James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi. His mother was a teacher and a maid, and his father was a boxer, a butler, and an actor who left the fledgling family just after James was born. He was raised by his maternal grandmother in Jackson, Michigan, and after that move, he developed a severe stutter. He suffered from selective mutism until a high school teacher coached him in speaking. He was a pre-med major at the University of Michigan but found he was not so good at medical studies but outstanding at acting. He has been married twice and has one son with his second wife.
Recommended Resources
The actor’s photographs and videos are displayed here, as are his mentions in news articles. His filmography is available, going back to 1962.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000469/
The section about James Earl Jones at Biography.com offers photographs, a biography, and what he is best known for. Also offers his celebrity connections with people such as Mark Tain, Sean Conner, and William Faulkner.
http://www.biography.com/people/james-earl-jones-9357354
The Stuttering Foundation: James Earl Jones
As an honoree of the Foundation, James Earl Jones has a page dedicated to him on their site. There is also a photographs of Mr. Jones holding his Monte Cristo Award.
http://www.stutteringhelp.org/content/james-earl-jones-honored
