Robert Earl Jones February 3 1910 September 7 2006 sometimes credited as Earl Jones was an American actor and professional boxer One of the first prominent black film stars Jones was a living link with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s having worked with Langston Hughes early in his career Jones was best known for his leading roles in films such as Lying Lips 1939 and later in his career for supporting roles in films such as The Sting 1973 Trading Places 1983 The Cotton Club 1984 and Witness 1985 He was the father of actor James Earl Jones From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia