Ron Cephas Jones, who won two Emmy Awards for his role on the hit NBC television drama “This Is Us,” has died at age 66. Jones’ manager, Dan Spilo, confirmed the actor’s death in a statement: “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. 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 was best known for playing William Hill, a recovering drug addict with terminal cancer who reconnects with his biological son, Randall Pearson, played by Sterling K. Brown. Jones was nominated for an Emmy four consecutive times from 2017-2020 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, winning in 2018 and 2020. That same year, his daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones won an Emmy for her performance in the Quibi series “#FreeRayshawn,” making the pair the first father-daughter pair to win Emmys in the same year. Jones appeared in the shows “Mr. Robot,” “The Get Down,” and “Luke Cage,” as well as in the movies “Half Nelson,” “Across the Universe,” “Dog Days,” and “Dolemite Is My Name.” Jones was also a stage actor on and off Broadway, and he was nominated for a Tony Award in 2022 for his portrayal of Montrellous in the play “Clyde’s.”
Jones revealed to The New York Times in 2021 that he had a double-lung transplant at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in May 2020 after struggling from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, where he was a patient for almost two months. He was on and off a ventilator and had to learn to breathe, eat and walk again.
Sterling K. Brown posted a tribute to the actor, sharing: “Life imitated art today, and one of the most wonderful people the world has ever seen is no longer with us. [Jones] has passed away, and the world is a little less bright. Brother, you are loved. And you will be missed. Keep them laughing in the next phase of existence, and I’ll see you when I get there.”
“This Is Us” co-star Mandy Moore also shared: “Getting to know and work with Ron on the wild ride of ‘This Is Us’ was the greatest gift- he was pure magic as a human and an artist…I will treasure all of the moments forever.”
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