Ruth Connolly is the mother of James Earl Jones. Ruth Connolly’s son James Jones has established himself as one of the greatest American actors. He has been described as “one of America’s most distinguished and versatile” actors for his performances in film, television, and theater. He is best known for his roles in The Great White Hope, Dr. Strangelove, Malcolm X, as well as his voice-over roles as Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King.

Ruth Connolly: Bio Summary

Who is Ruth Connolly?

Ruth Connolly gained much of her popularity from being the ex-wife of Robert Erl Jones and also the mother of James Earl Jones. She was born to her parents  John Henry Connolly and Maggie Connolly in Mississippi, United States. She was not the only child of her parents- She had siblings including-  Ruby Connolly, Henry L. Connolly, Hubert Connolly, Bessie M. Connolly, and Anabel F. Connolly. Connolly was a maid and teacher.

Robert Jones and Connolly got married in 1929 in the United States of America. However, they called their marriage a quit in 1933. Robert and Connolly separated before James was born in 1931, and the couple divorced in 1933. There were married for just 4 years.

Connolly’s husband Jame Earl was an actor and also a professional boxer. He was one of the first prominent Black film stars, Ruth Connolly’s husband was a living link with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s according to reports after having worked with Langston Hughes early in his career.

Jones was best known for his leading roles in films such as Lying Lips (1939) and later in his career for supporting roles in films such as The Sting (1973), Trading Places (1983), The Cotton Club (1984), and Witness (1985). He was the father of actor James Earl Jones.

Ruth Connolly passed away on September 02, 1986, at the age of 74 in Arkabutla, Tate County, MS, United States. The cause of her death was also not recorded. Her son was 55 years old when she died. Her ex-husband Robert Jones died on September 7, 2006, in Englewood, New Jersey, from natural causes at age 96.

ALSO, READ; Matthew Earl Jones- Who is James Earl Jones’ brother?

Though she was the mother of a famous star, there isn’t much information about her in the public domain. She led a very private life and her son has also not given many details about her.

Speaking in an interview, James Jones revealed that his parents were both of mixed African-American, Irish, and Native American ancestry. He went on to say that from the age of five, Jones was raised by his maternal grandparents, John Henry and Maggie Connolly, on their farm in Jackson, Michigan; they had moved from Mississippi in the Great Migration.

Talking about his childhood, Ruth Connolly’s son Jame Jones found the transition to living with his mother’s parents in Michigan traumatic and developed a stutter so severe that he refused to speak.

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“I was a stutterer. I couldn’t talk. So my first year of school was my first mute year, and then those mute years continued until I got to high school.” 

The actor credits his English teacher, Donald Crouch, who discovered he had a gift for writing poetry, with helping him end his silence. Crouch urged him to challenge his reluctance to speak by reading poetry aloud to the class.

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