild emphasized the collective responsibility to foster a more equitable and safe environment for all industry participants. Subsequently, Actors’ Equity Association urged The Broadway League to publicly address

2310-738: A studio lot in the Los Angeles area. In 2011, the Conference was held at Disney/ABC Studios . Each Conference offers a variety of educational sessions designed to promote the newest information about the state of the entertainment industry marketplace and allow experienced producers to share the benefit of their experience with emerging professionals. The "Produced By Conference" also offers a variety of other programs, including extensive vendor displays and technology demonstrations, numerous representatives of local, state and international film commissions, small-group Mentoring Roundtable discussions, and

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2420-654: A surgeon and Haitian rebel leader in The Comedians , alongside Richard Burton , Elizabeth Taylor , and Alec Guinness . In December 1967, Jones starred alongside Jane Alexander in Howard Sackler 's play, The Great White Hope , at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Jones took the role of the talented but troubled boxer "Jack Jefferson", who is based on the real champion Jack Johnson . The play

2530-489: A teacher and maid, and Robert Earl Jones (1910–2006), a boxer, butler, and chauffeur. His father left the family shortly after James Earl's birth and later became a stage and screen actor in New York and Hollywood . Jones and his father did not get to know each other until the 1950s, when they reconciled. He said in interviews that his parents were both of mixed African-American, Irish, and Native American ancestry. From

2640-670: A training unit in the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains . Jones was promoted to first lieutenant prior to his discharge. Jones moved to New York City, where he studied at the American Theatre Wing and worked as a janitor to support himself. Jones began his acting career at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan . In 1953, he was a stage carpenter, and between 1955 and 1957, he acted and

2750-579: A variety of networking events, including the traditional Friday night Kick-Off Party. Speakers at past conferences have included James Cameron , Clint Eastwood , Mark Cuban , Ted Turner , Gale Anne Hurd , Marshall Herskovitz , Mark Gordon , Hawk Koch , Alan Ball , Kathleen Kennedy , Matthew Weiner , Richard D. Zanuck , James L. Brooks , Douglas Wick , Lucy Fisher , Roger Corman , Norman Lear , Lawrence Gordon , Francis Ford Coppola , Seth Rogen , Kevin Smith , and Lauren Shuler Donner . In 2011,

2860-515: A widowed African-American police officer sharing his home in Seattle with his daughter, his married son and children, and Neb's newly adopted son. The show was a mid-season replacement and lasted only six weeks, but earned him another Emmy nomination. He also portrayed Thad Green on " Mathnet ", a parody of Dragnet that appeared in the PBS program Square One Television . In 1998, Jones starred in

2970-563: A woman who raises her six children alone after two failed and two "almost" marriages. The film is a romantic comedy and drama, focusing on systemic racial disparities black families face. It was one of the first major films to tackle themes such as welfare, economic inequality , and the typical marriage of men and women in the African American community during the 1970s. Jones and Carroll received widespread critical acclaim and Golden Globe nominations for their performances. Carroll

3080-536: Is currently chaired by Gary Lucchesi and Sacha Ben Harroche. Vance Van Petten served as the organization's National Executive Director from 2000 through 2021. Susan Sprung joined him in that position in 2019. In 2012, the Producers Guild introduced the "Producers Mark", a certification mark to feature film credits, allowing approved producers to add the lowercase initials p.g.a. following their "Produced By" credit. Unlike other post-nominal letters that appear in motion picture credits (e.g., A.C.E. , C.S.A. ),

3190-725: Is just one of many things the world will miss about James." Jones's alma mater , the University of Michigan , paid tribute to him by posting a "We Are Michigan" video narrated by Jones on X . The NAACP , SAG-AFTRA , The Public Theater , and MLB also paid tribute to Jones. The Empire State Building in New York City was lit up to resemble Darth Vader. Vice President Kamala Harris praised Jones writing, "[He] used his voice to challenge America's thinking on civil rights and race, and he continued to move our nation forward through his art." Former President Bill Clinton released

3300-440: Is often cited as the first celebrity guest on that series, although a segment with Carol Burnett was the first to actually be broadcast. He also appeared on the soap opera Guiding Light . In 1970, Jones reunited with Jane Alexander in the film adaptation of The Great White Hope . This would be Jones's first leading film role. Jones portrayed boxer Jack Johnson , a role he had previously originated on stage. His performance

3410-547: Is significant in that it marks the first time the Producers Guild of America recognized New Media producer industry credits and responsibilities in Broadband , DVD / Blu-ray , Animation , Games ( console and online ), Mobile , Digital Visual Effects , iTV (interactive/enhanced Television), Special Venues, and Transmedia . Since 2009, the Producers Guild has presented the "Produced By Conference", held annually in June on

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3520-599: Is still used by CNN. He lent his voice to the opening for NBC 's coverage of the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. Jones narrated all 27 books of the New Testament in the audiobook James Earl Jones Reads the New Testament . Although uncredited, Jones's voice is possibly heard as Darth Vader at the conclusion of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). When specifically asked whether he had supplied

3630-517: The Korean War . Jones graduated from the university in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in drama. With the Korean War intensifying, Jones expected to be deployed as soon as he received his commission as a second lieutenant. While he waited for his orders, he worked on the stage crew and acted at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan . Jones was commissioned in mid-1953, after

3740-655: The Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award by Forest Whitaker . In October 2010, Jones returned to the Broadway stage in Alfred Uhry 's Driving Miss Daisy , along with Vanessa Redgrave at the Golden Theatre . In November 2011, Jones starred in Driving Miss Daisy in London's West End , and on November 12 received an honorary Oscar in front of the audience at the Wyndham's Theatre , which

3850-537: The Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2009, and the Academy Honorary Award in 2011. Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi , Jones had a stutter since childhood. He said that poetry and acting helped him overcome the challenges of his disability. A pre-med major in college, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before pursuing a career in acting. His deep voice

3960-623: The University of Michigan , where he was initially a pre-med major . He joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and excelled. He felt comfortable within the structure of the military environment and enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow cadets in the Pershing Rifles Drill Team and Scabbard and Blade Honor Society. After his junior year, he focused on drama with the thought of doing something he enjoyed, before, he assumed, he would have to go off to fight in

4070-632: The "Produced By Conference" was presented in association with AFCI Locations . Since 2014, the Producers Guild of America has presented "Produced By: New York ", a single-day conference event held annually in New York City . Speakers and guests at "Produced By: New York" have included Michael Moore , Alejandro González Iñárritu , Jake Gyllenhaal , Donna Gigliotti , James Schamus , Jenni Konner , Darren Aronofsky , Barbara Hall , and Cathy Schulman , among others. Created by Vance Van Petton during his time serving as National Executive Director of

4180-450: The "Producers Mark" does not indicate membership in the Producers Guild. Rather, it certifies that the credited producer performed a major portion of the producing duties on a motion picture. The Mark is licensed for use in motion picture credits on a film-by-film basis. A producer's having received the Mark on a prior film has no impact on the decision to certify a current or future credit with

4290-658: The "Producers Mark", but application for and use of the "Producers Mark" by individual producers is purely voluntary. In 2002, the New Media Council was formed by the Producers Guild of America in order to recognize, represent, and protect producers working in digital and emerging media such as broadband and mobile entertainment , video games , digital visual effects , interactive television and DVDs . The PGA has announced its categorization of new media producers into five distinct fields: movie/video production, animated production, website production, interactive television production, and game production. In January 2001, following

4400-489: The "Producers Mark". During 2012 and 2013, Producers Guild of America Presidents Hawk Koch and Mark Gordon conducted negotiations and secured separate agreements with every major Hollywood studio requiring the studios to submit any films they developed and produced internally for "Producers Mark" certification. The first film to be released with the "Producers Mark" was The Magic of Belle Isle (which certified producers Lori McCreary , Alan Greisman, and Rob Reiner with

4510-667: The #MeToo movement on social media, leading to similar allegations against numerous influential figures globally, a phenomenon dubbed the " Weinstein effect ". Weinstein and his brother Bob were honored by the PGA during its 2013 awards ceremony. They were bestowed with the Milestone Award, the guild's most prestigious accolade. In October 2017, New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey exposed Weinstein's decades-long pattern of sexual harassment and settlements paid to actresses and employees. Their investigation, which took about five months, inspired Ronan Farrow ,

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4620-410: The 1964 political satire film Dr. Strangelove as Lt. Lothar Zogg. He then went on to star in the 1970 film The Great White Hope as Jack Jefferson, a role he first played at Washington's Arena Stage in the world premier of Howard Sackler's play of the same name . Jones's television work includes playing Woodrow Paris in the series Paris between 1979 and 1980. He voiced various characters on

4730-518: The 1990 " Treehouse of Horror " Halloween special and in two other episodes. Jones played lead characters on television in three series. Gabriel's Fire and a revamped version called Pros and Cons aired on ABC between 1990 and 1992. In both formats of that show, Jones played a former policeman wrongly convicted of murder who, upon his release from prison, becomes a private eye. In 1995, Jones starred in Under One Roof as Neb Langston,

4840-513: The 29 winners of the Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture have gone on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture . The Producers Guild of America's awards show was originally established in 1990 as the Golden Laurel Awards , created by PGA Treasurer Joel Freeman, Diane Robison, Terrie Frankel, Bernard Wiesen, and Charles B. FitzSimons with the support of Guild President Leonard B. Stern , in order to honor

4950-663: The Bat " with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra , and on June 1, 2007, he did the same before a Philadelphia Phillies home game. In 1994, he performed the role of "Ebenezer Scrooge" alongside Martin Sheen and Robert MacNeil in a public reading of A Christmas Carol at the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York City, which was broadcast on PBS . Jones guest-starred in many television shows over

5060-793: The Beloved Country (1995). He also lent his distinctive bass voice to the role of Mufasa in the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King . In 1992, Jones was presented with the National Medal of the Arts by President George H. W. Bush . Jones had the distinction of winning two Primetime Emmys in the same year, in 1991 as Best Actor for his role in Gabriel's Fire and as Best Supporting Actor for his work in Heat Wave . Jones also performed voice work for The Simpsons : in

5170-590: The Beloved Country (1995). On television, he received eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations winning twice for his roles in thriller film Heat Wave (1990) and the crime series Gabriel's Fire (1991). He also acted in Roots (1977), Jesus of Nazareth (1977), Picket Fences (1994), Homicide: Life on the Street (1997), and Everwood (2004). James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi , on January 17, 1931, to Ruth ( née Connolly); (1911–1986),

5280-543: The Broadway League. Members experiencing or witnessing bullying, harassment, or intimidation can utilize Equity's anonymous hotline for assistance. In 1990, the inaugural Golden Laurel Awards were hosted by the Producers Guild, an initiative spearheaded by PGA Treasurer Joel Freeman and endorsed by Guild President Leonard Stern. These awards aimed to celebrate the visionaries behind the creation and execution of motion picture and television content. Later, in 2002,

5390-552: The Korean War's end, and reported to Fort Benning (now Fort Moore) to attend the Infantry Officers Basic Course. He attended Ranger School and received his Ranger Tab . Jones was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 38th Regimental Combat Team. He was initially to report to Fort Leonard Wood , but his unit was instead sent to establish a cold-weather training command at the former Camp Hale near Leadville, Colorado . His battalion became

5500-562: The Mark), followed almost immediately thereafter by Lawless (which certified producers Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick ). Since that time, hundreds of motion pictures have had their credits certified via the "Producers Mark". The Producers Guild determines which credited producers are eligible for certification via a thorough vetting process, requiring initial application from the film's owner/distributor and candid input from its producers, as well as numerous third party sources, which may include

5610-479: The New Media Council in 2002. In 2012, the organization introduced a certification mark allowing producers to signify their significant contributions to a production. The PGA has also taken proactive measures to combat sexual harassment in the industry, establishing guidelines, a task force, and implementing mandatory anti-harassment training. Following the Harvey Weinstein scandal, the PGA expelled him from

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5720-985: The New Media Council. In 2001, producers John Schwally, Nelle Nugent , and Steven Rosenbaum established the Producers Guild of America East Regional Chapter of the Guild, located in New York and servicing Guild members based on the East Coast. Since 2012, Peter Saraf has served as chair of the region. In 2002, the Producers Guild established its New Media Council to recognize and represent producers working outside traditional television and film formats including, but not limited to, games (console, online and mobile), digital effects, digital animation, broadband and mobile storytelling, and more recently virtual reality, augmented reality and location-based attractions. The PGA has an international committee aimed towards connecting producers across nations in creative industries. Founded by Stuart Levy , Nicholas de Wolff, and William Stuart, it

5830-560: The PGA Show with no refund. Our policy applies to EVERYONE participating in PGA Show. Exhibitors, attendees, speakers, guests, professionals, press, staff, volunteers, and security are ALL subject to our Anti-Harassment Policy. Anyone can report harassment to PGA Show staff at any time. If someone's behavior has made another person uncomfortable, the person affected, or a third person witnessing such behavior, should immediately contact security or PGA Show staff. If necessary, PGA Show staff will contact local law enforcement, provide escort, offer

5940-530: The PGA have included Stanley Rubin , Leonard B. Stern , Kathleen Kennedy , Marshall Herskovitz , and the teams of Hawk Koch / Mark Gordon , and Gary Lucchesi / Lori McCreary. The Golden Laurel Awards (subsequently renamed the Producers Guild of America Awards , a.k.a. PGA Awards) were first held in 1990, establishing the Guild Awards as one of the bellwethers for the Academy Awards . 20 of

6050-514: The PGA reaffirmed its dedication to establishing a Hollywood task force aimed at combating the pervasive harassment and abuse that the Weinstein scandal has brought to light. The statement emphasized, "Sexual harassment can no longer be tolerated in our industry or among Producers Guild members." The anti-harassment program saw considerable progress in 2019, training 350 individuals in six months. The Independent Production Safety Initiative (IPSI),

6160-529: The PGA's Officers and National Board of Directors have established the Anti-Sexual Harassment Task Force, tasked specifically with researching and proposing meaningful and effective solutions to combat sexual harassment in the entertainment industry." During the same meeting, the PGA's National Board — composed of 20 women and 18 men — also voted to establish a task force aimed at researching and addressing sexual harassment within

6270-409: The PGA, Produced By is an industry driven newsletter that highlights achievements in the producing field. Harvey Weinstein is an American film producer, convicted sex offender, and member of the PGA until November 2017, when Weinstein faced sexual abuse allegations dating back to the late 1970s. By October, over 80 women had accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault. These accusations ignited

6380-436: The PGA. These include how "New Media" should be defined and how the role of a New Media producer differs from or is similar to its counterpart in traditional media, recognizing that medium must serve the story and not the other way around. On April 5, 2010, the Producers Guild of America Board of Directors officially approved its New Media Code of Credits, adding twenty-six major new credits to cover New Media producers. The code

6490-464: The Park . In 1961, Jones appeared in an Off-Broadway production of The Blacks by Jean Genet , alongside eight subsequently prominent Black actors, including Roscoe Lee Browne , Cicely Tyson , Lou Gossett and others. The New York Public Library has a collection of photographs of this production, including one of Tyson and Jones. During a production of The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare in

6600-635: The Park, Stanley Kubrick saw George C. Scott play Shylock and Jones portray the Prince of Morocco. Kubrick was there initially to cast Scott in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), but then considered Jones saying "I'll take the black one too". Jones portrayed young Lt. Lothar Zogg, the B-52 bombardier in the film, this would be his feature film debut. Jones would later play

6710-649: The Producers Guild of America merged with the American Association of Producers (AAP), enabling the Guild to represent all members of the producing team. Since that time, the Guild has been composed of three Councils: The Producers Council (representing producers, executive producers and co-producers), the AP Council (representing associate producers, production managers , production supervisors, segment and field producers, production coordinators , visual effects producers , and post-production staff ) and

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6820-449: The Producers Guild of America". The "AP Council Commitment Award" is given to a Producers Guild of America member who, in the opinion of the AP Council Board of Delegates, has made extraordinary and long-standing contributions to the Guild as a member of the AP Council. The award is presented to recipients at the Guild's annual general membership meeting. James Earl Jones James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 – September 9, 2024)

6930-419: The Producers Guild's National Board has unanimously voted to impose a lifetime ban on Mr. Weinstein, permanently excluding him from PGA membership. This unprecedented action underscores the severity with which the Guild views the numerous reports of Mr. Weinstein's decades-long reprehensible conduct. Sexual harassment is no longer acceptable in our industry or among Producers Guild members. As previously announced,

7040-450: The accusations against Rudin, noting the PGA's statement and questioning the League's silence on the matter. Actor's Equity Association Executive Director Mary McColl expressed concern over the Broadway League's lack of action following allegations against Rudin. Equity emphasizes the importance of a safe workplace and encourages reporting of bullying, discrimination, or safety issues, offering an anonymous hotline for members. Despite none of

7150-406: The age of five, Jones was raised by his maternal grandparents, John Henry and Maggie Connolly, on their farm in Dublin, Michigan ; they had moved from Mississippi in the Great Migration . Jones found the transition to living with his grandparents in Michigan traumatic and developed a stutter so severe that he refused to speak. He said, "I was a stutterer. I couldn't talk. So my first year of school

7260-483: The animated series The Simpsons in three separate seasons (1990, 1994, 1998). Jones's theater work includes numerous Broadway plays, including Sunrise at Campobello (1958–1959), Danton's Death (1965), The Iceman Cometh (1973–1974), Of Mice and Men (1974–1975), Othello (1982), On Golden Pond (2005), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008), and You Can't Take It with You (2014–2015). Jones received two Primetime Emmy Awards , two Tony Awards , and

7370-420: The ceremony underwent a name change to become the Producers Guild of America Awards . Since 2002, this award has been given for films that "illuminate provocative social issues". The latest honoree is Chinonye Chukwu 's film Till , produced by Keith Beauchamp, Barbara Broccoli , Whoopi Goldberg , Thomas Levine, Michael Reilly, and Frederick Zollo . For "outstanding contribution and enduring dedication to

7480-444: The character's appearances in the animated TV series Star Wars Rebels and the live-action film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), as well as for a three-word cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). In 2019, he reprised his voice role of Mufasa for the CGI remake of The Lion King , directed by Jon Favreau , in which he was the only original cast member to do so. According to Favreau, Jones's lines from

7590-430: The effectiveness of the then-groundbreaking Sesame Street format. As cited by production notes included in the DVD release Sesame Street: Old School 1969–1974 , the short that had the greatest impact with test audiences was one showing bald-headed Jones counting slowly to ten. This and other segments featuring Jones were eventually aired as part of the Sesame Street series itself when it debuted later in 1969 and Jones

7700-833: The entertainment industry. Despite the widespread gender imbalance prevalent in Hollywood's craft guilds, with women significantly underrepresented across disciplines, 47% of the PGA's 8,100 members are women. During a special meeting on January 17, 2018, the PGA's board of directors unanimously approved its Anti-Sexual Harassment Guidelines. The guidelines include several specific recommendations, such as providing anti-sexual harassment training to all cast and crew members before production begins and before each season of ongoing series. Productions should designate at least two individuals, preferably of different genders, whom cast and crew can approach if they experience or witness harassment. Additionally, all meetings and casting sessions should take place in comfortable and safe environments. In announcing

7810-415: The evolving African American experience and examines race relations , among other themes. Jones won widespread critical acclaim, earning himself his second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play . Beside the Star Wars sequels, Jones was featured in several other box office hits of the 1980s: the action/fantasy film Conan the Barbarian (1982), the Eddie Murphy comedy Coming to America (1988), and

7920-673: The featured role of Edward the butler in Dore Schary 's Sunrise at Campobello at the Cort Theatre . During the early to mid 1960s, Jones acted in various works of William Shakespeare , becoming one of the best known Shakespearean actors of the time. He tackled roles such as Othello and King Lear , Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream , Abhorson in Measure for Measure , and Claudius in Hamlet all at Shakespeare in

8030-487: The film's director , writers , editors , cinematographer or other department heads. The Guild uses the same process to recommend which producers are eligible for producing honors and awards, including the Guild's " Darryl F. Zanuck Award " and the Academy Award for Best Picture given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . Any copyright owner of a film that has an established U.S. distributor may apply for

8140-546: The first African American actors in a continuing role on a daytime drama acting in As the World Turns . Critic Clive Barnes said that Jones's theater roles were "like a black avenging angel ... Even when corrupted by misery, his presence has an almost moral force to it, and his voice rasps out an agony nearly too personally painful in its nakedness". In 2011, Academy Award-nominated actor Alec Baldwin called Jones "one of

8250-471: The first episode of Hanna-Barbera 's The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible . From 1989 to 1992, Jones served as the host of the children's TV series Long Ago and Far Away . Jones appeared in several more successful films during the early-to-mid-1990s, including The Hunt for Red October (1990), Patriot Games (1992), The Sandlot (1993), Clear and Present Danger (1994), and Cry,

8360-531: The greatest actors in American history". In 2022, the Cort Theatre was renamed after James Earl Jones, becoming the second Broadway venue named after a Black theatrical artist, the first being the August Wilson Theatre named after the playwright August Wilson . The Cort Theatre was the same stage on which Jones made his Broadway debut in 1958. Jones had an extensive career in film, television, and theater. He started out in film by appearing in

8470-427: The individuals mentioned in the allegations being Equity members, the union remains committed to workplace safety for all. The Hollywood Reporter's article on April 7, 2018, alleged workplace abuse by Rudin, prompting a joint statement condemning harassment from Equity, IATSE , and SAG-AFTRA on April 12. Equity publicly requested Rudin release staff from NDAs on April 17 after private discussions with other unions and

8580-614: The merger of the Screen Producers Guild and the Television Producers Guild in 1962, under Walter Mirisch's leadership. The organization's Golden Laurel Awards, later renamed the Producers Guild of America Awards, began in 1990 and became significant predictors of Oscar success. Over time, the PGA expanded its influence, establishing councils for various production branches, regional chapters like PGA East in New York, and addressing emerging media with

8690-577: The military. He described his narration of the New Testament as "his greatest honor". Jones died at his home in Pawling, New York , on September 9, 2024, at the age of 93. He was a sufferer of type 2 diabetes later in his life. He died surrounded by his family. In a statement, CNN said that Jones "was the voice of CNN and our brand for many decades, uniquely conveying through speech instant authority, grace, and decorum. That remarkable voice

8800-610: The new guidelines, PGA presidents Gary Lucchesi and Lori McCreary emphasized the imperative to eradicate sexual harassment from the industry. They stated, "As producers, we play a vital role in fostering work environments founded on mutual respect, and it is our responsibility to drive cultural change and eliminate this abuse." While membership in the PGA is voluntary, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Guidelines are endorsed as best practices for members. The guidelines outline definitions of sexual harassment and

8910-413: The organization. The Producers Guild of America began as two separate organizations, with the Screen Producers Guild being formed on May 16, 1950. Its first president was William Perlberg . In 1957, television producers followed suit, forming the Television Producers Guild, with Ben Brady as its first president. These merged in 1962 to form the PGA under producer Walter Mirisch . Subsequent Presidents of

9020-478: The original film remained mostly the same. Chiwetel Ejiofor , who voiced Mufasa's evil brother Scar in the remake, said that "the comfort of [Jones reprising his role] is going to be very rewarding in taking [the audience] on this journey again. It's a once-in-a-generation vocal quality." Jones, also, reprised the role of King Jaffe Joffer in Coming 2 America (2021), the sequel to Coming to America (1988); this

9130-518: The process of expelling Harvey Weinstein, but his expulsion was not immediate due to the guild's bylaws, which mandated a termination process. According to the rules, members must be given 15 days' notice before disciplinary action is taken. However, the PGA was notified that instead of facing the guild's charges, Weinstein chose to resign his membership. In response, the guild issued a statement, declaring, "In light of Mr. Weinstein's widely reported behavior — with new reports continuing to surface even now —

9240-435: The protocols and affirmed the PGA's commitment to collaborate with them, as well as the industry-wide Commission led by Anita Hill and other community organizations, until sexual harassment is eradicated from the entertainment workplace. In addition to implementing the guidelines, the PGA's Anti-Sexual Harassment Task Force is continuously reviewing tools for prevention, reporting, counseling, and protection. In its statement

9350-455: The short-lived CBS police drama Paris . Jones also starred that year in the critically acclaimed TV mini-series sequel Roots: The Next Generations as the older version of author Alex Haley . In 1987, Jones starred in August Wilson 's play Fences as Troy Maxson, a middle aged working class father who struggles to provide for his family. The play, set in the 1950s, is part of Wilson's ten-part " Pittsburgh Cycle ". The play explores

9460-559: The sports drama/fantasy Field of Dreams (1989) which earned an Academy Award for Best Picture nomination. He also starred in the independent film Matewan (1987), which dramatized the events of the Battle of Matewan , a coal miners' strike in 1920 in Matewan , a small town in the hills of West Virginia . He received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his performance. In 1985, Jones lent his bass voice as Pharaoh in

9570-542: The visionaries who produce and execute motion picture and television product. The ceremony has been hosted each year by celebrity host/presenters, including Ronald Reagan , Ted Turner , Garry Marshall , Jack Lemmon , James Earl Jones , Grant Tinker , Michael Douglas , Walter Matthau , Shirley MacLaine , Marlo Thomas , Kevin Spacey , Mark Wahlberg , Kerry Washington , Anne Hathaway , Steve Carell , Neil Patrick Harris , and Jennifer Lawrence , among others. In 2001,

9680-479: The voice of the devil coming out of her. And there was controversy as to whether Mercedes should get credit. I was one who thought no, she was just special effects . So when it came to Darth Vader, I said, no, I'm just special effects. But it became so identified that by the third one , I thought, OK I'll let them put my name on it. In 1977, Jones also received a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Great American Documents . In late 1979, Jones appeared on

9790-503: The voice of the president is the most easily recognized voice in America. Well, I'm not going to make that claim in the presence of James Earl Jones." Those there to honor Jones included Sidney Poitier , Kelsey Grammer , Charles S. Dutton , and Courtney B. Vance . He also voiced the CNN tagline, "This is CNN", as a part of the network's tenth anniversary in 1990. As of 2024, the tagline

9900-490: The voice, possibly from a previous recording, Jones told Newsday : "You'd have to ask Lucas about that. I don't know." On April 7, 2005, Jones and Leslie Uggams headed the cast in an African-American Broadway revival version of On Golden Pond , directed by Leonard Foglia and produced by Jeffrey Finn . In February 2008, he starred on Broadway as Big Daddy in a limited-run, all-African-American production of Tennessee Williams ' Pulitzer Prize -winning drama Cat on

10010-565: The widely acclaimed syndicated program An American Moment (created by James R. Kirk and Ninth Wave Productions). Jones took over the role filled by Charles Kuralt , upon Kuralt's death. On July 13, 1993, accompanied by the Morgan State University choir, Jones spoke the U.S. national anthem before the 1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Baltimore . In 1996, he recited the classic baseball poem " Casey at

10120-524: The years, including for NBC 's Law & Order , and Frasier , ABC's Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman , Fox 's medical drama House , and CBS' The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men . In 2002, Jones received Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Also at the ceremony were fellow honorees Paul Simon , Elizabeth Taylor , and Chita Rivera . President George W. Bush joked, "People say that

10230-572: Was a huge success when it moved to Broadway on October 3, 1968. The play was well received, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Jones himself won the 1969 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play , and the Drama Desk Award for his performance. In 1969, Jones participated in making test films for the children's education series Sesame Street ; these shorts, combined with animated segments, were shown to groups of children to gauge

10340-568: Was a stage manager. In his first acting season at the Ramsdell, he portrayed Othello . His early career also included an appearance in the ABC radio anthology series Theatre-Five . In 1957, he made his Broadway debut as understudy to Lloyd Richards in the short-lived play, The Egghead , by Molly Kazan . The play ran only 21 performances, but three months later, in January 1958, Jones created

10450-464: Was acclaimed by critics and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor . He was the second African-American male performer after Sidney Poitier to be nominated for this award. Variety described his performance declaring, "Jones' recreation of his stage role is an eye-riveting experience. The towering rages and unrestrained joys of which his character was capable are portrayed larger than life." In The Man (1972), Jones starred as

10560-493: Was also expelled from other industry organizations, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . Before this could happen, The PGA announced on Monday, October 30, that Harvey Weinstein had resigned from the organization despite committees within the PGA starting proceedings to expel Weinstein on October 16. The guild had voted on October 16 to initiate

10670-620: Was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress . In 1977, Jones made his debut in his iconic voiceover role as Darth Vader in George Lucas 's space opera blockbuster film Star Wars: A New Hope , which he would reprise for the sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). Darth Vader was portrayed in costume by David Prowse in the film trilogy, with Jones dubbing Vader's dialogue in post-production because Prowse's strong West Country accent

10780-609: Was an American actor. A pioneer for black actors in the entertainment industry, he is known for his extensive and acclaimed roles on stage and screen . Jones is one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT ( Emmy , Grammy , Oscar , and Tony ). He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985, and was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1992, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2002,

10890-472: Was deemed unsuitable for the role by director George Lucas . At his own request, Jones was uncredited for the release of the first two Star Wars films, though he would be credited for the third film and eventually also for the first film's 1997 "Special Edition" re-release. As he explained in a 2008 interview: When Linda Blair did the girl in The Exorcist , they hired Mercedes McCambridge to do

11000-583: Was enabled by employees, associates, and agents who arranged these encounters, as well as by lawyers and publicists who silenced complaints with payments and threats. Bob Weinstein , also a member of the PGA and Harvey's brother, was reportedly involved in settlements with accusers, and Miramax employees felt the HR department prioritized Weinstein's protection over theirs. The Producers Guild of America initiated proceedings to expel Weinstein in October 2017, after he

11110-471: Was established in late 2018. The IPSI program offers free training and legal advice to smaller productions lacking HR resources, funded by a 2 million dollar grant from CBS . The PGA Show has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for harassment of any kind including, but not limited to: In relation to, but not limited to: If a person engages in harassing behavior at any time, PGA Show staff will take prompt action in any form they deem appropriate, including expulsion from

11220-685: Was given the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member George Lucas . In 2002, he was the featured Martin Luther King Day speaker for Lauderhill, Florida . In 2011, he received the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Monte Cristo Award Recipient. He also received an Honorary Academy Award on November 12, 2011. He was the 2012 Marian Anderson Award Recipient. Jones won

11330-844: Was his final screen credit. In 2022, his voice was used via Respeecher software for Darth Vader in the Disney+ miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi . During production, Jones signed a deal with Lucasfilm authorizing archival recordings of his voice to be used in the future to artificially generate the voice of Darth Vader. In September 2022, Jones announced that he would retire from the role of voicing Darth Vader with future voice roles for Vader being created by that means. In 1968, Jones married actress and singer Julienne Marie , whom he met while performing as Othello to her Desdemona in 1964. They had no children and divorced in 1972. In 1982, he married actress Cecilia Hart , who played Desdemona to his Othello shortly after they wed, and with whom he had

11440-720: Was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame He was also the 1987 First recipient of the National Association for Hearing and Speech Action's Annie Glenn Award. In 1991, he received the Common Wealth Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Dramatic Arts. In 1992, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by George H. W. Bush . He received the 1996 Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California , Walk of Stars . Also in 1996, he

11550-557: Was my first mute year, and then those mute years continued until I got to high school." He credited his English teacher, Donald Crouch, who discovered he had a gift for writing poetry, with helping him end his silence. Crouch urged him to challenge his reluctance to speak through reading poetry aloud to the class. In 1949, Jones graduated from Dickson Rural Agricultural School (now Brethren High School) in Brethren, Michigan , where he served as vice president of his class. He attended

11660-469: Was praised as a "stirring basso profondo that has lent gravel and gravitas" to his projects. Jones made his Broadway debut in the play Sunrise at Campobello (1957). He then gained prominence for acting in numerous productions with Shakespeare in the Park including Othello , Hamlet , Coriolanus , and King Lear . He worked steadily in theater, winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in

11770-628: Was presented to him by Ben Kingsley . In March 2012, Jones played the role of President Art Hockstader in Gore Vidal 's The Best Man on Broadway at the Schoenfeld Theatre : he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play . The play also starred Angela Lansbury , John Larroquette (as candidate William Russell), Candice Bergen , Eric McCormack (as candidate Senator Joseph Cantwell), Jefferson Mays , Michael McKean , and Kerry Butler , with direction by Michael Wilson . In 2013, Jones starred opposite Vanessa Redgrave in

11880-531: Was recorded and broadcast in the PBS Great Performances series the following year. In 1974, Jones played Lennie on Broadway in the 1974 Brooks Atkinson Theatre production of the adaptation of John Steinbeck 's novella, Of Mice and Men , with Kevin Conway as George and Pamela Blair as Curley's wife. In 1974, Jones co-starred with Diahann Carroll in the film Claudine , the story of

11990-464: Was severed. The PGA broadened its Independent Production Safety Initiative to incorporate anti-bullying training, aiming to eradicate workplace violence and aggression, in response to he allegations against Rudin. In addition to this expansion, the guild established a task force to address these issues within its membership and the wider entertainment industry, affirming its dedication to collaborating with other organizations to combat such behavior. In

12100-418: Was the key to his dignity and self-respect as a performer; it was how his characters rose above racism and cruelty", and described Jones as "movie royalty". Academy Award –winning actress Viola Davis said that Jones's career reflected "black excellence". Jones was recognized as a groundbreaker and pioneer for African Americans for his significant roles on stage and television. In 1965, Jones became one of

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