Celebrities and costars mourn James Earl Jones: 'Rest now, King'

Celebrities like Mark Hamill, Octavia Spencer, and Barry Jenkins are remembering the beloved star in heartfelt tributes.

James Earl Jones, the prolific star of films like Dr. Strangelove, Coming to America, and Field of Dreams, and the iconic voice of Darth Vader in several Star Wars films, died on Monday, Sep. 9. He was 93. Jones worked with hundreds of brilliant actors over the course of his seven decades on stage and screen, and his death has unloosed an outpouring of grief and good memories.

Mark Hamill, Jones' on-screen son in George Lucas's original Star Wars trilogy, posted a simple remembrance to X, writing "#RIP dad 💔." Jones brought the towering villain Darth Vader to life with his imperious, unforgettable voice. He reprised his role much later in The Rise of Skywalker and Star Wars Rebels.

Related: Star Wars icon Mark Hamill mourns Darth Vader actor James Earl Jones: 'RIP dad'

One of Jones' most beloved roles was the kindly Mr. Mertle, the owner of the beastly Hercules and Goliath in The Sandlot and The Sandlot 2. Marty York, who played Alan "Yeah-Yeah" McClennan in the original film, wrote "RIP to the man, the myth, the legend" over a photo of the actor on Instagram Stories. Ava Duvernay also posted a multi-part story commemorating Jones' life to her Instagram, that concluded with the words, "A job well done. A gift well shared. Bless you as you journey on." Chauncey Leopardi, another Sandlot star, also wrote on his Instagram stories, "Legends never die."

An official statement posted by Disney quoted CEO Bob Iger as saying, "From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history,” concluding that "on behalf of all of us at Disney, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.” Jones also appeared as himself in Fantasia 2000.

Related: James Earl Jones will have a landmark Broadway theater named after him

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Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.