Patrick Renna's James Earl Jones Story

Patrick Renna tells the story every Sandlot kid wants to hear: what James Earl Jones was actually like on set.

The entire young cast knew exactly who he was. Darth Vader. The voice. Field of Dreams was already out. They were 11, 12, and 13 years old on set and they were speechless when he showed up. He had a massive trailer. He was larger than life.

The kids were supposed to have a group scene with him. The director changed it so only Scotty Smalls and Benny were in the scene. The rest of them did not get to act opposite him. They just watched him look at them and laugh in one shot. Nobody had the courage to approach him. Nobody except Marty York.

Marty walks up, fumbles for words, and says something like, sir, I hear you're James Earl Jones. You were Darth Vader in Star Wars.

James Earl Jones looks at him, pauses, and says, no, I am your father.

That was it. That was the only exchange any of them had with him all day. And it was, Renna notes, exactly what an 11-year-old Star Wars fan could have possibly hoped for. A hanging curve. He knew the assignment.

Renna says he did not need to meet him after that. He got what he wanted. He remembers just seeing James Earl Jones from across the set and thinking, that's James Earl Jones. Perfect age for it too. Right on the edge of being a teenager, deep into Star Wars, watching the actual voice of Darth Vader stand fifty feet away.

Some stories don't need a longer version. This one is complete.