Ron Cephas Jones
Ron Cephas Jones | |
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![]() Jones in 2017 | |
Born | |
Other names | Ron C. Jones |
Occupation | Actor |
Children | Jasmine Cephas Jones |
Ron Cephas Jones (born January 8, 1957) is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the drama series This Is Us (2016–present), which earned him three consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning one for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2018. Jones has also appeared in a number of films and television series including Half Nelson (2006), Glass Chin (2014), seasons 1–2 of Mr. Robot (2015–2016), and Luke Cage (2016–2018).
Early life
Jones was born on January 8, 1957, in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended John F. Kennedy High School and graduated from Ramapo College.[1] While at Ramapo, Jones had originally intended to study jazz under director Arnold Jones (no relation), but changed majors to theater after getting the lead in a production of Cinderella Ever After his sophomore year. [2][3] Jones graduated from Ramapo in 1978, after which he moved to Los Angeles, California and drove a bus in the Rapid Transit District for the next four years. [2] During that time, Jones stated he "fell in love, had a child, got separated". [3] He then ""traveled around", living in San Francisco, Arizona, and New Orleans before returning to New York City in 1985. [2]
Career
After returning to New York in 1985, Jones began spending time at the Nuyorican Poets Café in Manhattan's East Village. [3] During that time, he performed in a play based on the Billie Holiday song Don't Explain. [2] His performance caught the attention of a casting director, which led to Jones being offered the lead role in the Tazewell Thompson production of the Cheryl West play Holiday Heart in 1994. [2] Jones has performed in several theatrical productions with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois; appeared as the title character of Shakespeare's Richard III with The Public Theater in New York City, New York, as well as other Off Broadway productions. Jones has served as an understudy or standby in several Broadway theatre productions.
His film credits include He Got Game (1998), Sweet and Lowdown (1999), Half Nelson (2006), and Across The Universe (2007). In television, he appeared as Reverend Lowdown in the episode "The Goat Rodeo" of the 2013 television series Low Winter Sun and he played Romero, a member of "fsociety" in the 2015 television series Mr. Robot.[4] He also appeared on season 3 of the show Banshee as Philadelphia kingpin, Mr. Frasier. He played Harlem chess master Bobby Fish in season 1 of Marvel's Luke Cage. Since 2016, Jones stars on the NBC drama series This Is Us as William Hill, the biological father of Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown). Jones received critical acclaim for his performance on This Is Us and received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2017 for his performance.
Currently, Jones appears in the Hulu teen drama series Looking for Alaska, as well as the Apple TV+ crime drama series Truth Be Told, opposite Octavia Spencer, Lizzy Caplan and Aaron Paul.
Personal life
Jones and British-born jazz singer Kim Lesley have a daughter, American stage and screen actress Jasmine Cephas Jones.[5]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Murder Magic | Buddy Dixon | |
1996 | Naked Acts | Joel | |
1998 | He Got Game | Prison Guard Bowell | |
1999 | Sweet and Lowdown | Alvin | |
2001 | Little Senegal | Westley | |
A Day in Black and White | — | ||
2002 | Paid in Full | Ice | |
2004 | Anonymous | Frank | Short film |
The Ballad of Pinto Red | Earl House | ||
2005 | Preaching to the Choir | Pug | |
2006 | Half Nelson | Mr. Dickson | |
2007 | Across the Universe | Black Panther | |
2010 | Ashes | Floyd | |
2012 | Watching TV with the Red Chinese | Little | |
2013 | Titus | Titus | |
2014 | Glass Chin | Ray Ellington | |
National Theatre Live: Of Mice and Men | Crooks | ||
2018 | Dog Days | Walter | |
Venom | Jack | Uncredited | |
The Holiday Calendar | Gramps | ||
2019 | Dolemite Is My Name | Ricco |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Law & Order | Frank Doyle | Episode: "Slave" |
1996 | New York Undercover | James Farris | Episode: "Blue Boy" |
1997 | Law & Order | Roland Books | Episode: "Entrapment" |
1999 | Double Platinum | Jean Claude | Television movie |
2003 | Word of Honor | Ramon Detonq | Television movie |
2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Reggie Banks | Episode: "Dramma Giocoso" |
2008 | A Raisin in the Sun | Willy Harris | Television movie |
2012 | NYC 22 | Arthur Anson | Episode: "Schooled" |
2013 | Low Winter Sun | Reverend Lowdown | 3 episodes |
2014 | The Blacklist | Dr. James Covington | Episode: "Dr. James Covington (No. 89)" |
2015 | Banshee | Frazier | 2 episodes |
2015–16 | Mr. Robot | Romero | 8 episodes |
2016–17 | The Get Down | Winston Kipling | 5 episodes |
2016–18 | Luke Cage | Bobby Fish | 13 episodes |
2016–present | This Is Us | William "Shakespeare" Hill | 24 episodes |
2019 | Looking for Alaska | Dr. Hyde | Main role |
2019 | Truth Be Told | Leander "Shreve" Scoville | Main role |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | 14th Gold Derby Awards | Best Drama Supporting Actor | This Is Us | Nominated |
1st Black Reel Awards for Television | Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series | Won | ||
69th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
21st OFTA Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
2018 | 24th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (shared with the ensemble) | Won | |
15th Gold Derby Awards | Best Drama Guest Actor | Nominated | ||
2nd Black Reel Awards for Television | Outstanding Guest Actor, Drama Series | Won | ||
70th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Won | ||
2019 | 71st Primetime Emmy Awards | Nominated |
See also
References
- ^ "How hit show This Is Us is connected to NJ — NO spoilers, scout’s honor!", WKXW, February 23, 2017. Accessed February 17, 2018. "First, the cast includes New Jersey native, Ron Cephas Jones. The Paterson native who played William (Randall's biological dad) graduated John F. Kennedy High School and then attended Ramapo College in Mahwah. Jones also has had recent roles in Mr. Robot & Luke Cage."
- ^ a b c d e "LAByrinth Theater Company - Company Members". Retrieved 2013-09-19.
- ^ a b c "Ron Cephas Jones on the Bridge Project". Retrieved 2013-09-19.
- ^ Stanhope, Kate (April 16, 2015). "USA's 'Mr. Robot' Nabs 'Gotham,' 'Sopranos' Actors for Recurring Roles (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ^ "'This Is Us' Star Ron Cephas Jones Spills On His Stellar TV Performance And Working With His Daughter In 'Dog Days'". 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
External links
- 20th-century births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American male Shakespearean actors
- Broadway actors
- Living people
- Male actors from Chicago
- Male actors from New York City
- Theatre in Chicago
- 1957 births
- People from Paterson, New Jersey
- Ramapo College alumni