Kevin Costner honors late Field of Dreams costar James Earl Jones: ‘Only he could bring that kind of magic’

Kevin Costner is paying homage to the “magic” of his late Field of Dreams costar James Earl Jones after his death at 93.

“Just hearing the news of James Earl Jones’s passing,” Costner wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post Monday. “That booming voice. That quiet strength. The kindness that he radiated. So much can be said about his legacy, so I’ll just say how thankful I am that part of it includes Field of Dreams.”

In the beloved 1989 sports film, Jones played Terence Mann, a reclusive cult novelist and Red Sox fanatic whom Costner’s Ray Kinsella brings along for the journey as he seeks to build a baseball field that attracts the ghosts of legendary players.

“If you’ve seen it, you know that this movie wouldn’t be the same with anyone else in his role,” Costner continued in his post. “Only he could bring that kind of magic to a movie about baseball and a corn field in Iowa. I’m grateful to have been a witness to him making that magic happen.”

Costner concluded his tribute, which featured several photos of the two working together on the film, by saying, “Rest in peace, friend.”

Jones’ character famously gives a speech to Costner’s character in the film in which he promises “people will come” to the baseball diamond if he builds it. Field of Dreams became a box office success after only initially opening in a small number of theaters. It went on to be nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Original Score, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Jones, whose other memorable credits included Star Wars, The Great White Hope, The Lion King, and Coming to America, died Monday morning at his home in Dutchess County, N.Y. A cause of death was not provided, but a representative for the actor told Entertainment Weekly that Jones was surrounded by his loved ones in his final moments, and remembered him as “a great man and actor.”

Throughout his acclaimed career, Jones received many honors, including an honorary Academy Award in 2012, an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for The Great White Hope, two Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, a Grammy, and countless others. He also received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2009.

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