14 Actors Who Became Absolute Legends With Just One Movie

6. James Earl Jones - Darth Vader (Star Wars)

As I mentioned in my article on Star Wars actors, there are plenty of people who wouldn't mind being forever associated with one of the most successful series in cinema history. And out of all his Star Wars colleagues, James Earl Jones has fared pretty well since the original trilogy ended, with several live-action performances winning him acclaim. But there's still the niggling feeling of his whole career being overshadowed by one role, hence his appearance on this list. Jones made his film debut in 1964 as Lt. Luther Zogg in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove. Ten years later he was Oscar-nominated for his leading role in The Great White Hope, reprising his Tony Award-winning stage performance. Having realised David Prowse's West Country accent would make Darth Vader less intimidating, George Lucas originally wanted Orson Welles to create his voice. When he realised Welles' voice would be too easy to recognise, Lucas made the call. It's arguable that Jones didn't deserve better than his career worked out: he deliberately asked not to be credited until Return of the Jedi, and his unique voice was always more suited to stage and character acting. While he has worked consistently since then and seems happy with his lot in life, it seems a shame that his most famous role utilises none of his expressive facial features or unique physical presence. A small price to pay, perhaps, for being a cinematic icon. What He Did Next: Jones reprised his role in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, while also appearing in Exorcist II: The Heretic and Conan the Barbarian. He won acclaim for his roles in Field of Dreams and The Lion King, and continues to work relentlessly on stage and screen.