He put a lot of effort into recovering from the illness, and one of his professors suggested that he read poems aloud to himself to become better at speaking.
His rich, rich voice eventually became his trademark and helped him get some of the most memorable and recognizable parts in movies. The decades-long acting career of Jones began with his Broadway debut in 1957.
He gained notoriety and rapidly became a theater sensation, which helped him win a Tony Award in 1969 for his performance in The Great White Hope.
He was nominated for his first Academy Award and won a Golden Globe for playing the same part in the 1970 film adaption.
Jones went on to win a Special Tony Award for lifetime achievement and a second Tony Award for Fences.
