James Earl Jones recorded Darth Vader lines in 2.5 hours for just $7,000: 'I was fortunate'

Darth Vader's iconic line readings by James Earl Jones were immortalized in film history, but for the late actor, it was just a routine job.

The actor, who passed away this week at the age of 93, disclosed in a 1995 interview that it took only slightly longer to record the lines for his renowned character than the two-hour duration of the movie.

""We spent approximately two and a half hours working on Darth Vader, and we were unaware of what we were doing," he stated on Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

Jones felt fortunate to receive a substantial paycheck for a brief workday, despite only providing Darth Vader's voice while David Prowse wore the iconic black costume. As a result, Jones requested that his name not be included in the film's credits.

"In 2009, he shared with the American Film Institute that he was fortunate to land a job that paid him $7,000. He considered it a good amount of money and was thrilled to be a part of the movie as a voice actor."

In today's dollars, his 1977 $7,000 payday would be worth approximately $36,000.

The actor, known for his iconic role as Darth Vader in six films and TV appearances, also starred in "The Lion King," "Fences," and "Field of Dreams."

Although he is renowned for his roles in films and television, Jones stated in an Entertainment Tonight interview that his greatest achievements occurred on stage.

""The best work I've done hasn't been recorded, but I'm content with that because people who saw it remember it," he said."

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