Tommy Lee Jones

Tommy Lee Jones, born on September 15, 1946, is an American actor acclaimed for his gruff and authoritative film roles. Although he didn't achieve widespread fame in the 1970s and 1980s, Jones emerged as a leading man in the 1990s. He garnered critical acclaim and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard in the thriller film "The Fugitive" (1993).


Jones received multiple Oscar nominations for his compelling performances in various films, including his role as businessman Clay Shaw in "JFK" (1991), Hank Deerfield in "In the Valley of Elah" (2007), and Congressman Thaddeus Stevens in "Lincoln" (2012). He is also known for his iconic portrayal of Agent K in the "Men in Black" franchise.
Throughout his career, Jones has delivered notable performances in a wide range of films, including "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980), "Natural Born Killers" (1994), "The Client" (1994), "Batman Forever" (1995), "Double Jeopardy" (1999), "No Country for Old Men" (2007), "The Company Men" (2010), "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011), "Jason Bourne" (2016), and "Ad Astra" (2019).


In addition to his achievements in film, Jones has also made significant contributions to television. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his portrayal of executed murderer Gary Gilmore in "The Executioner's Song" (1982). He was also nominated for his role as Texas Ranger Woodrow F. Call in the television miniseries "Lonesome Dove" (1989).
Furthermore, Jones has showcased his talent behind the camera as well. He directed and starred in the western TNT movie "The Good Old Boys" (1995) and directed, starred in, and executive produced the HBO film "The Sunset Limited" (2011). Throughout his illustrious career, Tommy Lee Jones has solidified his reputation as one of Hollywood's most versatile and respected actors.


Tommy Lee Jones was born on September 15, 1946, in San Saba, Texas. His mother, Lucille Marie Jones (née Scott; 1928–2013), was a multi-faceted individual who worked as a police officer, school teacher, and beauty shop owner. His father, Clyde C. Jones (1926–1986), was of Welsh descent and worked as a cowboy and oil field worker. Despite their tumultuous relationship, Jones has acknowledged his Cherokee heritage, claiming to be of part Cherokee descent.
Growing up, Jones spent his formative years in Midland, Texas, where he attended Robert E. Lee High School (now Legacy High School). He later moved to Dallas and graduated from the prestigious St. Mark's School of Texas in 1965, having earned a scholarship to attend.

Tommy Lee Jones's journey at Harvard College began in 1965, supported by need-based aid. During his upperclassman years, he resided in Dunster House and shared accommodations with future U.S. Vice President Al Gore and Bob Somerby, who later became the editor of The Daily Howler, a media criticism site. Jones pursued a major in English literature under the guidance of dramatist Robert Chapman. In 1969, he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Notably, his senior thesis explored "the mechanics of Catholicism" as depicted in the works of Flannery O'Connor.


After graduating from Harvard in 1969, Tommy Lee Jones embarked on a career in acting, starting with his Broadway debut in 1969's "A Patriot for Me," where he took on various supporting roles. In 1970, he made his film debut in "Love Story," coincidentally portraying a Harvard student. This role was significant, as the author Erich Segal based aspects of the lead character Oliver on Jones and his Harvard roommate, Al Gore.
Returning to Broadway in early 1971, Jones appeared in Abe Burrows' "Four on a Garden" alongside Carol Channing and Sid Caesar. From 1971 to 1975, he portrayed Dr. Mark Toland on the ABC soap opera "One Life to Live." Jones also returned to the stage briefly in 1974 for a production of "Ulysses in Nighttown," based on James Joyce's novel "Ulysses," where he played Stephen Dedalus.


In the realm of films, Jones took on a variety of roles, including a hunted escaped convict in "Jackson County Jail" (1976), a Vietnam veteran in "Rolling Thunder" (1977), and an automobile mogul in "The Betsy" (1978), where he starred alongside Laurence Olivier. He also appeared as a police detective in the thriller "Eyes of Laura Mars" (1978).
Jones received critical acclaim and his first Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Doolittle "Mooney" Lynn, husband to country singer Loretta Lynn, in "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980). In 1981, he starred opposite Sally Field in the comedy "Back Roads," and in 1982, he co-starred with Tuesday Weld in the HBO adaptation of "The Rainmaker," directed by John Frankenheimer.


In 1983, Tommy Lee Jones received an Emmy for Best Actor for his portrayal of murderer Gary Gilmore in a TV adaptation of Norman Mailer's "The Executioner's Song." That same year, he starred in the pirate adventure film "Nate and Hayes," portraying pirate captain Bully Hayes.
In 1988, Jones appeared in the made-for-TV film "April Morning," co-starring with Chad Lowe and Robert Urich, which depicted the battle of Lexington in the American Revolutionary War. The following year, he earned another Emmy nomination for his role as Texas Ranger Woodrow F. Call in the acclaimed television mini-series "Lonesome Dove," based on the best-selling novel by Larry McMurtry.


Throughout the 1990s, Jones was featured in several blockbuster films, including "JFK" co-starring Kevin Costner (earning him an Oscar nomination), "The Fugitive" co-starring Harrison Ford, "Batman Forever" co-starring Val Kilmer, "Volcano" co-starring Anne Heche, and "Men in Black" with Will Smith. His performance as Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard in "The Fugitive" received widespread acclaim, earning him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, along with a sequel. During his Oscar acceptance speech, Jones humorously addressed his bald head, which was shaved for his role in the film "Cobb."


Among his other notable performances in the 1990s were as a terrorist hijacking a U.S. Navy battleship in "Under Siege," the role of "Reverend" Roy Foltrigg in "The Client," a maximum-security prison warden in "Natural Born Killers," a reprisal of his Samuel Gerard character in "U.S. Marshals," and a parole officer in "Double Jeopardy."
In 2000, Jones co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson as a Marine colonel serving as Jackson's defense attorney in "Rules of Engagement." He also co-starred with director Clint Eastwood as retired pilots and friends/rivals leading a space rescue mission in "Space Cowboys." In 2002, he reunited with Will Smith for the sequel "Men in Black II."

References

1.  "Jones Wins Supporting Oscar for 'Fugitive' Role". Los Angeles Times. March 22, 1994. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
2. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (August 1, 1993). "FILM; Tommy Lee Jones Snarls His Way to the Pinnacle". The New York Times. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
3. ^ "Tommy Lee Jones". IMDb. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
4. ^ "Ancestry site set to trigger visitor boom". WalesOnline. March 31, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
5. ^ "Tommy Lee Jones". Biography. April 27, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
6. ^ Blue Clark, Indian Tribes of Oklahoma: A Guide, University of Oklahoma Press (2012), p. 75
7. ^ "Tommy Lee Jones Resides In Texas". Waycross Journal-Herald. November 6, 1982. p. 4 – via Google News.