What the Hell Happened to Jeffrey Jones?

Jeffrey Jones is an actor most renowned for his roles playing the strange, generally unlikable comic foils to the audience’s hero. Jones is more than that, though. He is a purist who greatly values acting and takes the craft very seriously. He spent years honing his ability in acting schools, and many more in theater, including Broadway. When he imported that to the silver screen, it panned out well. Recently though, things haven’t been going so hot for Jones. Roles have dried up; he has been arrested on numerous occasions, the jailing centering around his status as a sex offender.

What the hell happened?

He Could Have Been Dr. Jones…

After graduating from a prestigious Vermont boarding school, the Buffalo native embarked on the career path he had chosen for himself – medicine. Not acting. Not yet.

While a premed student at Lawrence University, Jones began to appear in some university stage productions.  Apparently, he shone through the pack like a golden wolf, as the famed Tyrone Guthrie, stage director, invited him to the company at his Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Having switched career paths, he went to London to study at the city’s Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and then the Stratford Theater in Ontario.

His stage career arc took him, eventually to Broadway, where he starred opposite folks like Sigourney Weaver, the late David Bowie, Meryl Streep, and Christopher Walken

Eventually, having risen to the cream of the crop on stage, Jones tried his hand at filmed work. He started off small, beginning with a bit part in the Jon Voight political drama The Revolutionary. It was released to little fanfare critically or commercially.  This was to be his last movie/TV role for twelve years, as the Broadway train kept on rolling during that period. After which, he embarked on a screen journey lasting his whole career to date.

The Soldier
The Soldier – 1982

Sans an uncredited role as “Guest” in The Wedding and a host of unremarkable TV guest appearances, Jones’ next appearance was in the Cold War action film The Soldier as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, where he assists the guy who “doesn’t assign, but unleashes” Ken Wahl as the Soldier. The movie received little attention from either side of the aisle.

Next up was Jones’ first role that anyone actually looked up to notice, Clive Barlow in Easy Money.

Jones - Easy Money
Jeffrey Jones – Easy Money – 1983

Rodney Dangerfield yuks it up as a gambling, drinking, marijuana-smoking family man (?!) trying to clean up his messy act to get a load of a department store inheritance. Jennifer Jason Leigh plays his daughter, and Joe Pesci plays his friend (think less Goodfellas, more Gone Fishin’). Jones meanwhile plays a man hired to keep Rodney from receiving a single penny.  The movie performed decently at the box office, and critics were so-so.

Rock Me Amadeus

Next for Jones was one of his most enduring roles as the blue-eyed Habsburg Emperor Joseph II in the Vienna-set period drama Amadeus.

Jones - Amedeus
Jeffrey Jones – Amadeus – 1984

Salieri and Mozart enjoyed one of the most famous, and productive rivalries, ever gifted upon to world. They made Federer/Nadal seem like two puppies rolling after a tennis ball. Their rivalry is documented on film with Tom Hulce as Mozart, F. Murray Abraham as Salieri, and Jones as the pompous, bloated Emperor. He is Mozart’s patron, however, so we kinda have him to thank for that.  Thanks, man.

Jeffrey Jones is also thanking the Emperor, but not because he is a classical music fanatic. More so because the role is one of Jones’ most famous.  Probably, if forced to decide, I would say his second-most famous. Though Jones himself was not nominated, the movie swept the Oscars like fingers gliding from key C8 to key A0. 8 for 11 in Oscar wins. When Laurence Olivier announced the best picture winner, he didn’t list off the other nominees. He simply said “The winner for this is Amadeus“. Maurice Jarre won for Best Score, saying “thankfully Mozart wasn’t eligible”. Critics hated it though.

Ha, still paying attention? Ok. No, critics and audiences adored the movie.

Jones - Transylvania 6-5000
Jeffrey Jones – Transylvania 6-5000 – 1985

It was at this point that casting higher-ups started to notice Jones: his imposing height (6’5”), his piercing eyes, his sinister, yet goofy grin, and realized they might have an unconventional star on their hands. He tried to affirm this with his next role, Mayor Lepescu in the horror/comedy Transylvania 6-500.

The movie stars Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley Jr. as two tabloid reporters who go to Romania to uncover some truth (or not, and report on it anyway) to some local Frankenstein sightings. A werewolf, vampire (Geena Davis), and mummy (presumably scared being thousands of miles away from Egypt) are seen once there. Jones’ Mayor is human, but creeps the two reporters out, mostly for employing a hunchback servant in a dominant way. Though he is not a mythical, malevolent creature, he knows what’s up, and condones the monsters. Critics didn’t condone the movie however, Leonard Maltin gave a famous one word review: “Stinks”. Audiences propelled to movie to small-scale riches.

Howard the Duck Lays an Egg

1986 was a busy year for Jones, with three major roles, two theatrical, one TV-based. First up was a villainous turn in the epic misfire sci-fi comic book comedy Howard the Duck.

Jones - Howard the Duck
Jeffrey Jones – Howard the Duck – 1986

I’ve never said “What were you thinking?” more emphatically to a movie’s enablers than to George Lucas for this. A twenty-seven year old duck (yes, the aquatic bird) from the planet Duckworld (whoa, clever pun) who reads views Playduck is literally just thrown from his Duckworld residence to Cleveland, Ohio. No explanation, just violently rocketed through the universe in his lounging clothes to a Rust Belt city. He saves Lea Thompson from muggers using duck-themed martial arts, despite being portrayed as a slob back on Duckworld.

Jones plays a scientist who is possessed by the “Dark Overlord of the Universe” who tries to enact a nefarious plot involving dimensions and “neutron disintegration”. Howard stops him, all the while chomping on a cigar. It is atrocious, let me say. Critics described the movie as being a “hopeless mess”, as giving a “gargantuan headache”, and swept the Razzies, winning seven (7!) times. Also it was one of the costliest bombs of all time. While Thompson’s appearance stung a bit, well alot, Jones’ didn’t adversely affect too much.

Also in 1986, Jones appeared in a Founding Fathers TV movie called George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation as Thomas Jefferson. At the expense of everyone’s enjoyment, no photos could be found. The whole thing is available online though, if you wish to see it.

The One He’ll Be Remembered For…

But wait, there’s more. The year also brought Jones his most enduring role as the no-nonsense Edward R Rooney, Dean of Students for Ferris Bueller during his Day Off.

Jones - Ferris Bueller
Jeffrey Jones – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – 1986

Surely we all know the plot. Ferris, played by Matthew Broderick, plays hooky from school, enlisting his friends, neurotic Cam (Alan Ruck) and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara). Jennifer Grey plays his jealous sister, and Jones plays his principal, hell-bent on laying justice at Bueller, Bueller, Bueller’s door for his misdeeds. Instead he leaves his wallet during a botched home break-in, and this comes back to haunt him, just when he has our hero “right where he wants him”.

The movie, a love letter by director John Hughes to both the 80’s teenage way and his hometown of Chicago, is of course beloved today, but was received tepidly by audiences back in the day, though it was a success financially. Critics, on the other hand, enjoyed it as they do now. Jones was certainly more prominent than ever, and if people today recognize him, more likely than not it is through Edward R. Rooney, Dean of Students.

Jones - Hanoi Hilton
Jeffrey Jones – The Hanoi Hilton – 1987

Next year brought a role much more minuscule in length and stature than his previous few, a bit role in the Vietnam War drama The Hanoi Hilton. The film did not cash in on Jones’ fame, as is often the style of a movie made before a cast member elevated way above where he/she stood a few years prior. It would have simply too cynical, as Jones has almost no screen time.

Today, the movie is notable because of an event during the 2008 election, Obama vs. McCain. McCain, once a Hanoi Hilton “guest”, is indirectly portrayed in the film. His campaign asked that the film not be released on DVD until after the election, to avoid any accusation of advantage-grabbing. A non-controversy really, but the primary reason anyone knows about the film.

Day, Me Say Day-O

Jones - Beetlejuice
Jeffrey Jones – Beetlejuice – 1988

1988 brought us two more doses of Jeffrey Jones. First up was his role a Manhattan property developer Charles Deetz in the comedy classic Beetlejuice.

Charles Deetz and a faux-artist, (intensely proud) socialite, parents to mordant daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder), buy a quaint Connecticut country home. Not known to them, the home previously housed newlyweds Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, who perished and are now spirits in the house. Davis and Baldwin try their best to dislodge the new occupants, who turn the home into a “modernist oasis”. Eventually, against warnings from the spirit community, they turn to “bio-exorcist” and decided berserk creep Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton).

The movie is beloved by audiences, and was back then. Critics love it, and many cite it as being Tim Burton’s best stab at comedy. It also took home an Oscar for makeup. Sequels have been rumored, and are now perhaps closer than ever, but have yet to materialize.

Jones - Without a Clue
Jeffrey Jones – Without a Clue – 1988

Also that year came Without a Clue, a British-made Sherlock Holmes comedy with Jeffrey Jones as Scotland Yard’s George Lestrade.

In this one, Sherlock isn’t an actual person , but rather a magazine character, invented by Dr. Watson (Ben Kingsley) to solve crimes independent of his public persona as a medical doctor. Circumstances transpire that require a real Holmes, so Watson hires a no-list actor (Michael Caine) to portray he eccentric detective. Jones’ Inspector is jealous of the upstart Holmes, who is busy trying to repress Paul Freeman’s Professor Moriarty’s nefarious schemes.

Critics liked the premise, but were disappointed at the follow-through. Audiences in the UK liked it, American eyes weren’t really able to catch it.

Jones - Harry Crumb
Jeffrey Jones – Who’s Harry Crumb? – 1989

Jeffrey Jones next provided another comedic villain turn in the John Candy mystery comedy Who’s Harry Crumb?

Candy, the lovable lug as always, plays an incompetent detective only employed as such because of his famous last name (equatable with Pinkerton). Jones plays his boss, who assigns Crumb to a kidnapping because Jones himself is behind the crime, and knows Crumb couldn’t find way to put out a cigarette if he were adrift in the ocean, much less find a millionaire’s daughter.

Critics, for their part, couldn’t detect much favor in the film, and audiences followed suit. Still though, at this point Jones was a highly desirable supporting actor, especially as a villain. He featured in any film’s marketing, but was not quite a leading man.

Getting Away From Comedies

Jones - Valmont
Jeffrey Jones – Valmont – 1989

Next up for Jones was 1989’s French-American period drama, Valmont.

It really, really tried to be like Dangerous Liaisons.   Both movies were based on the 1782 French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses.  Jones plays the unsavory Gercourt, unwillingly betrothed to a 15-year old. Needless to say, the desire not to be married falls with the bride. (Those who know about Jeffrey Jones later in life might cringe at his character’s actions). Colin Firth, Annette Benning, and Meg Tilly play fellow players in this twisted 1782-set affair.

Though critics were unable to resist the urge to compare the movie to its forebearer in the 18th century-aristocrats-get-nasty genre, they seemed to like some elements. The costuming, Milos Forman’s direction. Audiences, though, didn’t react so kindly, and the film lost 97% of its $33 million dollar budget.

Jones - Red October
Jeffery Jones – The Hunt for Red October – 1990

Jones’s next role, which came year later, was a brief one.  He plays an American scienti in the first movie adapted from one of Tom Clancy’s popular Jack Ryan novels, The Hunt for Red October.

Directed by John McTiernan, the movie was subject to fears that the imminent collapse of the movie’s villain (the USSR). These were unfounded however, and the Alec Badwin/Sean Connery starring picture clicked with audiences and critics.

Jeffrey Jones… Leading Man??

Jones- Out on a Limb
Jeffrey Jones and Matthew Broderick – Out on a Limb – 1992

Two years later, we got ourselves more Jeffrey Jones. First in 1992 was Out on a Limb, costarring Matthew Broderick and John C. Reilly.

The movie sees Broderick as a successful businessman lured back to his sleepy hometown to rescue it from a plot perpetrated by Jones’ character.   Jones has killed his twin brother the mayor (yes, also Jones) and assumed his identity, Face/Off-style but already with the right face.

Out on a Limb had some modest aspirations, being the reunion of Jones and Broderick, first since Bueller. Critics however, had other plans. They thought the movie was insipid, and audiences followed suit, making the film an $11 million dollar bath. Also, does Broderick look like a man on the top floor of a business? I know there are young CEOs out there, but he looks like he belongs to the cafe in the lobby as a busboy.

Jones - Mom and Dad
Jeffrey Jones – Mom and Dad Save the World – 1992

Next up on the calendar was another markdown, this time in the form of the family sci-fi comedy Mom and Dad Save the World.

An evil emperor played by Jon Lovitz wants to destroy Earth. He falls in love with Terri Garr from, oh, 75 or so miles above the Earth’s surface, and kidnaps her and her husband, our man Jones. They work to end the emperor’s reign, and install the rightful monarch, played by Eric Idle.

So yes, it was a true starring role for Jones, but critics throat-punched the movie, delivering a 9% Rotten Tomatoes rating. Audiences didn’t want to see Principal Rooney enter an intergalactic sovereign conflict, and so they didn’t. The movie was a massive bomb relative to its $14 million budget.

Jones - Stay Tuned
Jeffrey Jones – Stay Tuned – 1992

Next up for Jones, and last for 1992 was an Underworld adventure comedy, Stay Tuned.

John Ritter played a couch potato and Pam Dawber, his health-nut wife. Jones comes along as a cable salesman from Hell (known by some as “any damn cable salesman”) who pitches successfully a satellite dish system with 666 non-network channels. They are sucked into “Hell Vision”, the Inferno’s version of the TV Industry, and must escape with the help of disgruntled Hell minion played by Eugene Levy.

The movie was received quite tepidly by audiences, in contrast with Hell’s flaming temperatures. Critics were less-than-half in favor of the film.

Stick to Supporting Roles, Jeff

1993 only brought Jones a bit part in the Tommy Lee Jones prestige film Heaven & Earth, directed by Oliver Stone. The movie didn’t do so well, but Jones’ appearance indicates an interest in, every once in a while, stepping away from his wheelhouse (comedy) and back to his roots.

Jones - Ed Wood
Jeffrey Jones – Ed Wood – 1994

1994 gave Jones a more prominent role, when he reunited with Beetlejuice director Tim Burton for the period biopic Ed Wood.

Johnny Depp plays bizarre and legendarily bad filmmaker Ed Wood, while Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Aquette, Bill Murray, Lisa Marie (not Presley), and Jones support him in the role. Jones plays The Amazing Criswell, local television psychic and ersatz producer, as well as occasional muse, for the delusional Wood.

Critics acclaimed the movie resoundingly when it first came out, but audiences did not get to voice an opinion, as they just didn’t see it. The movie’s stature has only grown along with Depp and Burton’s star power, but the movie was relatively under-the-radar upon release.

HOUSEGUEST, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Jeffrey Jones, 1995. (c) Hollywood Pictures.
Jeffrey Jones – Houseguest – 1995

With 1994’s role a comedic performance within the course of a dramedy, his next project was an abject comedy: Houseguest.

Sinbad plays a Pittsburgh conman who must blend in with an affluent salt-of-suburbia family, the patriarch of which is Phil Hartman, SNL’ ultimate “straight man”. Jeffrey Jones plays their friend who threatens to expose Sinbad, but later mends ties.

The movie turned a small-scale profit at theaters, but this was not on the back of Jones. Sinbad and Hartman were the draw. Critics scorned the movie, saying “That Sinbad survives with his dignity and comic reputation intact is amazing”, but that Hartman “is not so lucky”. Eeek.

Jones - The Crucible
Jeffrey Jones – The Crucible – 1996

The Crucible was Jones’ next film, released in 1996. The movie is a straight drama set against the backdrop of the Salem, Mass witch trials.

Jones reunites with Winona Ryder, who plays a Abigail Williams, a girl accused of witch craft. Daniel Day-Lewis plays John Proctor, a man in the middle of it all, involuntarily. The movie got some Oscar attention, and received temperate praise from critics.

Day-Lewis’ appeal and the prestige angle was thought to be enough to propel the movie forth. Alas, no. The movie bombed badly.

Jones - Devil's Advocate
Jeffrey Jones – The Devil’s Advocate – 1997

1997 delivered Jeffrey Jones, 4x. First was the most prominent of the year’s roles. Eddie Barzoon, a managing law firm partner in the mystery thriller The Devil’s Advocate.

Keanu Reeves plays a tack-sharp young lawyer, undefeated in his trial career. He is conflicted when he acquits a man he knows for sure is innocent. Al Pacino is John Milton, the head of his firm. John Milton, John Milton, doesn’t that ring a bell?

Yep, I though so. Al Pacino is not who he says he is, but is, in fact, the Devil himself, pulling his greatest-ever trick. This realization puts Reeves and his loved ones in danger, including Charlize Theron, his wife. Eddie Barzoon, Jones’ character, is convinced that Reeves’ lawyer is gunning for his job, and pulls some stops to thwart him, and grind his career to a halt.

The movie spit fire at the box office grossing over $150 million, and sated critics pretty well. The role was Jones’ most prominent for quite a while, and doubly so for his non-comedic resume.

There Are No Small Roles

Jones - The Pest
Jeffrey Jones – The Pest – 1997

Next up in the year was a return to comedy, with Jones as the villain as is traditional. A racist, German hunter hunting the most elusive of prey.

That’s right: a Teuton, racist, human-hunter. Just like Count Zaroff in the classic book The Most Dangerous Game. He has collected a victim from every ethnic group, except Hispanic. John Leguziamo’s Pestario Rivera Garcia Picante Salsa Vargas (yes, that kind of a movie) agrees to sit as the target for a hefty reward.

The movie did not perform well in any sense at the box office. Critics swatted it away. But, against the odds, The Pest has a devoted cult following.

Closing out the year were two crime actions films, Santa Fe and Flypaper. Both were video releases, and have little to no information available, but the latter did co-star Lucy Liu.

Jones - Stuart Little
Jeffrey Jones – Stuart Little – 1999

1998 was a hiatus year, but in 1999 Jeffrey Jones freighted on with three roles; first off, Stuart Little.

The movie is adapted from the identically-titled novel, a work by E.B. White, of Charlotte’s Web fame. Directed by The Lion King‘s Rob Minkoff, the movie has Michael J. Fox voicing the titular mouse, Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie as his adopters, and Nathan Lane as a housecat who doesn’t like the new addition to the household. Jones plays a goofy uncle who visits for a family dinner.

An interesting footnote here is that M. Night Shyamalan co-wrote the script for this family film. Soon, he started only writing for what he was to direct.

Stuart Little charmed critics and audiences both over. A sequel was made, but without Jones’ involvement.

Jones - Ravenous
Jeffrey Jones – Ravenous – 1999

Also that year came a sizable role in the cannibalism black comedy Ravenous.

Guy Pearce plays a disgraced colonel reassigned to a remote outpost deep in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Robert Carlyle plays a different colonel who has tapped into the powers of the “Wendigo”, a Native American cryptid legend. The way he has done this: eating other people. Jones plays Colonel Hart, the last man uneaten before Pearce arrives.

The movie’s production was fraught with difficulty, with a feud between two directors, one who supplanted the other at the film’s helm midway through, dominating the production and final cut. Perhaps this is why the movie was divided along the positive/negative critical fault. Whenever two competing visions try and stake out their version of a film, a combo of the two typically ends in disaster. Total disaster was averted here, but audiences stayed away nevertheless.

Workin’ For Burton

Jones - Sleepy Hollow
Jeffrey Jones – Sleepy Hollow – 1999

Luckily, the year of Y2K brought Jones his third collaboration with famed director Tim Burton.

Johnny Depp plays Ichabod Crane, a late 18th century prototype of the forensic scientist who is sent to quaint Upstate New York to investigate a string of beheadings connected to Christopher Walken’s undead Headless Horseman. Christina Ricci plays his love interest who has a deeper involvement than it might seem. Jones, for his part, is the Reverend Steenwyck who has an affair with someone closely intertwined to the supernatural events.

Jones - Sleepy Hollow
Jeffrey Jones – Sleepy Hollow – 1999

My, what a coif. For those of you thinking this was a Dangerous Liaisons (or Valmont) for the Founding Fathers, think not. It won an Oscar for its groundbreaking visuals and art direction. The expensive movie managed to turn a profit, and critics responded well on the whole. Typically, Jones’ Burton collabs went well.

Jones - Company Man
Jeffrey Jones – Company Man – 2000

The new millennium’s first 365 brought us one new Jeffrey Jones appearance, in the espionage comedy Company Man.

Douglas McGrath plays a man pretending to be in the CIA. After a while, he actually becomes a part of it at the intelligence agency’s insistence. Hmm, seems legit. Anyway, Alan Cumming plays the Cuban General Fulgencio Batista (McGrath is dispatched to Cuba), Anthony LaPaglia as Fidel Castro, and Sigourney Weaver as his domineering wife. Jones plays the Foreign Intelligence Committee-member Senator Biggs.

The movie grossed 9/1000 of its budget back. Yes, nine thousandths. Critics deemed it unfunny in the highest.

Jones - Heartbreakers
Jeffrey Jones – Heartbreakers – 2001

New year, three new film. First was the caper rom-com Heartbreakers with Sigourney Weaver, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Gene Hackman.

Weaver and Hewitt are a mom-daughter con team, who are trying to pull of that retire-to-Saint-Lucia final con all criminals dream of.  Gene Hackman is their mark. Jones plays the manager of the hotel in which they are trying to pull the con.

The project originally had Ang Lee or Doug Liman lined up to direct at alternate points. Cher, Whitney Houston, and Brandy Norwood were all lined up in different combinations for the con squad. By the time a cast and director (David Mirkin) were settled on, the final product showed the patchwork.

Critics say the movie was mostly mediocre, with a puzzling (as was often his way) maximum-star review from Roger Ebert. Audiences were interested enough so that the movie opened numero uno and sailed into a small profit.

Jones - Dr Dolittle 2
Jeffrey Jones – Dr. Dolittle 2 – 2001

Next for Jones was the Eddie Murphy veterinary comedy Dr. Dolittle 2.

Murphy reprised his very popular (and bountiful) role as the good doctor, passionate about animals as ever. An all-star cast voices his creatures, all the while he and his menagerie fend off the rapacious logging company owner Joe Potter.
The first movie held the record for highest animal actors budget. The sequel broke this record, and held it until the Steve Carell Biblical comedy Evan Almighty floated onto screens.

Critics were middling on the movie, recognizing it was designed for kiddies, but illustrating its faults. The movie’s large budget (at least for a comedy) required a large take, and Murphy delivered. Remember, at this time, there probably wasn’t a bigger family star than the previously foul-mouthed Eddie Murphy. Jones proved he could remain a big presence in a big-budget movie as well, though he wasn’t remotely carrying it.

Jones - How High
Jeffrey Jones – How High – 2001

2001’s final Jeffrey Jones credit was for the stoner comedy How High.

Two men who are technically actors, as they do appear in this, which is a film, anchor the movie: Method Man and Redman. They are convinced they need to get into Harvard, so they try to gain the approval of the Chancellor Fred Willard. Redman, while studying in Boston, begins dating Jeffrey Jones’… daughter. Jones happens to be the vice president.

The movie was somewhat popular with audiences, basically breaking even. Critical response though, and this might stretch your mind a bit, very scornful, calling the movie lazy and sloppy.

The next year, Jones appeared in the non-theatrical golf comedy Par 6.

I know that the movie is about a man who returns to his Texas homestead to begin a golf course, but this man is not played by Jeffrey Jones. I honestly don’t know what Jones’ character does or is, but his name is Lloyd Bator Jenkins. My guess is a backwoods hayseed, given the name, but I truly can’t find it for sure anywhere.

You Think You Know a Guy…

Jones - Mug Shot
Jeffrey Jones – Mugshot – 2003

Par 6 marked a five-year absence from film for Jeffrey Jones. This stems from a 2003 child pornography arrest. He solicited photos from a male minor. Five years probation and registration as a sex offender was his penance, but the latter part has given him two more mugshots. Both were taken in 2010, Florida and California; the arrests were for failing to update his status. There is a joke about his pursuit of Ferris Bueller in here, but it might be a little distasteful.

Jones - Whos Your Caddy
Jeffrey Jones – Who’s Your Caddy? – 2007

Jones’ career was not sunk, however. Nor were many putts by the motley golfing crew in his next film, 2007’s Who’s Your Caddy?

Big Boi, Lil’ Wayne, big bad Faizon Love, Andy Milonakis, and Terry Crews play a hip-hop crew who invade a Carolina country club, and disrupt the tacitly plantations-era mindset gracing the minds of its dapper patrons. Jones is one of these lordly, haughty CC members who do battle on the links with Big Boi’s boys.

Jones - Earthquake
Jeffrey Jones – 10.0 Earthquake – 2014

Jones’ last role to date is in the schlocky earthquake actioner 10.0 Earthquake.

Making San Andreas look like The Godfather, Titanic, and It’s a Wonderful Life a melded into one, the movie stars, well, really no one else you might know. Henry Ian Cusick from Lost? Chasty Ballesteros from Final Destination 5? Or perhaps Cameron Richardson from Alvin and the Chipmunks? No, well at least you know Jones.

Jones - Deadwood
Jeffrey Jones – Deadwood – 2004-2006

Throughout his long career, Jones has appeared in guest roles on many, many TV shows. Typically only for one episode. We didn’t cover them, but they kept the man busy, straddling between film and the small screen.  Most notably, Jones played A.W. Merrick on Deadwood from 2004-2006.  He did the requisite episodes of The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone and Tales From the Crypt and was a regular in a show you never heard of called The People Next Door.  Jones even did some voice work on a Walt Disney World attraction which was re-purposed shortly after Jones’ fall from grace.   All told, Jones has nearly 70 credits as an actor.  Up until his legal problems, he was constantly working.

So, what the hell happened?

Jones began as a very dignified actor, slowly importing his craft from the stage to the silver screen. After he committed himself to filmed performances, it didn’t take too long for him to be noticed, and for his profile to tower. His turn as the Emperor Joseph II in Amadeus showed the world what he had to offer, and eventually they decided he would be the villain virtually every time around. This typecasting lead to his portrayal of some iconic characters, including his most everlasting role, Edward R. Rooney, Dean of Students. These villainous parts kept coming, and when he tried to become a heroic lead, you can see why it didn’t work. Jones’, with his uttermost deadpan, imposing height, and boring blue gaze was not to be a heroic character, so in that sense he was “nothing more than a character actor”.

That observation seems true, but oftentimes Jones was the focal point of a movie’s marketing. He was a big notable star, mostly for just one touchstone role. He would frequently escape from the comedy mold and try something else, including in his Tim Burton collaborations, but now it seems that he won’t be appearing in any mold, with one of the most hated criminal charges possible hanging over his head.

Jones has often said that he values anonymity greatly, and enjoys partaking in the simply, spartan tasks and challenges of life. He has pointed out before that fame makes it difficult for an actor to transition between roles. Now that he has lost a lot of his fame, the roles appear to be lost to him as well.

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lebeau
Admin
8 years ago

Oakleya77 has returned with another great WTHH article. This one is a little different in that Jeffrey Jones was primarily a character actor rather than a lead. One of the things I wanted to do this year was to do shorter articles that focus on more obscure actors and this article fits the bill very nicely. Also, as we are looking back at 1986, Jeffrey Jones is best known for his role in Ferris Bueller which was released this year. Well done, Oakleya77! Thanks and welcome back!

Leo
Leo
8 years ago

The Jeffrey Jones WTHH article is officially number 100!

lebeau
Admin
8 years ago
Reply to  Leo

It sure is.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

Jeffrey Jones is also incidentally, the fourth “Beetlejuice” cast member to get a WTHHT article (following in the footsteps of Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, and Winona Ryder and possibly in the future, Alec Baldwin to make it #5) and the third “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” cast member to get one (following Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Grey and possibly and inevitably, Charlie Sheen).

RB
RB
8 years ago

Nicely done Oakleya.
there are some interesting sounding movies here I never heard of, which is always part of the fun of reading the WTHH series.
As far as what happened to him…. ewww.

ERNESTINE Maloy
ERNESTINE Maloy
6 years ago
Reply to  RB

Ikr??fukken childporn on his pc!! I mean WTF JEFFERY, right?? Hollywood won’t touch him now. He lives somewhere in Florida I think. Thankfully NOWHERE near where I live!! Jesus christ… child porn !! CAN’T get any lower than THAT!!

Jacob
Jacob
8 years ago

Just this summer I saw The Hanoi Hilton on TV, one of those subchannels on cable all the local network affiliates have now. It was a very interesting movie with Michael Moriarty in the lead. Jones was only one of several different actors who would have been recognizable in the late 80s and early 90s who populated the prison. The production values were pretty slim (not that you need much beyond prison garb and a drab cell set), but it was all around a decent movie.

admin
Admin
admin
8 years ago

Too bad about Jeffrey Jones’ off-camera life, but I’ve always found him a welcome edition to many films (that includes the goofy 1995 film “Houseguest” starring Sinbad). His characters of Mr. Rooney, The Amazing Criswell from “Ed Wood”, and the dad from “Beetlejuice” are my favorites.

Brethartfan
Brethartfan
8 years ago

I don`t want to critise your choice lebeau but jefferey jones is a odd one he never had hype. He was seen as character actor no one expected his career to get bigger.

lebeau
Admin
8 years ago
Reply to  Brethartfan

The choice of subjects wasn’t mine, but I think Jones makes for a good subject. The fact that Principal Rooney is now a registered sex offender makes Jones infamous if not famous. This is the 100th entry in the WTHH series. A lot of the big names have already been done. So one direction for the series to go in is smaller actors. I think you will be seeing more of that as the series continues.

admin
Admin
admin
8 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Wow, Stephen Collins: that’s real tough. That doesn’t sound like an accident (unlike Brethartfan mentioning Rob Lowe, and his situation). Stephen Collins didn’t seem tricked:-(

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

Stephen Collins kind of struck me as sort of “that guy actor” pre-“7th Heaven” (before “7th Heaven”, Collins was probably most recognized for “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” and “Tales of the Golden Monkey”). What I mean is that you sort of knew is face but he he didn’t really standout from the pack. Maybe Collins suffered from “Bill Pullman syndrome” in that he was a good looking, reasonably inoffensive and watchable guy, but he none the less didn’t have enough sufficient qualities (e.g. off the charts charisma, range, or intensity) to truly be a major star. What makes Stephen… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

Maybe this is a big apples and oranges argument, but it’s kind of interesting that Matthew Broderick, while not exactly the big star that he was during his heyday, has to be reminded by his harshest critics that he’s literally responsible for the deaths of two women in Ireland back in 1988, is still able to get work while his “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” co-star Jeffrey Jones is absolutely persona non grata in Hollywood. It just goes to show that the biggest way to kill your career in Hollywood fast is to be an alleged pedophile (unless of course, your… Read more »

daffystardust
Editor
8 years ago

I enjoyed this look at Jones a lot. Not many actors have films like Amadeus, Beetlejuice, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ed Wood, and Sleepy Hollow on their resumes. But I will object to the use of the phrase “just a character actor.” Try making just a few movies without the services of any character actors and you’ll find your work is suffering. I know this phrase was being used to discuss his place in the world of marketing movies, but the phrase carries the impression that character actors are “less than” even if that’s not your intent. There are other… Read more »

lebeau
Admin
8 years ago
Reply to  daffystardust

I went back and looked for the phrase “just a character actor” in the article. I didn’t find that exact phrase. The only time the term “character actor” was used was in the closing: These villainous parts kept coming, and when he tried to become a heroic lead, you can see why it didn’t work. Jones’, with his uttermost deadpan, imposing height, and boring blue gaze was not to be a heroic character, so in that sense he was nothing more than a character actor. I can see how “nothing more than a character actor” could be seen as dismissive.… Read more »

daffystardust
Editor
8 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Yes, “nothing more ” was the phrase. Sorry, I was on my phone which sometimes makes it hard to go back and look while I’m typing. I took no offense because I knew what the intent was, but I do think it could be written in a way so the question never even pops to mind. Even placing quotes around the phrase would work as a recognition of the possible objections to his inclusion while also distancing the writer from any unintended insult.
It’s a small thing. I really enjoyed the article.

lebeau
Admin
8 years ago
Reply to  daffystardust

For you (and all the other supporting players out there) I have added the requested punctuation. 😉

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

I did wonder if Jeffrey Jones was more or less “disqualified” from WTHHT status because he was always more of a character actor than what could be considered an A-list, box office star or an up and comer who never lived up to his potential/hype.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

One thing that I took away from this besides how of course Jeffrey Jones’ personal issues interfered with his career, is that some actors aren’t always suited for playing straight-laced, heroic leads. I don’t necessarily say this because of overall talent but in the case for an actor like Jeffrey Jones, his look generally eccentric aura (which is probably why he was so perfect for a quirky, eccentric filmmaker like Tim Burton).

Brethartfan
Brethartfan
8 years ago

True but as you mentioned in the blog you did about Travolta you would not add William H Macy on there because even though his recent films have not performed well he primary a character so its relied on him for his films to make be hits.Which is why William H macy can not be put on there unlike his Wild Hogs costars. Same could apply to Jefferey Jones. Plus had he not had that scandal his career would be the same anyways supporting actor in big roles. Most people know him more by character he plays then actors name.… Read more »

lebeau
Admin
8 years ago
Reply to  Brethartfan

We’ll see.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  Brethartfan

I wonder if Rob Lowe is a default consideration for a WTHHT because his association w/ the Brat Pack, plus his whole sex-tape controversy w/ the under-aged girl back in 1988.

lebeau
Admin
8 years ago

He’s a bit too active today, don’t ya think?

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  lebeau

I always assumed that part of the reason why Rob Lowe has still been able to be more active per se than his fellow Brat Packers is because of his “matinee idol” looks. What I mean is that Lowe looks more like what you would want in a leading man than say Emilio Estevez or Judd Nelson. Also, Lowe seems to be willing to make fun of is rather tawdry past/image (Emilio Estevez on the other hand, seems to be extremely embarrassed by his Brat Pack past, and tries so desperately hard to be taken seriously as an artist) like… Read more »

Brethartfan
Brethartfan
8 years ago

I was not trying to put down character actor a`lot of best actors are character actors like Ruffalo. However as good as this Jones blog was I assumed the only people that would included on here where actors that where at one point huge but career took big dive like costner or actors that Hollywood thought would be big did not live up to Hollywood expectations like Jude. I did not think Jones fit either but I do enjoy your blogs. I can be vocal but your blogs are insightful and I think you are fair you spend as much… Read more »

Matthew
Matthew
8 years ago

If you’re considering smaller actors, you should do Randy Quaid

Zella
Zella
8 years ago
Reply to  Matthew

I second this!

Carl
Carl
8 years ago
Reply to  Matthew

I’m not sure anyone can quite figure out what the hell happened to Randy Quaid even after reading all about him! Ever since the hotel incident he’s in a class by himself.

admin
Admin
admin
8 years ago
Reply to  Carl

I saw him interviewed a couple of weeks ago; he seemed slightly less unhinged and is looking for work.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  Carl

9 Famous Actors Who Don’t Act Anymore http://www.fame10.com/entertainment/10-famous-actors-who-dont-act-anymore/2/ Randy Quaid Alright so this guy didn’t really retire and he also didn’t really give up the biz to pursue other ventures. Rumor has it that the National Lampoon star Randy Quaid has jumped on the crazy train. His last movie was Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach in 2009, and he has since been hiding out in Canada. Why hiding, you ask? Well, as it turns out he’s a wanted felon in the U.S. for not appearing in court to face the charges of burglary and fraud. And surprise-surprise, Canada doesn’t… Read more »

Zella
Zella
8 years ago

Good article, oakleya77!
I remember Jones from watching a lot of those late 80s/early 90s movies as a kid, especially the comedies. Incidentally, I think the first one I saw him in was Hanoi Hilton.
I had heard he was a registered sex offender, but I didn’t know specifics about his case and had no idea about the subsequent arrests. Ick.

Brethartfan
Brethartfan
8 years ago

Randy quad was always a character actor too. He barely had lead roles. Its not like his career was aimed to be huge either before he went nuts. In fact I think more people talked about him more after his freak out. There are a lot of character actors you can do. What makes jones and Quaid stand out from other characters is their off screen life really derailed their career. But since obviously we have 80s theme going why not do a blog on Kevin Bacon. After Footloose people thought would be a huge star. However he was fearing… Read more »

lebeau
Admin
8 years ago
Reply to  Brethartfan

People are asking for Randy Quaid because he flipped out very publicly.

Brethartfan
Brethartfan
8 years ago

He did but he was not that talked before his flip out. I can kind of guess why you put him on the list. The blog can be for actors who just career went down due to personal demons, Much like sheen only difference sheen at one point in his career was seen as potentially have a huge leading man career but blew up due to drugs and bad choices. Like I mentioned before his brother Dennis is perfect candidate. Hes had his fair share of flops that dampened his chances of being huge star. A magizne dubbed him poor… Read more »

lebeau
Admin
8 years ago
Reply to  Brethartfan

I didn’t say he was on the list. I just offered an explanation as to why people are asking for an article about him. It’s something to consider.

Brethartfan
Brethartfan
8 years ago

I see it is i guess. You ever consider kevin bacon

Brethartfan
Brethartfan
8 years ago

I did not care for House guest but I am impressed that is departure off Phil Hartman douche bags roles. He usually plays jerk but this gave him chance to play a sweet guy.,

Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
8 years ago

I have a bit of a soft spot for Easy Money. Basically if you like Rodney Dangerfield then you should like Easy Money. I even enjoy it more than Back To School even though Easy Money was only a modest hit in comparison. Jeffrey Jones was very good in it too.
And Oaklaya, your description “Rodney Dangerfield yuks it up as a gambling, drinking, marijuana-smoking family man (?!)….” almost made me do a spit take! Well done sir.

Steelbolt
Steelbolt
8 years ago

I would say my favorite of his TV guest roles was as Sir Swami in the two-part Justice League episode “Legends”. (Sir Swami is based on a Golden Age comic book villain called the Wizard.) He did a fair homage to the campy villain performances on the Adam West Batman show.

Brethartfan
Brethartfan
8 years ago

Rob lowe may be a bit to active but he along with many brat pack members never lived up to their true potential career wise. People thought lowe would be huge star.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

What celebrity’s career never recovered after a controversial incident?
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/3nbtfr/what_celebritys_career_never_recovered_after_a/cvmu6nx
And The Crucible with Daniel Day Lewis. He was in some pretty high profile movies. After his arrest in 2003, the only film roles he was credited with was Who’s Your Caddy and 10.0 Earthquake.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/3nbtfr/what_celebritys_career_never_recovered_after_a/cvmx7b1
By 2003 his career was dying. Yeah, he’s not making a comeback but he really didn’t do anything but small parts and cameos by then. 1994’s Ed Wood or 1996’s Crucible was probably the last time he got any significant screen-time in a role. That’s almost 10 years without a real part. That’s career death right there.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Which celebrities killed their careers in a matter of seconds?
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/4c75vw/which_celebrities_killed_their_careers_in_a/d1g0gpq
Jeffrey Jones. Played in some pretty big movies like Beetlejuice and The Hunt for Red October. I loved his performance as Dean Rooney in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. And then the guy gets involved with child porn, even having a 14-year-old boy to pose for pornographic photographs, obviously a surefire way to kill any career.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

I wonder if Jeffrey Jones is an insurance nightmare, which is why it’s not worth the hassle to hire him anymore. I mean (and I don’t want to go on a slippery slope by rattling off names), Jeffrey Jones (and I’m absolutely not excusing his actions) can’t be the only person with major skeletons in their closet to be working in Hollywood.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

‘HOWARD THE DUCK’: THE ORAL HISTORY http://decider.com/2016/03/11/howard-the-duck-the-oral-history/?_ga=1.192178989.608980329.1302539496 Jeffrey Jones (“Dr. Walter Jenning / Dark Overlord of the Universe”): Howard was supposed to be a totally new technical advance in film. When I was recruited to be in Howard the Duck, he was going to be a computer generated character and it didn’t work. We were at Industrial Light & Magic for a reason. ILM made what ultimately became Pixar, and that’s what they were working towards. Willard and Gloria pulled the trigger on the film, but couldn’t make it work. My understanding was that it was going to have a… Read more »

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