Renowned for his portrayal of William Hill on the beloved series ‘This Is Us,’ Ron Cephas Jones, a recipient of two Emmy Awards, sadly passed away at age 66.
The passing of the actor was attributed to an extended pulmonary ailment. The Gersh Agency officially confirmed his departure on Sunday, with People magazine being the first to report the news.
A statement provided to People conveyed, “Throughout his illustrious career, Ron’s compassion, charm, generosity, friendliness, and warmth deeply resonated with all those fortunate enough to cross paths with him. Beginning his journey at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, his love for the stage remained unwavering, culminating in his recent Tony-nominated and Drama Desk Award-winning performance in the Broadway production ‘Clyde’s.’ Ron’s inner beauty and spirit captivated audiences, as evidenced by his multiple Emmy-winning roles on ‘This Is Us.'”
Born on January 8, 1957, in Paterson, New Jersey, Jones pursued an acting career. In a previous interview with THR, he candidly discussed the lack of diversity on television during his youth, stating, “Representation of African American families on TV was limited during my formative years.”
In 2016, he secured his most notable role as William in ‘This Is Us,’ where he portrayed the biological father of Sterling K. Brown’s character, Randall Pearson. Alongside Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore, he became an integral part of the show’s six-season success story. This role earned him Emmy recognition in 2018 and 2020 for his exceptional guest acting in a drama series.
Brown paid tribute to his co-star on Instagram: “Today, life imitated art, and one of the world’s most extraordinary individuals has left us. @cephasjaz has departed, and the world is a little dimmer. Brother, you are cherished and will be missed. Keep bringing laughter in the next chapter, and I’ll see you there.”
Dan Fogelman, the creator of ‘This Is Us,’ also took to social media to honor Jones: “A significant loss. Ron embodied excellence – on screen, on stage, and real life. Effortlessly cool. A joy to be around and share laughs with. And his acting – simply remarkable. I can’t recall ever needing to edit one of his takes in post-production… they were all flawless.”
In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, Jones revealed his private battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, disclosing that he had undergone a double-lung transplant. He recounted spending nearly two months at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
As ‘This Is Us’ concluded the following year, Jones expressed gratitude to his co-stars and production team for their unwavering support during his health challenges. He told Entertainment Weekly, “You all stood by me through my struggles, refusing to let go. You’ve been my rock during an immensely tough period of my life. I’m a living miracle.”
Throughout his extensive career, Jones contributed to various other projects. Notably, he portrayed Leander “Shreve” Scoville in ‘Truth Be Told,’ starring alongside Octavia Spencer. The three-season drama series revolved around a true-crime podcaster’s quest to uncover a family patriarch’s mysterious death.
Spencer commemorated Jones on Instagram: “I’m devastated by losing my dear friend and colleague Ron Cephas Jones. Ron possessed incredible acting prowess and, more importantly, a heart full of kindness. Every day on set with Ron was a great day.”
Jones’ portfolio included ‘Looking for Alaska,’ ‘Lisey’s Story,’ ‘Better Things,’ ‘Luke Cage,’ ‘Mr. Robot,’ and ‘The Get Down.’ He also appeared in ‘Law & Order: Organized Crime,’ ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent,’ ‘Law & Order,’ ‘NYPD Blue,’ and ‘The Blacklist.’ On the cinematic front, he was featured in ‘Half Nelson,’ ‘The Holiday Calendar,’ ‘Dolemite Is My Name,’ and ‘Across the Universe,’ among others.
In 2004, he transitioned to the stage, marking his Broadway debut as a standby for multiple roles in ‘Gem of the Ocean.’ Over the years, he secured various positions in Broadway and off-Broadway productions. However, his portrayal of Montrellous in ‘Clyde’s’ earned him a Tony nomination in 2022. The play revolved around a truck stop diner offering redemption to its previously incarcerated kitchen staff.
Last year, it was revealed that Jones had been cast in ‘Genius: MLK/X,’ the fourth installment of the historical anthology series. This upcoming installment will focus on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, with Jones portraying Elijah Muhammad in his final credited role. An official release date is pending.
Jones is survived by his daughter, actress Jasmine Cephas Jones. Notably, she also secured an Emmy in 2020, making them the first father-daughter duo to win Emmy Awards in the same year.
