Legendary actor James Earl Jones will be honored with the Screen Actors Guild's Life Achievement Award for his career achievements and humanitarian accomplishments, the organization announced Thursday.

A veteran of stage, film and television, Jones is known to movie fans worldwide as the voice of Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" films and the voice of Mufasa in "The Lion King." His other big screen roles include "The Hunt for Red October," "Patriot Games," "Field of Dreams" and "The Great White Hope" -- which earned him an Oscar nomination.

Jones' television credits include his Emmy-winning turns in the series "Gabriel's Fire" and television movie "Heatwave." He also played author Alex Haley in the groundbreaking miniseries "Roots: The Next Generations." He has also provided his voice to the cable news slogan, "This is CNN."

"James Earl Jones' distinguished career on stage, in film, on television, in commercials and as a vocal presence without peer commands our admiration and respect," SAG President Alan Rosenberg said in a statement. "His long and quiet devotion to advancing literacy, the arts and humanities on a national and local scale deserves our appreciation. It is our honor to bestow the Guild’s highest tribute on this extraordinary actor."

Jones' previous honors also include a National Medal of Arts in 1992, and a Kennedy Center honor in 2002. SAG previously honored Jones in 1995 with an Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of South African priest Stephen Kumalo in the film "Cry, the Beloved Country."

In Thursday's announcement, SAG noted Jones' advocacy for literacy. SAG said Jones has long been a spokesman for Verizon and an integral part of the Verizon Foundation’s Literacy Initiative, which gave him the opportunity to travel the country reading to children while talking to them about the importance of reading in their lives.

"In my family, we say the love of reading and book learning is in our bone memory," Jones said in a SAG statement, referring to the significance reading has had in his life. "We would never think of not learning to read and getting an education. My great-great grandparents secretly learned to read when they were slaves and indentured servants. They passed on their love of reading to my great-grandfather who, as a free man, amassed a modest library and encouraged his family to read his books and revere them."

Jones, 77, will receive his SAG honor at the organization's 15th annual ceremony on Jan. 25 in Los Angeles.