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James Earl Jones, an actor renowned for his broad, powerful voice and acting range, was born as Todd Jones in Arkabutla, Mississippi, the son of actor Robert Earl Jones. He was raised by his grandparents, who moved to Michigan when Jones was five. Soon afterwards, Jones developed a bad stutter, and remained largely speechless for the following eight years. When he was fourteen, a high school English teacher had him read aloud a poem he had written, and Jones gradually regained the use of his voice....
