Ron Cephas Jones, Award-Winning 'This Is Us' Actor, Dead at 66
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Ron Cephas Jones, the Emmy-winning actor who portrayed William Hill in the NBC hit This Is Us, has died. He was 66.
His death was confirmed in a statement his representative shared with People on Saturday, Aug. 19, which began: "Beloved and award-winning actor Ron Cephas Jones has passed away at the age of 66 due to a long-standing pulmonary issue.”
“Throughout the course of his career, his warmth, beauty, generosity, kindness and heart were felt by anyone who had the good fortune of knowing him,” the statement went on.
“He began his career at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and his love for the stage was present throughout his entire career, including his recent Tony nominated and Drama Desk Award winning performance for his role in Clyde’s on Broadway.”
The statement continued, “Ron’s inner-beauty and soul was evident to the huge audience from his multi-Emmy award winning performance on This is Us. He is survived by his daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones." Jones' daughter is also an actress known for her roles in Hamilton and Blindspotting, among others.
View the original article to see embedded media.
Related: Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz and More Celebs React to Death of Ron Cephas Jones
Jones shared his struggles with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a 2021 interview with The New York Times, revealing that, in 2020, he received a double lung transplant at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
He further touched on his health issues when speaking with Today in 2022 while promoting his Broadway show Clyde's. He shared how the cast of the play really encouraged him during his recovery from the lung transplant.
“I don’t want to say a miracle but I was very fortunate. I had great doctors. It still was a very difficult and arduous recovery. I’m recovering for the rest of my life,” Jones said. "You don’t get new lungs and start running track. It’s a procedure that you have to constantly work on your body. Medication is involved and therapy.”
He questioned his future in theater with his pulmonary condition, saying, "The question was: would I ever be able to do a play again? Many people with lung disease are relegated to a wheelchair and an oxygen machine. There was no other alternative but to try to go with a transplant and see if I could pull my life together."
Thankfully, Jones was able to go on stage in Clyde's in 2021 and give an outstanding performance as the character Montrellous, leading to his only Tony Award nomination.
The late actor began his notable career in theater, performing in plays in Chicago, Illinois, and New York City. Jones continued following his passion for the stage throughout his life.
He got his first screen credit in the mid-1990s, racking up roles in films like He Got Game, Little Senegal, Half Nelson, and Across The Universe, alongside guest appearances in major TV series like Law & Order, NYPD Blue, and more.
In the mid-2010s, Jones really hit his stride on television, making an impact with key performances in series like Mr. Robot, The Get Down, Luke Cage, Truth Be Told, and of course, This Is Us.
