| Full Name | Tommy Lee Jones |
|---|---|
| Age | 77 |
| Birthday | September 15, 1946 |
| Birth Place | San Saba, Texas, United States |
| Height | 6′ 0′′ |
| Net Worth | $90 million |
| Spouse | Dawn Laurel-Jones (m. 2001) |
| Children | 3 |
| TommyLeeJonesFan | |
| tommyleejonesfanpage |
Tommy Lee Jones, an American actor/director known for gruff roles, has won multiple awards. With his trademark deadpan delivery and rugged looks, Jones has captivated audiences for over 50 years on both the big and small screens.
Early Life and Education
Jones was born on September 15, 1946 in San Saba, Texas. He grew up in the West Texas town of Midland and went on to attend Harvard University, where he roomed with future Vice President Al Gore and played offensive guard on the varsity football team. Jones graduated cum laude from Harvard in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
Acting Career
After college, Jones moved to New York City to pursue acting. He made his film debut with a minor role in Love Story (1970) and had his first significant film part in Jackson County Jail (1976).
Jones began getting more high-profile roles in the 1980s, including Stormy Monday, The Package, and Eyes of Laura Mars. His big break came when he played Marshal Samuel Gerard in the 1993 blockbuster The Fugitive. Jones‘ intense performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Since then, Jones has starred in a wide range of popular films like Batman Forever, Men in Black, Double Jeopardy, Space Cowboys, The Hunted, Captain America: The First Avenger, Jason Bourne, and Ad Astra. He is particularly known for his collaborations with the Coen Brothers, appearing in No Country for Old Men, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, and True Grit.
Some of Jones‘ most acclaimed performances have been in smaller independent films like The Sunset Limited and Emperor. He won his second Emmy Award for his portrayal of Judge Charles F. Baird in The Sunset Limited.
Directing
In addition to acting, Jones has also directed three films – The Good Old Boys (1995), The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), and The Homesman (2014). The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which Jones also produced and starred in, earned him the Best Actor Award at Cannes.
Accolades
Jones has been nominated for four Academy Awards, winning Best Supporting Actor for The Fugitive. He has received six Golden Globe nominations and won Best Supporting Actor for The Fugitive as well as the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in 2020.
Jones also has two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie. Some of his other major awards include a Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival and the Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
In 1994, Jones received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Fun Facts About Tommy Lee Jones
- Jones owns a 3,000 acre cattle ranch in Texas that he works on when he‘s not acting.
- He was roommates with Al Gore at Harvard and the two remain close friends to this day.
- Tommy Lee Jones speaks fluent Spanish and did his own dubbing for Spanish versions of films like Men in Black.
- His breakthrough role was playing a gay construction worker in the play Fortune and Men‘s Eyes when he was 23.
- Jones is an avid polo player and auto racer when not working on films.
- He wrote and directed The Good Old Boys based on the Elmer Kelton novel.
- Coen Brothers‘ films are his most frequent collaborations as an actor.
As a longtime fan, I‘ve treasured watching Tommy Lee Jones bring his one-of-a-kind gravitas and acting chops to so many memorable roles over the years. He disappears completely into his complex characters. With his trademark growl and thousand-yard stare, Jones excels equally at portraying taciturn cowboys and driven lawmen. His collaborations with the Coens have provided some of his most compelling performances. Though intensely private off-screen, his devotion to his craft shines through in every grizzled, unforgettable portrayal. Tommy Lee Jones remains one of Hollywood‘s most captivating stars.