James Earl Jones' 2 Marriages: A Look at His Past Relationships, Including His 34-Year Romance with Wife Cecilia Hart
After a short-lived first marriage, James Earl Jones wed wife Cecilia Hart in 1982 and they remained married until her death in 2016
James Earl Jones was married twice throughout his decorated career in Hollywood.
The acclaimed actor, who died on Sept. 9 at age 93, met his first wife, Julienne Marie Hendricks, in 1964 when they were costars in a stage production of Othello. The two married in 1968 and divorced four years later.
The Field of Dreams star was later introduced to his second wife, Cecilia Hart, on the set of the short-lived TV series Paris in 1979, in which they both starred. Jones and Hart wed in 1982, welcomed their son Flynn Earl Jones the same year and remained married until Hart's death from ovarian cancer in October 2016.
"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)
Jones met Hendricks, an actress, in 1964 when they both starred in a stage production of Othello. The two married in 1968 but split in 1972.
Prior to her relationship with Jones, Hendricks was married to writer Gerard Kean in the early '60s. While Hendricks has largely kept out of the spotlight, she later wed John Scanlon and continued to perform on stage and on TV, including roles in Ryan's Hope and Our Private World.
Cecilia Hart (1982-2016)
Jones met his second wife, actress Hart, on the set of the 1979 series Paris. 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 in Othello in 1982.
Hart was a performer in her own right, having acted in several roles throughout her career. Productions included Emergency!, The Runaways, Three's Company, Quincy M.E., Mr. Sunshine, MacGyver, Gabriel's Fire, Charles in Charge and Law & 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.
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