Conversations From having a severe stutter to becoming the man with the magnificent voice - James Earl Jones
How the man who voiced Darth Vader and Mufasa overcame a childhood stutter to build a career on his rich, resonant voice (R)
James grew up with a stutter so severe he was almost mute until the age of fourteen.
After the intervention of an English professor, he went on to become one of his generation's finest stage and screen actors.
James is famous for his roles in films like The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and The Great White Hope.
He is the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars series and of Mufasa in The Lion King.
James toured Australia in a production of Driving Miss Daisy (with Angela Lansbury) in 2013.
Further information
Original broadcast February 2013
To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.