Emmy-winning actor Ron Cephas Jones has died today. He was 66.
In a statement from a representative to People Magazine, the actor’s passing was said to be due to a long-standing pulmonary issue.
Jones revealed back in 2021 he was privately battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the actor receiving a double lung transplant in 2020.
Jones was best known for his role on “This Is Us” as William Hill, biological father of Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown), in a role for which he won two guest acting Emmys.
In 2020, his 34-year-old daughter Jasmine earned her first Emmy, making the pair the first-ever father-daughter winners in the same year.
He had recurring roles in various series like “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” “Marvel’s Luke Cage,” “Truth Be Told,” “Mr. Robot,” “The Get Down,” “Looking for Alaska” and “Better Things”.
On the big screen his film credits include “He Got Game,” “Sweet and Lowdown,” “Paid in Full,” “Half Nelson,” “Across the Universe,” “Venom,” “Dog Days” and “Dolemite Is My Name”.
More recently, he scored a Tony nomination and Drama Desk Award for his performance in “Clyde’s” on Broadway.
The representative’s statement reads: “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. He began his career at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and his love for the stage was present throughout his entire career.”
