James Earl Jones sadly passed away this week at the age of 93, leaving behind one of the richest legacies in entertainment across the stage and screens big and small. But fans of the galaxy far, far away will forever remember Jones for his vital contribution to Darth Vader, his booming baritone voice defining one of the greatest tragic figures of pop culture across his appearances.
But while many factors and creatives are responsible for the totality of Vader—from David Prowse’s physical performance, to Ralph McQuarrie’s legendary design, to the work of dozens of writers across mediums responsible for Vader’s most infamous lines—few of those lines would be as potent and memorable if not for Jones’ keen grasp of Vader’s presence. As Vader, Jones could leap from tragedy to rage, from restrained threat to biting dark humor in any given moment, forever giving a human heart to the cybernetics beating behind Vader’s armor, an unseen face to the man underneath his mask. Here’s just a few of our favorite reads from Jones’ time as Vader: a mix of the funny to the badass, the heart-breaking to the petrifying, lines big and small that will be forever burned into the minds of Star Wars fans.
Honorable Mention: “I want the Rebels located and identified, if it means searching every household in the system.” (The Star Wars Holiday Special)
Vader’s one and only line in the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special isn’t much—it’s a single line dubbed over archival footage from A New Hope, to set up the lingering threat behind the rest of the special. But it’s special if only because it’s the first time in the franchise that Jones was specifically credited for his performance as Vader. The actor famously received very little pay for his turn as Vader at the time, and it would take until Return of the Jedi in the original trilogy for him to receive credit. Perhaps the one thing the Holiday Special can be remembered for doing right.
“Then you will die braver than most.” (“Twilight of the Apprentice,” Star Wars Rebels)
Jones’ work in Vader’s brief Rebels appearances is almost worth mentioning at every point here, but not only is this an incredible comeback—to humble a child, of all people—but the growl Jones puts emphasizing “die” is just perfectly ferocious.
“Apology accepted, Captain Needa.” (The Empire Strikes Back)
Vader’s reputation for being ferocious is only matched by his reputation for being a little sassy, and every time Jones indulged in it is a delight. The lighter tone here, the knowing lilt as he carefully treads over Needa’s corpse, with the hindsight of the prequels this moment just feels very Anakin.
“You are part of the Rebel Alliance, and a traitor. Take her away!” (A New Hope)
You could argue that, this early on into Star Wars, perhaps Jones just hadn’t yet found the range he would come to define Vader with, but there’s something that’s still so interesting about the emotion in these lines. We rarely actually get to hear Vader so explicitly angry like he is here, let alone the snap he imbues that parting order with.
“Impressive. Most Impressive.” (The Empire Strikes Back)
Again, Vader is always at his most interesting when you get a flicker out of the usual baritone Jones gave him, and it really comes through in how he draws out the first “impressive” here as Luke tries to clamber his way out of the freezing chamber’s pipes.
“Nooooooooooooooooooo!” (Revenge of the Sith)
Look: this might be controversial given its memetic legacy, but the no is good, actually! It’s so perfectly, tragically melodramatic, this transformation between the man Anakin was and what he had become as Darth Vader. The pained, gargled growl he gives just before belting it out, the way it just wobbles ever so slightly as it draws out. Yes, unintentionally funny, but also, still so, so good.
“When I left you, I was but the learner, now I am the master.” (A New Hope)
Jones gives Vader a fascinating cadence at times, especially in A New Hope, his lines rising and falling in an intonation that really amplifies the inhuman nature of Vader as a figure. But it makes his emphases when encountering Obi-Wan again really interesting, too: there’s a calm arrogance to how he just quickly adds “Now I am the master” here.
“I am altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further.” (The Empire Strikes Back)
This is a fantastic line anyway, but Jones makes it sing with his emphasis on the little growl underneath “pray” to me. There’s just enough threat in that single moment that sells the whole thing without Vader having to raise his voice be particularly bombastic.
“If you will not turn to the Dark Side … then perhaps she will!” (Return of the Jedi)
This whole speech, as Vader coaxes Luke into coming out of the shadows beneath the Emperor’s throne in their fateful duel, is so masterfully done, but it’s the final line that makes Luke give into his anger that is just perfectly menacing. Jones goes almost staccato for that last little “perhaps she will,” like every word is a knife thrown at Luke.
“Your master has deceived you, into believing you can become a Jedi.” (“Siege of Lothal,” Star Wars Rebels)
Vader was just forever so mean to poor Ezra whenever they crossed paths in Rebels. This is an insane thing to say to a child as you’re telekinetically trying to get them to slit their own throat with a lightsaber! But it’s so good, the way Jones plays most of its so casually and calmly until that little growl comes out the second he says “Jedi,” as if he’s become disgusted by the word.
“No… I am your father.” (The Empire Strikes Back)
You can’t do this list without this one. It’s the Vader line, even if everyone casually misremembers it half the time. But it has more than a great reason for its famous legacy, beyond just the initial shock of the twist: Jones delivers it with a perfect, almost yearning tone, as he tries to convince Luke to join him. There’s this tiniest little warmth he imbues the “I” with as it’s drawn out that just hits.
“What!?” (A New Hope)
Like Revenge of the Sith‘s “Nooo!” this has more of a legacy as a meme than a particularly good Vader line, but like a lot of moments in A New Hope, it’s one that, in retrospect, sticks out as so oddly human in the way Jones plays it. It’s not angry, it’s not restrained as Vader so often thought of: it’s this short, sharp almost yelp of shock, one that’s so genuinely alien to hear from him.
“Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them.” (Return of the Jedi)
Jones excelled at bringing out surprising emotion from Vader, and this moment from the early moments of Return of the Jedi is no exception. There’s almost a tone of gloating as he bullies Moff Jerjerrod, the knowing threat he imbues “motivate” with here almost has an underlying chuckle than anything else: this is a man who is totally in control of the situation, and wants you to know it.
“Be careful not to choke on your aspirations, Director.” (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)
This moment in Rogue One, as Vader is just getting done force choking Krennic for shits and giggles, is sometimes criticized for being a little too on the nose, but it is perfectly in character for Vader—especially for a Vader presented in the context of us having seen Anakin’s character in the prequels at this point. It’s a wonderful marriage of Anakin’s braggadocio and Vader’s own relishing in his power.
“Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him.” (“Twilight of the Apprentice,” Star Wars Rebels)
There is so much going on in such a brief line here, and Jones is, again, perfect at drawing out the subtleties of it. The disdain he gives his former name, the growling “weak” reflecting his own self-loathing, it’s immediately contrasted with how relatively clear and plainly he follows up with “I destroyed him,” which makes it all the more tragic.
“It is… too late for me, son.” (Return of the Jedi)
This is not a numbered list–all of these line readings are fantastic, and it’s a testament to Jones’ legacy that practically every other line he ever had in Star Wars iconic in its own rights–but we’re saving a personal best for last here. As Luke begs his father to return to the light after getting himself captured on Endor on purpose, the pause Vader gives before telling him it’s too late, the weight he adds in “son,” it’s all just perfectly tragic. It’s a shade of Vader we’d not really gotten to see much in the trilogy up until this moment, and Jones just plays the pathos perfectly.
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