On His 80th Birthday, Daisy Star James Earl Jones Celebrates the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Let’s sing a belated chorus of “Happy Birthday” to James Earl Jones, the towering star of Driving Miss Daisy! Appropriately enough, the great actor’s 80th birthday fell on January 17, when America was celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jones began his special day at an event held at Dr. King’s eponymous high school on the Upper West Side, where he shared the stage with big-shot New York politicos including Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. But it wasn’t a day off for the Broadway star: Jones spent the evening onstage at the Golden Theatre playing chauffeur Hoke Coleburn. After the performance, multiple cakes were wheeled onstage. (Hey, 80 candles is too many for just one!) Click on to see Jones enjoying all the festivities.