Denzel Washington has paid tribute to James Earl Jones, saying he inspired him to build his own career.

“He was who I wanted to be,” explained the American actor.

James Earl Jones, who is best known for his role as the voice of Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise, died on September 9 at the age of 93.

Denzel Washington offered his condolences in a statement published by Variety. “He’s my hero. My career in college theater began thanks to The Emperor Jones and Othello with James Earl Jones,” he emphasized.

“I wouldn’t be as great as him. I wanted to sound like him. He was everything to me when I was a budding actor. He was who I wanted to be,” he explained.

Washington has spent four decades on the big screen and his next role is in Ridley Scott’s upcoming epic Gladiator II, a sequel to the original 2000 film, which also stars Paul Mezcal and Pedro Pascal.

He did not work with Jones on the big screen, despite playing the role of Troy Maxson in the 2016 film “Fences,” which the late actor had previously played in a Broadway show in 1987.