Mickey Jones dies: 'National Lampoon's Vacation,' 'Sling Blade' actor was 76
Mickey Jones, whose bearded, grizzled face added texture to scores of shows from The Rockford Files to Justified and whose drumming still beats away on oldies radio, died today following a lengthy illness. He was 76.
Though he’ll most likely be recognized from his appearances in National Lampoon’s Vacation, Sling Blade and, to sitcom fans, Flo, Jones got his start in show business seated at a drum kit, playing for 1960s hit-makers including Trini Lopez (“If I Had a Hammer”), Johnny Rivers (“Secret Agent Man”) and Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (“Something’s Burning”, “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town” and “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”.
Jones even toured with Bob Dylan, drumming during the now-legendary performance at the Manchester Free Trade Hall when a newly electric Dylan was chastised as “Judas!” by an audience member.
During his tenure with the First Edition, Jones appeared on the early 1970s variety show Rollin’ on the River, giving him a first taste of the TV career that would span decades. His role on Flo, a spin-off of Alice, was followed by V, MASH, Home Improvement (he recurred as Pete Bilker), Baywatch, Entourage, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Workaholics – a small sampling of his TV credits.
As recently as 2015, he played pot dealer Hot Rod Dunham on Justified.
Movie appearances included roles in Sling Blade, Tin Cup, Total Recall, and The Last Best Sunday – again, among many others.
In a 2009 Houston Chronicle profile, Jones, sitting at the Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank that he frequented since 1960, explained his acting approach. “I’m not a method actor,” he said. “When somebody says action, I can turn it on, and when they cut, I turn it back off.”
“There’s no pretense to him and none in his acting, but he can do it all,” said friend and Sling Blade co-star Billy Bob Thornton then. “He can do anything, from a kid’s enthusiasm to something real mean.”
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