Film and theater icon James Earl Jones was recognized with a special lifetime achievement award Sunday at the 71st annual Tony Awards.
The two-time Tony Award winner was recognized for his six decade-contribution to Broadway by The Tony Awards Administration Committee. Jones is a juggernaut in the theater community, both admired and revered for his body of Broadway work. The 86-year-old thespian — who still looks great —made his broadway debut in 1958 in Dore Schary’s “Sunrise at Campobello”.
In his acceptance speech, Jones thanked his past collaborators and family, with a special shoutout to his late wife Cecilia ”Cece” Hart “for being such a wonderful companion in my life and in my work, and for being the great co-producer of our son, Flynn.”
Unfortunately, his big moment was not televised live. Instead, CBS chose to air only a small segment of his speech. Jones apparently received his award before the live broadcast, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Some on Twitter did not take that news too well.
Jones won his first best actor Tony Award in 1969 for Edwin Sherin’s “The Great White Hope,” followed by the same award almost two decades later for August Wilson’s “Fences”. He has performed in over 20 productions including ”Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,“ ”Driving Miss Daisy,” and, mostly recently, “The Gin Game” alongside Cecily Tyson.
Congratulations to the icon that is James Earl Jones.