James Earl Jones and His Wife Cecilia Hart Weren’t Supposed to Be Together, but They Shared 34 Years of Marriage – inside Their Love Story

James Earl Jones and his late wife Cecilia Hart overcome the odds to be together until he passed away. Before she tragically passed away from ovarian cancer, the interracial couple had been married for more than thirty years.

James Earl Jones, the late, great actor, was especially notable for having a voice that people of many generations could identify. Some recognized him from his role as Darth Vader’s voice in the popular “Star Wars” film series, while others knew him from his role as the lead in “The Great White Hope.”

There is no doubting that Jones was a superb and gifted performer, regardless of the persona he chose to play. Similar to his professional life, Jones’ personal life was prosperous, particularly following his marriage to Cecilia Hart, his second wife.

Regretfully, Jones passed away at the age of 93, decades after being married to Hart. The EGOT recipient and Broadway icon passed away on Monday morning, September 9, at his home in Dutchess County, New York, according to members of his Independent Artist Group.

The great performer is no longer with us, but his amazing legacy will live on. Throughout the course of his 60-year career, he earned nearly 200 cinematic credits. In particular, as it concerns the 34 years he spent with Hart, let’s reflect on some of the most memorable moments in his life and career.

Even though the renowned performer is no longer with us, his amazing legacy will live on as he racked up nearly 200 cinematic credits over the course of his 60-year career. Let’s review some of the most significant moments in his life and career, particularly those that involved the 34 years he spent with Hart.

Humble Beginnings

Jones was reared by his maternal grandparents in Arkabutla, Mississippi, after his birth on January 17, 1931, before moving to Michigan. He had a speech impediment as a child, which made him stutter a lot and affected his social confidence. Thankfully, a teacher was able to assist him in learning how to talk without being interrupted.

Before deciding to pursue a job in the entertainment sector as a young adult, Jones first tried his hand at a number of professional paths, including the military, medicine, and more.

He enlisted in the military during the war and attended the University of Michigan to study medicine. Stage roles came Jones’ way once he relocated to New York City and enrolled at the American Theatre. Remarkably, Robert, his father who was rarely around, also pursued a career in acting.

Prior to this, Jones had said, “I didn’t know him, and he didn’t raise me, but in high school, I would see his picture in national magazines.” This was in reference to his lack of a relationship with his father.

Jones featured in the original Shakespeare in the Park productions and made his Broadway debut in the play “Sunrise at Campobello” in the late 1950s. He then appeared on both the tiny and large screens.

He received his first Emmy nomination in 1963 for his role in “East Side/West Side,” and in 1964, he was nominated for “Dr. Strangelove.” He also starred in the soap operas “As the World Turns” and “Guiding Light” in the same decade.

A Remarkable Career

Jones had a lasting impression on Hollywood from the start of his career. His ability and versatility further contributed to his longevity as a prominent figure.

In addition to “The Great White Hope,” he starred in “Fences,” “Heat Wave,” “Gabriel’s Fire,” and he voiced Mufasa, the beloved character, in the 1994 Disney cartoon “The Lion King.” His resume of outstanding performances is extensive. In the 2019 reimagining of the beloved movie, he played the same role.

Throughout his life, he produced several outstanding works for which he received Tony Awards, including “The Great White Hope” and “Fences.” In 2011, Jones—who has won two Emmy Awards—was also awarded an honorary Academy Award.

The late “Coming to America” star continued to be a well-known and talented performer on stage and cinema. He starred in “The Best Man,” “You Can’t Take It With You,” and “The Gin Game” in the 2010s. For the revival of “The Best Man,” he was nominated for a fourth Tony Award.

Jones was still working in the profession at the age of 91. Not only did he return to “The Lion King,” but he also voiced Darth Vader in “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.” Further recognition came in 2021 when he made a cameo as King Jaffe Joffer in “Coming 2 America.”

Finding Love

Jones met the love of his life as a result of his desire to pursue acting, as fate would have it. Jones met Hart on the set of Steven Bochco’s 1979 TV series “Paris,” seven years after divorcing his first wife, the actress Julienne Marie.

In addition, Hart was a skilled actor who starred in shows like “MacGyver,” “Three’s Company,” “Law & Order,” and “Dirty Linen,” for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.

Following their collaboration as co-stars in a Broadway production of William Shakespeare’s “Othello,” Jones and Hart were married in 1982. Similar to Jones, the actress was also married for the second time; she had previously been married to Bruce Weitz, an actor.

An Interracial Marriage

When they first started dating, their union was, at most, unusual and, at worst, socially unacceptable. A Black man named Jones fell in love with a White woman named Hart. It was far more difficult for them both because interracial relationships were not accepted back then as they are now.

Jones once called his grandmother “racist,” and while there were no verified reports of her family being against the union, it’s possible that she wasn’t thrilled with her late grandson’s choice of life partner.

The late couple nevertheless continued on and built a life together. During their marriage, they went on to welcome their son, Flynn. Like Jones, who followed in his father’s footsteps, their lone child grew up to emulate his late father.

Ahren Sanders’s seductive romance novel “Heartthrob” was recorded for audiobook by Flynn, who apparently inherited his late father’s voice talent.

In addition to doing voice acting, Flynn was supposedly his father’s personal assistant and had a close relationship with him.

Nevertheless, he would rather avoid the spotlight. Hart’s parents, who were well-known and never out of the spotlight compared to him, stayed faithful to their marriage and only divorced 34 years after Hart’s sad death in 2016.

Cecilia Hart’s Death

After battling ovarian cancer, Hart passed away on October 16, 2016, at the age of 68. She and Jones were able to share a final photo on the Tony Awards red carpet just four months before she passed away.

She and Jones’ family allegedly requested donations to Hudson Valley Hospice or The Actors Fund after her passing.

James Earl Jones was still well-regarded for his work and remained involved in the entertainment world after the death of his cherished wife. In Hollywood and among TV and moviegoers who continue to cherish the late star in the highest regard even after his passing, neither time nor age rendered him obsolete.