James Earl Jones' 2 Marriages: A Look at His Past Relationships, Including His 34-Year Romance with Wife Cecilia Hart

Mar. 15, 2025

Julienne Marie and James Earl Jones; Cecilia Hart and James Earl Jones.Photo: Alan Aaronson/NY Daily News Archive/Getty ; Ben Gabbe/Getty

James Earl Joneswas married twice throughout his decorated career in Hollywood.

The acclaimed actor, whodied on Sept. 9 at age 93, met his first wife, Julienne Marie Hendricks, in 1964 when they were costars in a stage production ofOthello. The two married in 1968 and divorced four years later.

“I want to thank my wife Ceci for being such a wonderful companion in my life and in my work,” Jones said of his late wife while accepting the Tony Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. “And for being the great co-producer of our son Flynn and for being so dazzling on the red carpet.”

From his private relationship with Hendricks to his 34-year romance with Hart, here’s a look back at James Earl Jones' marriages.

Julienne Marie Hendricks (1968-1972)

Julienne Marie Hendricks and James Earl Jones in ‘Othello’.everett

Jones met Hendricks, an actress, in 1964 when they both starred in a stage production ofOthello. The two married in 1968 but split in 1972.

Cecilia Hart (1982-2016)

Cecilia Hart and actor James Earl Jones attend the 2009 Dramatists Guild Fund annual benefit gala at the Hudson Theatre on April 20, 2009 in New York City.Brian Ach/WireImage

Jones met his second wife, actress Hart, on the set of the 1979 seriesParis. In the show, Jones was cast as Los Angeles Police Department Captain Woody Paris and Hart played a detective named Sergeant Stacey Erickson. They later performed on stage together inOthelloin 1982.

Hart was a performer in her own right, havingacted in several rolesthroughout her career. Productions includedEmergency!,The Runaways,Three’s Company,Quincy M.E.,Mr. Sunshine,MacGyver,Gabriel’s Fire,Charles in ChargeandLaw & Order.

Hart and Jones married in March 1982. Like his first marriage, Jones and Hart kept the majority of their personal life out of the public eye, including the private life of their son, Flynn. They were together for more than 30 years until the actress died of ovarian cancer at the age of 68 in October 2016.

Throughout their decades-long marriage, Jones and Hart made several red carpet appearances together, including attending the Tony Awards and the SAG Awards as well as multiple film premieres and opening nights on Broadway.

Their son has carved his own career in entertainment, though he hasn’t followed in his parents' footsteps. Instead, Flynn has recorded a number of audiobooks and also worked as his father’s personal assistant.

source: people.com