Photo Coverage: American Theatre Wing Honors Stage and Screen Legend James Earl Jones
By: Walter McBride Sep. 29, 2015
Just last night, the American Theatre Wing hosted its annual Gala at The Plaza Hotel (Fifth Avenue at Central Park South), honoring legendary actor James Earl Jones. Mr. Jones is a two-time Tony Award winner, two-time Obie Award winner and alumnus of the American Theatre Wing Professional School. CeCe Black, Anki Leeds, and Marva Smalls will serve as Gala Chairs.
All proceeds from the evening benefit the theatre education and artist development programs of the American Theatre Wing, which include SpringboardNYC, the Theatre Intern Network, the National Theatre Company Grants and the Jonathan Larson Grants, and will also support free access for students, aspiring professionals, and the general public to programming on AmericanTheatreWing.org, including the long running show "Working in the Theatre."
In 1969, Jones won a Tony Award for his breakthrough role as boxer Jack Johnson in the Broadway hit, The Great White Hope (which also garnered him an Oscar nomination for the 1970 film adaptation). He won a second Tony Award in 1987 for August Wilson's Fences, in which he played a former baseball player who finds it difficult to communicate with his son.
In the spring of 2005, James Earl Jones starred on Broadway a critically acclaimed revival of On Golden Pond for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. In 2006, he also starred as Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in the production of Thurgood at the Westport County Playhouse and in spring of 2008 portrayed "Big Daddy" in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway with cast members Terrence Howard, Anika Noni Rose and Phylicia Rashad, followed by a second run of Cat on Hot Tin Roof on stage in London with Adrian Lester, Sanaa Lathan, and again Phylicia Rashad. The production won an Olivier Award for "Best Revival" and Mr. Jones was nominated for an Olivier in the Best Actor category. In 2011, Mr. Jones starred in the Broadway and London productions of Driving Miss Daisy with Vanessa Redgrave and Boyd Gaines and in 2012, starred in the Broadway production of The Best Man, for which he received a Tony nomination. In 2013 Mr. Jones enjoyed a six-month tour of Driving Miss Daisy in Australia starring Angela Lansbury and Boyd Gaines. He is currently starring in You Can't Take It With You.
In addition to the many awards he has received as an actor- two Tonys, three Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Cable ACEs, two OBIEs, five Drama Desks, and a Grammy- Jones has been honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1992 and the John F. Kennedy Center Honor in December 2002. He also was honored by the Screen Actors Guild with the Lifetime Achievement Award in January of 2009. In November 2011, The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Mr. Jones with an Honorary Oscar in recognition of his long and distinguished career.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride
Cecilia Hart and James Earl Jones
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson
LaTanya Richardson and Samuel L. Jackson
LaTanya Richardson and Samuel L. Jackson
James Earl Jones, Cecilia Hart Jones and Angela Lansbury
James Earl Jones, Cecilia Hart Jones and Angela Lansbury
Mellody Hobson and George Lucas
Mellody Hobson and George Lucas
LaTanya Richardson, Samuel L. Jackson, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas
LaTanya Richardson, Samuel L. Jackson, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas
Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas
Mellody Hobson and George Lucas
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson
Cookie Johnson and Magic Johnson
Randi Zuckerberg and Julie James
Lea DeLaria and Chelsea Fairless
The American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Cookie Johnson and Magic Johnson attend the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
William Ivey Long attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
William Ivey Long attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Heather Hitchens attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
William Ivey Long, Heather Hitchens and James Earl Jones attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
James Earl Jones attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Celia Hart Jones and James Earl Jones attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
James Earl Jones attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Jordan Roth attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Richie Jackson and Jordan Roth attend the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Richie Jackson and Jordan Roth attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Brandon Victor Dixon attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Brandon Victor Dixon attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Kate Shindle attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Norm Lewis attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Norm Lewis attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Kenny Leon attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Kenny Leon attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Christine Ebersole attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Randi Zuckerberg attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Julie James attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Lea DeLaria and Chelsea Fairless attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Lea DeLaria attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Chelsea Fairless and Lea DeLaria attend the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson attend the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Cicely Tyson attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Cicely Tyson attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Patina Miller attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Patina Miller and husband David Mars attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Steven Boyer attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Steven Boyer and Emily Boyer attend the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Kerry Butler attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Kerry Butler attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Kerry Butler attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Kerry Butler attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Howard Stringer attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Howard Stringer attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Samuel L. Jackson attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Samuel L. Jackson attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
LaTanya Richardson attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Angela Lansbury attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
James Earl Jones, Celia Hart Jones and Angela Lansbury attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Angela Lansbury attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Angela Lansbury and Boyd Gaines attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Boyd Gaines attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Ruthie Ann Miles attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Ruthie Ann Miles attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Ruthie Ann Miles and Jonathan Blumenstein attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Sarah Stiles attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Marc Kudisch attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Marc Kudisch and Shannon Lewis attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Laila Robins attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Laila Robins and Robert Cuccioli attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Joel Perez attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Jeff Daniels and Kathleen Treado attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Mellody Hobson and George Lucas attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Mellody Hobson and George Lucas attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Samuel L. Jackson and George Lucas attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
LaTanya Richardson, Samuel L. Jackson, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
LaTanya Richardson, Samuel L. Jackson, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Cookie Johnson, Magic Johnson, Sydney Lucas attends the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
Cookie Johnson, Magic Johnson, Sydney Lucas attend the American Theatre Wing honors James Earl Jones at the Plaza Hotel on September 28, 2015 in New York City.
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