Happy Birthday, James Earl Jones

Submitted by BursleyHall82 on January 17th, 2019 at 10:32 PM

He's 88 years old today. Yes, he's been in a couple movies, but he'll forever be known for, "THIS IS THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ... WE ARE THE BEST UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD."

If you'd like to get those Fall Saturday chills all over again, you can see the football hype video by clicking here.

Damn, I'm glad he's a Wolverine. Happy birthday, JEJ.

slimj091

January 18th, 2019 at 3:27 AM ^

It was my birthday yesterday also, and my first name just happens to be James as well. Unfortunately I don't have the voice of a god, have little to no talent, and no one loves me. I still share a birthday with the man. So that is still something I guess.

Jasper

January 17th, 2019 at 10:54 PM ^

Yes, happy birthday to James. But, "WE ARE THE BEST UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD" is ridiculous. I cringe whenever I hear it even though I love UMich.

Eng1980

January 18th, 2019 at 12:09 PM ^

I find that the word “best” is ineffectual and requires parameters.  I regularly say that U of M is ARGUABLY the BEST university in the world.  No need to specify  US or public as we are better on one dimension or another somewhere.  I think best is a feel good word and need not be debated.

benzolamas

January 17th, 2019 at 11:17 PM ^

Past film students at Michigan have told me he has shown up in lectures and from the back of the hall has asked questions in his booming voice surprising the class  

 

 

LLG

January 18th, 2019 at 8:11 AM ^

I went to opening day and I'm pretty sure we played this video again this year.  There wasn't a different hype video.

There was also a cool part where they showed a different video with Bo's Team Speech and the students took a huge banner that said "The Team, The Team, The Team" (ala a European Football/Soccer Match) into the stands.  It might have been 40 rows in length and went the width of the student section.  

Esterhaus

January 18th, 2019 at 12:38 AM ^

Attain age 50 and life tends to have a different perspective. Reach age 88 in the public eye and, DAMN, I imagine you are out there on a bear pole with the predators lapping chops underneath. You enjoy my prayers James Earl Jones, it takes mettle and some degree of self-restraint to achieve age 88. Then there is the MGOBLUE and love for your artistic contributions. Met ya, love ya.

evenyoubrutus

January 18th, 2019 at 2:11 AM ^

He's a great man to be associated with the University of Michigan. 

Oops! Hope I didn't hurt Kurpit's feelings by saying something positive. He's super sensitive. 

The Mad Hatter

January 18th, 2019 at 7:59 AM ^

When my son was 4 - 5 and at the peak of his Star Wars fandom he would tell everyone that he met that Darth Vader went to Michigan.

Also, James Earl Jones, despite having one of the best voices of all times, had a horrible stutter when he was a kid and actually went years without speaking at all.  He still does it when he tries to talk too fast.

Happy Birthday Mr. Jones.  Hopefully you spent it (and every other day) in a recording studio reading the entire Oxford English Dictionary.

UofMAero89

January 18th, 2019 at 9:23 AM ^

I remember when I came to the open house at UofM with my oldest when he was a junior in high school As James Earl did the voice over my son looked at me a said - I have to go to the school where Darth Vader went. Happy Birthday

JetFuelForBreakfast

January 18th, 2019 at 9:23 AM ^

Happy Birthday to a great actor and EPIC voiceover talent!  I could listen to James Earl Jones (and Morgan Freeman) read just about anything.  

I'm not sure that Freeman's narration isn't 90% of the reason I've never flipped past Shawshank.  Heck, I don't know if I could flip past 'James Earl Jones and Morgan Freeman Present the Unabridged Tax Code.'