Tommy Lee Jones: biography of a star
It’s interesting that the actor hates remembering his childhood and is reluctant to share stories about it with journalists. Tommy Lee Jones was born in 1946 in a small town located in western Texas. The mother of the future star constantly changed jobs, trying herself in a variety of fields, from teaching to law enforcement. My father worked in oil production. At a young age, Tommy faced such drama as his parents' separation.
Of course, the childhood of the future celebrity consisted of more than just unpleasant moments. Tommy Lee Jones has achieved great success in football, which many Texans enjoy. His sporting achievements allowed him to easily be among the students at the prestigious Harvard. It was at the university that the actor discovered his acting skills. Student theatrical performances with his participation invariably evoked applause from the public.
Tommy Lee Jones now
Tommy Lee does not give up his position and continues to act in Hollywood projects as a first-class star. In 2021, together with Morgan Freeman, the artist appeared in Ron Shelton's action comedy film It's Just Beginning. Jones played Leo, a retired FBI agent, and Freeman played former lawyer Duke, who is hiding from the mafia in the witness protection program. Fate brings the two heroes together at a party, during which a big commotion breaks out.
Another new project of the year was the military thriller “Shock and Awe” about the unofficial operation of the American army in Iraq. In addition to Tommy Lee, the film stars Jessica Biel, Woody Harrelson, and Milla Jovovich.
In 2021, Tommy Lee Jones did not please fans with premieres, but the actor began working on a role in the science-fiction thriller “Ad Astra” by James Gray. The hero Tommy Lee disappears in the vastness of the galaxy, where he went to look for traces of extraterrestrial civilization. His son, an autistic engineer played by Brad Pitt, goes in search of his father. The film is currently in post-production.
Work in the theater
After receiving his diploma, Tommy Lee Jones moved to New York, intending to become a star on the theater stage. He gets his first bright role quickly, given that no one has ever heard of the aspiring actor before. It was the production of “One Life to Live”, which attracted the attention of fashionable theatrical agents to the young man. In this performance, Tommy played together with Maximilian Schell. From that moment on, he got roles one after another, but the young man decided to try his hand at big cinema.
Success in the theatrical field was greatly facilitated by the bright, unusual appearance that Tommy Lee Jones had in his youth. He also often received offers to try himself as a TV presenter.
Tommy Lee Jones in movies
Very soon, the first line appeared in the filmography of Tommy Lee Jones - the romantic film “Love Story”, in which Tommy played one of the supporting roles. The melodramatic film won the love of the audience, but at some point the actor decided to pay more attention to his theatrical career and subsequently did not appear on screens for five years. The only exceptions were two episodes of the series One Life to Live, where the actor played the capricious doctor Mark Toland.
"Love Story" - Tommy Lee Jones's first film role
In 1975, the actor returned to the world of cinema with a role in the film “Eliza's Horoscope.” Subsequently, he organically alternated theatrical roles with work in “soap” television series, in which he usually appeared only briefly: “Barnaby Jones”, “Baretta”, “Family”, “Charlie’s Angels”. He also appeared in a couple of feature films that went almost unnoticed: the action film Jackson County Jail and the biographical film The Amazing Howard Hughes.
The turning point in the career of Tommy Lee Jones was 1977, the year the thriller Rolling Thunder was released on the big screen. He got the role of a Vietnam veteran captured by the enemy. After 8 long years of imprisonment, he and his friend Charlie returned to their homeland, but there was not a warm welcome waiting for them.
Still from the film “Roll of Thunder”
The eighties flew by, expanding Tommy Lee Jones' portfolio with two dozen new roles and a number of prestigious awards. The biographical film “Coal Miner's Daughter” brought him his first Golden Globe nomination. After playing the cold-blooded killer Gary Gilmore in the drama “The Executioner's Song,” his collection was enriched with an Emmy. The actor’s type has also developed – an unshakable, self-confident “brutal macho”.
Tommy Lee Jones on the set of Coal Miner's Daughter
Opinions about Tommy Lee Jones among fellow actors varied: some, like Jim Carrey and Harrison Ford, recalled the experience of filming together with horror, but venerable directors like Oliver Stone and Andrew Davis vying with each other to assure that Jones is a real genius. But there were still no films that would have made him a world-famous celebrity.
But in 1992, the name of Tommy Lee Jones finally appeared among the Oscar candidates. The actor received this nomination (as well as a BAFTA nomination) for his role as banker Clay Shaw from the film John F. Kennedy. Shots fired in Dallas." His character was accused of murdering the US President, as was his partner on the set, Gary Oldman. Subsequently, the actors repeatedly took part in common projects.
"Batman Forever": Tommy Lee Jones as the villain Two-Face
But the truly breakthrough role of Tommy Lee Jones was the bailiff Samuel Gerard from the action-packed film The Fugitive. His character stood out for his sincere love for his work, as well as his willingness to do anything for a victorious end. In one scene, he even walked around in a life-size chicken puppet. This time, the Oscar nomination was transformed into a statuette, although the competitors were strong: John Malkovich, Ralph Fiennes and the very young Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in the drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
In The Fugitive, Tommy Lee Jones had to walk around in a chicken suit
Looking ahead, the actor’s name was mentioned twice more among the candidates for the main American Film Academy Award. In 2008, Tommy Lee Jones was nominated for an Oscar for the film In the Valley of Elah. Five years later, similar success was repeated with Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. The last of these films, although it did not bring the actor an Oscar, provided him with another prestigious award - the Screen Actors Guild Prize.
And three years later, the actor had the opportunity to successfully try himself in a comedy role, however, maintaining his inherent composure and masculinity. We are talking about participation in Barry Sonnerfeld's film "Men in Black", where Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, a young but long-established actor, appeared as agents of a top-secret service responsible for tracking aliens migrating to earth. The adventures of agents K and J, who were engaged in catching a deadly space cockroach, gained wild success and received two sequels: in 2002 and 2012.
Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith: the legendary duet from “Men in Black”
In 2007, Tommy Lee Jones, along with Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem, appeared in the title role in the Coen brothers' crime drama No Country for Old Men. He again played the sheriff, observing a chain of events full of blood and violence that occurred after a simple welder found a truck with drugs and an impressive amount of money in the desert. Subsequently, this film took fifth place in the ranking of the best films of the 21st century, sharing it with David Fincher’s Zodiac.
"No Country for Old Men": Tommy Lee Jones as Sheriff Ed Bell
However, sometimes Tommy Lee Jones allowed himself to deviate from his usual image. So, in 2010, the premiere of his and Samuel L. Jackson’s benefit performance took place - the drama “Evening Express Sunset Limited”. And two years later, the romantic comedy “Spring Hopes” was released, where the beautiful Meryl Streep became Tommy Lee Jones’s partner. They reincarnated as elderly spouses undergoing a relationship crisis.
The black comedy “Malavita” turned out to be interesting. Tommy Lee Jones plays FBI agent Robert Stansfield, pursuing the mafia family led by Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer.
First film roles
Of course, the film world could not help but accept such a talented young man as Tommy Lee Jones into its ranks. The actor first appeared on the big screen in 1970 in the film “Love Story,” directed by Arthur Hiller. But becoming a movie star turned out to be more difficult than making a name for yourself by playing in the theater. The young man had a specific appearance, which forced directors to offer him mostly character roles. They saw Lee Jones in the form of criminals, intelligence officers and even maniacs.
To change the current situation, the actor decides to move to Los Angeles and looks for work in Hollywood. At first, he was trusted with only passing roles and was invited mainly to television series. The main role that Tommy gets in the film “Jackson County Prison,” released in 1976, does not change matters.
Personal life of Tommy Lee Jones
Two failed marriages
The artist's first wife, Kate Lardner, was a divorced mother of two children. She inspired her husband to move to Los Angeles. However, this marriage did not last long - until 1978.
Less than three years passed, and Tommy Lee Jones's personal life changed again - Kimberly Cloughley became his wife, who soon gave birth to their first child, Austin Leonard. Nine years later, Tommy and Kim had a daughter, Victoria.
But this union also ended in divorce in 1996.
The road to success
Despite the fact that the public has not wanted to remember the novice actor for several years, the stubborn man does not give up. The film "The Executioner's Song" is the first notable work for which Tommy Lee Jones received an Emmy Award. The actor plays the role of a ruthless killer in this film. Journalists are starting to take an interest in him.
Success was consolidated thanks to the drama “J. F.K.”, where the star creates an interesting image of the homosexual Clay. The film is dedicated to the story of the death of President Kennedy, the truth about whose assassination is still shrouded in mystery. The film is directed by Oliver Stone, with whom Jones forms a fruitful tandem. The film also gives the actor his first Oscar nomination.
Movies
Doug's film debut was a supporting role in the film Freshly Dead. After this, there was not a single year when a talented actor was left without roles. Doug was involved in several projects simultaneously. Despite the fact that he was always in secondary roles, his images remained in the viewer’s memory for a long time.
Doug Jones in the series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Doug Jones played in the popular teen series Buffy
- Vampire Slayer. The actor appeared in the role of the Gentleman, a mysterious monster who stole the voices of the city's residents. The episode with his participation received two Emmy awards.
In 2002, Doug starred in the film Men in Black 2, where he played the alien Joey. In the same year, he played the role of a human after several million years of evolution in the film “The Time Machine”; of course, this creature bore little resemblance to a real person. Therefore, Doug Jones soon gained the status of “the man in the mask.”
Doug Jones in the movie Men in Black 2
Soon popular musicians began to invite the actor to their videos. He worked with Madonna, Marilyn Manson, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The actor's main popularity came from his work with director Guillermo del Toro. In 2004, he received a role in the film Hellboy: Hero from Hell. In the film, Doug played Abe Sapien, a supernatural creature with superhuman powers. The movie was a great success with the public.
Doug Jones in the movie "Hellboy: Hero From Hell"
The actor appeared in all subsequent parts of Hellboy. In 2009, he was recognized as Best Supporting Actor and received a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for his role as Abe Sapien. In the same year, the actor was included in the Fangoria Horror Hall of Fame. He later voiced his character in the cartoon and game.
In 2005, he again began collaborating with Guillermo del Toro. The actor appeared as a Faun in the horror film Pan's Labyrinth. And this picture brought a new wave of popularity to Doug Jones. “Pan’s Labyrinth” received three Oscars: for best cinematography, best scenery and best makeup.
Doug Jones in the movie Pan's Labyrinth
By the way, in the same film Doug also appeared in another role - the Pale Man - a creepy creature with eyes on the palms of his hands who eats children. As before, Doug had to wear a heavy suit, prosthetics and kilograms of makeup on the set. On top of that, the actor had to learn long dialogues in Spanish.
This was not his last work with Guillermo del Toro; the director was delighted with Doug’s acting talent. Therefore, when Guillermo began filming the series “The Strain,” he immediately invited Jones to the team.
Doug Jones in 2017
In 2007, the actor appeared in the role of the Silver Surfer
in the film adaptation of the comic book Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Thanks to his height of 192 cm and his slender physique, his movements are distinguished by their plasticity and grace, even under layers of makeup. Doug rarely played in his true form. Without “heavy” makeup, he starred in the films “Adaptation,” “Mystery Men,” and “Batman Returns.”
Best films
The peak of Tommy's fame occurred during the release of the film "The Fugitive", filmed in 1993. Despite the fact that critics called the plot simple, viewers were delighted with the film, which could keep you in suspense throughout the entire runtime. The actor got the image of the head of the bailiffs, busy searching for a fugitive. Participation in the film results in two prestigious awards for him at once.
“Natural Born Killers” is another film by Stone, in which Tommy Lee Jones is participating. A photo of a still from the movie can be seen below. The plot revolves around two escaped criminals who take the lives of everyone who gets in their way. The actor plays the head of the prison.
One cannot ignore such a film as “Batman Forever”, in the filming of which he also participated. This was the third part of the famous film epic; Joel Schumacher was responsible for its creation. Tommy played an enemy trying to deal with a superhero. Another cult science fiction project with his participation is “Men in Black”. In it, he embodies the image of a superspy working with aliens.
The later film, released in 2007, is also worth watching. We are talking about the film “No Country for Old Men,” in which the hero of our story got the role of Sheriff Ed.
Biography of Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones is an outstanding American actor, whose name has repeatedly appeared on the list of contenders for the main prize of the American Film Academy. He won the coveted statuette in 1994 for Best Supporting Actor in the film The Fugitive. Among his most famous works are the thriller No Country for Old Men and the comedy Men in Black. His most common roles are often diametrically opposed: cold-blooded, imperturbable guardians of order or ex.
Tough and cold-blooded Tommy Lee Jones
Personal life
Tommy Lee Jones, whose photo at a young and mature age can be seen above, does not like to talk about his personal life. It is known that he divorced twice and now lives with his third wife, with whom, apparently, he has found happiness. He has two children from previous marriages and actively maintains relationships with them. One of the latest hobbies of the famous actor is playing polo. He also enjoys gardening and raising horses.
Tommy Lee Jones is currently 69 years old. The actor is trying his hand as a director and continues to actively act in films. Three exciting projects with his participation are expected in 2021.
