Matthew Broderick Pays Tribute toLion KingCostar James Earl Jones: ‘My Father, My King!’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones.Photo:Roy Rochlin/Getty; Nomi Ellenson/FilmMagic

Roy Rochlin/Getty; Nomi Ellenson/FilmMagic

Matthew Broderickhad just as strong of a relationship withJames Earl Jonesas the characters they voiced on screen.

Broderick, who played Simba, the son of Jones' Mufasa in the beloved 1994 animated filmThe Lion Kingand its 1998 follow-upThe Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, exclusively spoke to PEOPLE afterJones' death Monday, Sept. 9, at the age of 93.

“I’m so lucky to have had a chance to work with James Earl Jones. To have had him play my father, my king! And to get to know him a little bit,” he tells PEOPLE. “I’d cross paths with him from time to time over the years and I was always so thrilled to see him.”

Still image of Simba and Mufasa on ‘The Lion King’.Disney

Disney

The actor, 62, recalls Jones being “so open” and having a “broad grin, lots of laughter and genuine curiosity about others.”

“He was a great listener,” says Broderick. “Far different from what you might imagine from that austere, kingly, beautiful voice. His brilliant, frightening, heartbreaking performance inFencesmight be my favorite but there really are so many great performances in that long, magnificent career it’s impossible to choose a favorite.”

“One of the very best of his or any generation,” he adds. “A great American actor.”

James Earl Jones sits for a portrait at the Longacre Theatre in New York, NY on Sept. 16th, 2014.Jesse Dittmar for The Washington Post/Getty

Jesse Dittmar for The Washington Post/Getty

“His portrayal of Mufasa was absolute perfection, teaching a generation what fatherhood is all about. I’m certain his powerful voice will continue rumbling through our living rooms keeping his spirit alive for years to come,” says Minkoff in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE. “He lives in all of us.”

Still image from ‘The Lion King’.Buena Vista Pictures/ Everett

Buena Vista Pictures/ Everett

In addition to Mufasa, Jones is remembered for voicingStar Wars‘Darth Vader, which Disney CEOBob Igersaid in astatementare “some of the greatest characters in cinema history.”

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“A celebrated stage actor withnearly 200 film and television credits to his name, the stories he brought to life with a uniquely commanding presence and a true richness of spirit have left an indelible mark on generations of audiences,” his statement continued. “On behalf of all of us at Disney, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”

source: people.com