‘This Is Us’ Star Ron Cephas Jones Details 2020 Double Lung Transplant: ‘I’m a Walking Miracle’
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This Is Us star Ron Cephas Jones recently revealed that he underwent a double lung transplant in 2020.
Jones said that he’s a “walking miracle” after his This Is Us family helped him through “a very difficult part of my life.”
The 65-year-old actor who plays William announced in 2021 that he underwent the procedure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
If you found yourself sobbing on the couch during the final episodes of This Is Us this month, you’re not alone. The heartwarming story that follows the Pearson family over generations is coming to a close, and even the actors who portray the beloved characters on screen are having a hard time saying their goodbyes. But one thing fans don’t see on screen is the connections and support the actors give to each other behind the camera. In a recent interview, actor Ron Cephas Jones revealed how his co-stars supported him after he had a double lung transplant in 2020.
While filming the final scenes of the second to the last episode of This is Us, the 65-year-old gave a heartwarming goodbye to the cast and producers. Through tears, Entertainment Weekly reported he stepped off the set and said, “You cats held me when I was struggling and you didn’t let me go. You’ve been there for a very difficult part of my life. I’m a walking miracle.”
Jones was presumably referring to his double lung transplant from back in May 2020 after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which he originally revealed in 2021 to The New York Times.
The disease refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems, such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness impacts 16 million Americans and millions more who have not yet been diagnosed. Symptoms typically include frequent coughing or wheezing, shortness of breath, trouble taking deep breaths, and excess phlegm, mucus, or sputum production.
“My whole life has been the stage,” Jones said in the interview with The New York Times. “The idea of not performing again seemed worse to me than death.”
Jones received the transplant at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and was a patient for almost two months. During this time, he told The New York Times he had to relearn how to do everyday activities, like breathing, eating, and walking so he could return to the screen.
“When the breathing problems started, that’s when I started to panic,” he said in an interview with Chicago's WGN9. “I kept it under wraps, I didn’t go public with it because I was afraid that I may not be able to do a play again.”
For those who aren’t familiar with Jones’ crucial role in This Is Us, the two-time Emmy winner plays Randall Pearson’s (Sterling K. Brown) biological father, William. His character returned for the second to the last episode of show, and as fans anxiously await the series finale, they tearfully watched in awe last Tuesday as Jones’ character kickstarted the series’ farewell.
This Is Us is in its sixth and final season, with the final episode set to air May 24th on NBC. Fans are anxiously awaiting to watch as the Pearson family says their goodbyes to Mandy Moore’s character Rebecca who has aged quite a bit over the series.
We’re so glad to see Jones seemingly well post-procedure and can’t wait to see what roles he and the rest of the cast take on next.
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