Ron Cephas Jones, the Emmy-winning actor known for his iconic role as William Hill in NBC’s “This Is Us,” has passed away at the age of 66 due to a long-standing pulmonary issue. A representative for Jones confirmed his passing on Saturday.
A force within the performing arts industry, Jones had an extensive career with early beginnings at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. He was beloved by anyone who had the fortune of knowing him, and recently received Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for his stellar performance in ‘Clyde’.
The statement from his representative highlights Jones’ “warmth, beauty, generosity, kindness and heart”. In memory of the beloved actor, let us remember all he’s given to the stage and screen.
Ron Cephas Jones, known for his captivating performance on the award-winning show ‘This Is Us’, has passed away. His talent and spirit were admired by countless viewers who shared in the joy of his Emmy wins in 2018 and 2020 as well as his daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones’ recent win at the Emmy Awards this year. He was a pioneering actor best remembered for his presence in “This is Us” where he played Randall Pearson’s (Sterling K. Brown) biological father, William Hill. This historic moment marked the first time a father and daughter have been awarded Emmys in the same year. Ron Cephas Jones will be dearly missed but his memory and light will live in our hearts forever.
In the wake of his highly anticipated return as William, Ron C. Jones spoke to Variety about his final scene for the penultimate episode of “This Is Us.” “At the end, the caboose–signifying the end–is when William is right there,” he said. “He has this beautiful little monologue where you see his face light up with this idea that the end is sort of the beginning.”
Jones went on to explain that endings don’t have to be sad if we accept them for what they are. “It’s these little pieces of him throughout the episode,” he said, “where you feel so much of William without him saying much. It was all very visual and beautiful, almost like a silent movie in some ways.” His words demonstrate how powerful a story can be without a single spoken word.
Veteran actor Ron Cephas Jones has a long and impressive resume of television credits. Most recently, he appeared on acclaimed TV drama “This Is Us,” as well as Apple+ series “Truth Be Told” and the Marvel series “Luke Cage.” He can also be seen in shows like “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” “Looking for Alaska”, “The Get Down”, and “Mr. Robot”.
In addition to this small-screen work, Jones has had notable roles in films such as “Dolemite Is My Name,” “Dog Days,” “Across the Universe,” “He Got Game,” and “Half Nelson”. His filmography is rounded out with appearances in comedies like “Sweet and Lowdown” and romantic holiday drama “The Holiday Calendar”.