AceShowbiz - Empire State Building is paying tribute to James Earl Jones. The Art Deco skyscraper in Manhattan has lit up in the colors of Darth Vader in honor of the late actor, who famously voiced the character in the "Star Wars" franchise.

On Monday, September 9, the official Instagram page of the Empire State Building shared a video of the building glowing in black and red to project the image of Darth Vader. "Rest in Peace Lord Vader," read the caption of the post.

Another video shared by the account showed another variation of the tribute to Jones. In this version, the building lit up in yellow and red while projecting the image of Darth Vader walking and holding his lightsaber. The footage was captioned with, "May the Force be with you James Earl Jones," a reference to a famous quote from the movies.

Jones passed away on Monday, September 9 at his home in New York at the age of 93. The cause of death was not immediately given, but he had been struggling with type 2 diabetes.

In April 2016, Jones spoke publicly for the first time in nearly 20 years about his long-term health challenge with type 2 diabetes. He was diagnosed in the mid-1990s after his doctor noticed he had fallen asleep while exercising at a gym.

Over his illustrious career that spanned more than five decades, Jones became a household name through his roles in landmark films such as "Star Wars" and "The Lion King", where his voice gave life to Darth Vader and Mufasa, respectively. Apart from his film work, Jones was recognized with an EGOT honor, including an honorary Oscar in 2011, two Tony Awards, two Emmys and a Grammy.

Mark Hamill, who portrayed Luke Skywalker in the "Star Wars" film series, was among the first to express his sorrow. Posting on social media, Hamill poignantly wrote, "#RIP dad." Actress Octavia Spencer also paid tribute on Instagram, stating Jones' "voice and talent will be remembered always" and emphasized his legendary impact on cinema.

Disney's Bob Iger honored Jones by acknowledging his role in bringing characters like Mufasa and Darth Vader to life, citing the "gentle wisdom of Mufasa" and "the menacing threat of Darth Vader." Iger added, "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."

Jones was first married to actress-singer Julienne Marie. His second wife of 34 years, actress Cecilia Hart, died from ovarian cancer on October 16, 2016. He is survived his son, Flynn Earl Jones.