James Earl Jones Celebrates MLK Day on His 80th Birthday

By Benjamin Nockles

"What is your life's blueprint?" said James Earl Jones, reciting a question Martin Luther King posed to students in Philadelphia, forty-four years ago. Jones was speaking to an audience at Dr. King's namesake school, during a breakfast honoring the civil right leader on his holiday.

Also headlining the event was Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He introduced Jones to the stage with praise and humor. "[James Earl Jones] is a remarkable artist, and I say that even though we are constantly competing for the same voiceover gigs."

Jones was already a Tony-award winning actor in 1969 for his performance as Jack Jefferson in "Great White Hope" before George Lucas made him the voice of Darth Vader in 1977, elevating his voice to legendary. Then in 1994, as Mufasa in "The Lion King," Jones redefined his voice again, adding the quality of benevolence on top of its ominous label. Yet in spite of his famed success as an actor and speaker, Jones had a stutter as a child that crippled his confidence and all but silenced him for years. Not until high school did Jones find his voice when, as if miraculously, he found that – while speaking proved difficult – he could read aloud unhampered. This gave root to his interest in debate, public speaking and performance from which a half-century long career emerged.

Currently, Jones plays Hoke Colburn in the revival of Driving Miss Daisy, also staring Vanessa Redgrave and Boyd Gaines. Hoke is the chauffer of a "Miss. Daisy," a wealthy white woman in Atlanda, Georgia. After Miss Daisy is deemed unable to drive herself anymore, her son hires Hoke to do the job. Though the relationship gets off to a rough start, it blossoms into a beautiful friendship that defies societal boundaries.

The play's packed houses have brought about an extension until April 9, even while so many shows have closed. Notwithstanding that this January 17 was a national holiday and his own birthday, James Earl Jones still had to work after the MLK breakfast event. But during a special talkback after the show, Jones was presented with two surprise birthday cakes (enough for 80 candles) as Boyd Gaines led in "Happy Birthday" celebrating his "second fortieth birthday."

Alfred Uhry, the playwright of Driving Miss Daisy commented, "I'm just very touched and honored that somehow or other my play is become a part of Martin Luther King Day and that Martin Luther King is revered in a way that he never would have dreamed when he was alive in the period of this play."

Now, James Earl Jones commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King as he recites lines evoking a message of encouragement. King articulated that "Number one in your life's blueprint, should be a deep belief in your own dignity, your worth and your own somebodiness." while the number two is "the determination to achieve excellence in your various fields of endeavor." On the day Jones celebrates his 80th birthday and a lifetime of accomplishment, he urges the same from today's youth. "Do not waste anymore time in beginning to draw your blueprint. Do it. Do it in your head. Do it on your paper. Do it on your computer. Do it. I think he'd like that, and I think you would like it too."