Ron Cephas Jones, a veteran stage actor who won two Emmys for his guest role of William Hill on the NBC drama series, has died.
His representative told People in an Aug. 19 statement that the actor passed away “due to a long-standing pulmonary issue.” Ron was 66.
Who was Ron Cephas Jones?
Ron Cephas Jones was an American actor, best known for his performance as ‘William Hill’ in Dan Fogelman’s ‘NBC’ drama series ‘This Is Us. The role has earned him three consecutive ‘Primetime Emmy Award’ nominations and one win.
He is one of those actors whose face is more recognizable than his name. He has appeared in innumerable small roles in TV series and telefilms since the mid-1990s.
While he did not have much to talk about in terms of film and TV pedigree until recently, Jones is a veteran of the New York theater scene, with over 30 years of stage experience.
His most memorable stage role has probably been in ‘Richard III’ at the ‘The Public Theater.’ As he was about to devote the rest of his life to theater, after failing to establish himself in Los Angeles, he started getting substantial recurring parts on TV all of a sudden.
He was cast in ‘Mr. Robot’ and ‘Marvel’s ‘Luke Cage.’ With ‘This is Us,’ he was finally propelled into the league of well-known and decorated screen actors, at the ripe age of 60. Jones is also a poet and has garnered critical acclaim for his work ‘Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Café.’
Early life
Ron Cephas Jones was born on January 8, 1957, in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended John F. Kennedy High School and graduated from Ramapo College.
While at Ramapo, Jones had originally intended to study jazz under director Arnold Jones (no relation), but changed majors to theater after getting the lead in a production of Cinderella Ever After his sophomore year.
Jones graduated from Ramapo in 1978, after which he moved to Los Angeles, California and drove a bus for the Southern California Rapid Transit District for the next four years.
During that time, Jones stated he “fell in love, had a child, got separated”. He then “traveled around”, living in San Francisco, Arizona, and New Orleans before returning to New York City in 1985.
Ron Cephas Jones death
Ron Cephas Jones cause of death: How did Ron Cephas die?
His rep confirmed the news of his passing to Us Weekly on Saturday, August 19, adding that heart-related issues caused his death.
“Beloved and award-winning actor Ron Cephas Jones has passed away at the age of 66 due to a long-standing pulmonary issue,” his representative said. “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.”
Cephas Jones had been open about suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He underwent a double lung transplant in 2020 due to the condition.
The statement continued: “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. 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 34-year-old daughter Jasmine, an original cast member of Hamilton and lead actress of Starz’s Blindspotting TV show, who he shared with ex Kim Lesley.
Our heartfelt condolences go to the family, friends, and fans of Ron Cephas Jones . Please keep his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. May God let the departed soul rest in peace. #RIP
Hopefully, this article was able to provide you with all the necessary information about Ron Cephas Jones cause of death.
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