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Ron Cephas Jones
Ron Cephas Jones 3.jpg
Jones in 2017
Born (1957-01-08)January 8, 1957
Died August 19, 2023(2023-08-19) (aged 66)
Other names Ron C. Jones
Occupation Actor
Years active 1980s–2023
Children Jasmine Cephas Jones

Ron Cephas Jones (born January 8, 1957 – died August 19, 2023) was an American actor. He was most famous for playing William Hill in the TV show This Is Us from 2016 to 2022. For this role, he won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series, in 2018 and 2020.

Ron Cephas Jones also appeared in other popular TV shows like Mr. Robot, The Get Down, and Luke Cage. He acted in many movies too, including Half Nelson, Across the Universe, and Dolemite Is My Name.

Early life and education

Ron Cephas Jones was born on January 8, 1957, in Paterson, New Jersey. He went to John F. Kennedy High School. Later, he studied at Ramapo College.

At Ramapo College, Ron first planned to study jazz music. But during his second year, he got the main role in a play called Cinderella Ever After. This made him change his mind, and he decided to study theater instead. He finished college in 1978.

After college, Ron moved to Los Angeles, California. For four years, he worked as a bus driver. He then lived in different places like San Francisco, Arizona, and New Orleans. In 1985, he moved back to New York City.

Acting career highlights

When Ron returned to New York in 1985, he started spending time at the Nuyorican Poets Café. This is a famous place for artists and writers. He performed in a play there that was based on the song "Don't Explain" by Billie Holiday.

A casting director noticed his performance. This led to Ron getting a main role in the play Holiday Heart in 1994. He also performed in plays with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. He even played the main character in Shakespeare's play Richard III in New York City. In 2022, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in the play Clyde's.

On television, Ron played Reverend Lowdown in Low Winter Sun. He was also Romero in the TV series Mr. Robot. He appeared as Frazier in Banshee. In Marvel's Luke Cage, he played Bobby Fish, a chess master.

His most famous role was William Hill in the NBC show This Is Us. He played the biological father of Randall Pearson, a character played by Sterling K. Brown. Ron received a lot of praise for his acting in This Is Us. He won two Emmy Awards for this role in 2018 and 2020.

Ron also appeared in the Hulu series Looking for Alaska. He was also in the Apple TV+ show Truth Be Told, acting alongside Octavia Spencer.

Family and personal life

Ron Cephas Jones had a daughter named Jasmine Cephas Jones. She is also a successful actress on stage and screen. Her mother is British-born jazz singer Kim Lesley.

Death

Ron Cephas Jones passed away in August 2023. He was 66 years old. He died because of a "long-standing pulmonary issue," which means he had a breathing problem for a long time.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1994 Murder Magic Buddy Dixon
1998 He Got Game Prison Guard Bowell
1999 A Day in Black and White Mustafa
Sweet and Lowdown Alvin
2001 Little Senegal Westley
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 Lloyd 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 NYPD Blue Jess Episode: "All‘s Well That Ends Well"
1997 Law & Order Roland Books Episode: "Entrapment"
1999 Double Platinum Jean Claude Television film
2003 Word of Honor Ramon Detonq Television film
2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Reggie Banks Episode: "Dramma Giocoso"
2008 A Raisin in the Sun Willy Harris Television film
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
2015–2016 Mr. Robot Romero 8 episodes
2016–2017 The Get Down Winston Kipling 5 episodes
2016–2018 Luke Cage Bobby Fish 13 episodes
2016–2022 This Is Us William "Shakespeare" Hill Main (season 1), recurring (season 2–6); 31 episodes
2019 Looking for Alaska Dr. Hyde 8 episodes
2019–2023 Truth Be Told Leander "Shreve" Scoville 28 episodes
2021 Amphibia Captain Aldo (voice) Episode: "Barrel's Warhammer"
2021 Lisey's Story Professor Dashmiel Miniseries
2021–2022 Law & Order: Organized Crime Congressman Leon Kilbride Recurring (season 2); 8 episodes
2022 Better Things Ron Recurring (season 5); 3 episodes
TBA Genius: MLK/X Elijah Muhammad Upcoming series; posthumous release

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Madden NFL 19 Earl Coates Story mode, "Longshot Homecoming"

Awards and nominations

Ron Cephas Jones won several awards for his acting. Here are some of his notable awards and nominations:

Year Award Category 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 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
2020 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards Won
2022 75th Tony Awards Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play Clyde's Nominated
66th Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ron Cephas Jones para niños

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