George Clooney recently shared a memorable and humorous moment involving the late theater legend James Earl Jones, recalling the time Jones paused a Broadway performance of Fences due to excessive audience chatter. The story surfaced during Variety’s inaugural Broadway edition of “Actors on Actors,” where Clooney spoke with Patti LuPone.
The incident took place during a performance of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fences, where James Earl Jones originated the role of Troy Maxson. Clooney explained he was seated next to two older audience members who were chatting throughout the show. During one of Jones’ powerful soliloquies, the talking continued, prompting the veteran actor to break character and address the disruption directly.
“James is just staring into the crowd, and I can tell he’s looking right at me — though he couldn’t quite see who was talking,” Clooney recounted. “And then he goes, ‘I don’t appreciate that shit.’ I was literally pointing at this old lady, like, ‘It’s not me, it’s her!’”
Jones’ portrayal of Troy Maxson in the 1987 Broadway run earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor. The production went on to win multiple accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The role remains one of his most iconic stage performances.
James Earl Jones passed away in September 2024 at the age of 93. A memorial held at the James Earl Jones Theatre in Manhattan earlier this month celebrated his life and career, with attendees including Denzel Washington, Phylicia Rashad, and Courtney B. Vance.
Clooney’s anecdote adds to the growing list of memorable celebrity encounters with live theater etiquette, echoing similar stories like LuPone’s confrontation with a texting audience member during Shows for Days.
