Broadway theaters will go dark this week in memory of three-time Tony Award winner and Hollywood trailblazer James Earl Jones, who died earlier this month at the age of 93.
The Broadway League announced Monday that venues in the Theater District will dim their marquees on Thursday evening at exactly 6:45 p.m.
The ceremonial practice has been a tradition on Broadway for prominent members of the community who have died, but must be approved by a committee of theater owners.
“James Earl Jones was a true pillar of the Broadway industry, providing unforgettable experiences to multiple generations of theatregoers — all while accumulating many well-deserved honors, awards, and achievements for his iconic performances in other entertainment fields,” interim president of The Broadway League Jason Laks said in a a statement.
“While we acknowledge and celebrate Mr. Jones’ significant legacy across multiple mediums, we are particularly proud of his legacy on Broadway, and are grateful for the many memorable performances with which he graced our stages,” the statement continued.
Known for screen roles such as “The Great White Hope,” “Field of Dreams” and “Coming to America,” as well as his voice work as Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King,” the Oscar-nominated actor began his career on Broadway in the late 1950s
His stage roles include Tony Award-winning performances in the original 1968 Broadway production of “The Great White Hope,” and August Wilson’s “Fences” in 1987. He also played the title role in “Othello” and appeared in an all-Black version of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”
Jones received the 2017 special Tony Award for lifetime achievement.
In 2022, the Cort Theatre was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor.
“For me, standing in this very building 64 years ago at the start of my Broadway career, it would have been inconceivable that my name would be on the building today,” the Emmy and Grammy winner said in a statement at the time. “Let my journey from then to now be an inspiration for all inspiring actors.”
The historic theater, located on West 48th St., is where Jones made his Broadway debut in a 1958 production of “Sunrise at Campobello” as an understudy.