Does James Earl Jones sing the Grinch song?
Introduction
In Hollywood, arguably, there is no voice that is more recognizable and more incredible than that of the fantastic James Earl Jones.
Being in the entertainment industry is all about being able to captivate an audience and draw them in.
How you do that is entirely down to you and, indeed, is down to the form of entertainment that you happen to work in.
James Earl Jones is predominantly a voice actor who has had some iconic vocal roles.
When we say iconic, we don’t mean it as kids mean it on TikTok videos; we really mean ICONIC!
1975 – @Getty
James’ voice is synonymous with some of the most symbolic and beloved characters ever created in the world of Hollywood.
The man also has a fantastic set of pipes on him, with a deep, booming, singing voice that would give any crooner a case of the green-eyed monster.
While James may be winding down his career now, and rightfully so as he is currently 92 years of age, one question he often gets asked is whether or not he sang the Grinch song.
So, did James Earl Jones sing the Grinch song?
Who is James Earl Jones?
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Anybody with even the slightest interest in the world of showbusiness will no doubt be fully aware of the legend that is James Earl Jones.
For those of you who are not, however, allow us to fill you in.
James Earl Jones is a US actor who is praised for being one of the most versatile and accomplished actors in all of Hollywood.
Despite being best known for his voice acting due to his deep, booming, and commanding voice, James has appeared in numerous movies, TV shows, and stage performances over the course of his astonishing 70-year career.
James Earl Jones as Othello and Christopher Plummer as Iago in Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’, 1981 – @Getty
James has won countless awards, including Tony Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, and an Academy Honorary Award.
These are just a few of his most prestigious awards.
To list each accomplishment of this amazing man would take us all day.
James has appeared in some of the most prestigious works in the entertainment industry, including Dr Strangelove, Great White Hope, Claudine, Coming to America, Conan the Barbarian, Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October, and many more, including stage performances.
Voice Work
James Earl Jones, with headphones on his head, as he speaks in a microphone in a recording studio, Hollywood, California, July 10, 1991 – @Getty
Even though James is an incredibly accomplished actor and is considered one of the all-time greats, he is arguably best known for his voice work.
James has a deep, booming, and commanding voice that many say has lent ‘gravel and gravitas’ to his projects.
He was praised for his work on the 90s Disney animated version of The Lion King, where he played Mufasa, king of the pride of lions and father of Simba, the story’s main protagonist.
Most would agree, however, that his biggest role comes from his performances in the Star Wars saga, in which he voices the legendary antagonist Darth Vader.
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Darth Vader first appeared on screens in 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope.
The character is severely disfigured following a, shall we say, accident with some lava, and subsequently, he must wear a biomechanical suit, mask, and breathing apparatus, all decked out in black, to survive.
Even though James is not in the suit playing the character, many agree that it was James’ unmistakable voice, coupled with the audibly enhanced breathing that Vader makes through his helmet, that helped establish Darth Vader as one of the most revered and feared villains in cinematic history.
Although James recently announced that he would be stepping down from the role after more than four decades, he will always have an exceptional place in the hearts of Star Wars fans, regardless of where Disney tries to take the franchise next.
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Did James Earl Jones sing the Grinch Song?
Because James has such a deep and unique voice, he is also a fantastic singer, and subsequently, many people believe that one of his other best-known performances comes from his singing of ‘Mr Grinch.’ Ironically, however, James Earl Jones did NOT sing the song at all, despite what many believe.
Chances are around Christmas time, somewhere you’ll hear ‘You’re a mean one, Mr Grinch’ playing over the radio or on the TV, and you’ll likely have sung along as well.
The singer of the song has a very deep and booming voice, like a certain James Earl Jones, so you can understand why people assume he sang the song.
The Grinch is a mythical creature created by Dr Seuss who lives on a mountain overlooking the town of Whoville and takes please in ruining Christmas for other people.
Jim Carrey in a scene from the film ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’, 2000 – @Getty
He is a green and furry “monster” with a cat-like face and a disdain for other people.
The character has appeared in numerous cartoons and movies and has been played by numerous actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch and Jim Carrey.
But did James Earl Jones sing the Grinch song?
Well, no, he didn’t.
The song was actually performed by the late Thurl Ravenscroft, who was an actor and a bass singer.
He had a voice even deeper than James’ and was perhaps best known for singing the Grinch song, along with being the voice behind Kellogg’s Frosties’ Tony the Tiger.
Thurl would also work for Disney, primarily providing voice-over work for their Disneyland attractions and various Disney songs.
Thurl had a fantastic career and was active from 1940 until he sadly passed away in 2005, aged 91.
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Lee Parry is a writer and blogger originally from Manchester, UK, and he has a B.A. in Modern Languages from Manchester Metropolitan University. Parry occasionally teaches English and spends most of his free time reading.