James Earl Jones: Michigan High School Athlete to Hollywood Icon

James Earl Jones means different things to different people, depending on where you first saw or heard him. He's Darth Vadar to some and Mufasa to others. He might be King Jaffe Joffer or Mr. Merle. Regardless of how you came to know the man or his voice, Mr. Jones is truly a legend. But, did you know that the voice of CNN grew up in Michigan?

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Though Jones was born in Mississippi, he was eventually adopted by his grandparents and relocated to Dublin, Michigan. According to the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), it was here that Jones would cement a bond that changed the course of his life and helped the

How Michigan Shaped James Earl Jones into a Star

After moving to Dublin, Jones enrolled in Dickson High School in (which would later be combined in 1964 with Kaleva and Norman High Schools, serving as the class's vice president and playing varsity basketball. While wearing the #27 on the hardcourt, Jones would develop a close bond with his coach, Donald Crouch. This relationship and Crouch's belief in Jones helped him overcome a stutter that would have otherwise made a career in Hollywood challenging or even impossible.

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The friendship between coach and athlete was so strong that a life-sized statue of Jones and Crouch is located in Brethren, cementing their place in Michigan history.

James Earl Jones History in Michigan

After high school, Jones attended the University of Michigan (U of M) and later lent his iconic voice to the Wolverines' pregame hype videos (see video below). It's hard not to get goosebumps when his voice comes over the public address system in the Big  House.

Jones went on to have an extraordinary career that included Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Grammys--you name it, he probably got one.

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So the next time you watch Sand Lot, Star Wars, Lion King, or any one of the countless feature films or television shows featuring James Earl Jones, remember--he got his start and a helping hand right here in Michigan.