Ron Cephas Jones, greatest identified for portraying William Hill in (*66*)This is Us(*66*), has died aged 66.(*66*)
His consultant confirmed the tragedy in an announcement to (*66*)People(*66*) on Saturday (Sunday in Australia).(*66*)
“Beloved and award-winning actor Ron Cephas Jones has passed away at the age of 66 due to a long-standing pulmonary issue,” the assertion learn, confirming the loss of life.(*66*)
Watch the video above.(*66*)
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“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 started his profession on the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and his love for the stage was current all through his total profession, together with his current Tony nominated and Drama Desk Award profitable efficiency for his position in (*66*)Clyde'(*66*)s on Broadway.”
“Ron’s internal magnificence and soul was evident to the large viewers from his multi-Emmy award profitable efficiency on (*66*)This is Us(*66*). He is survived by his daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones.”
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Jones’ most notable role is that of William Hill, the biological father of Randall Pearson, played by Sterling K Brown. His role began as a guest appearance but eventually became a recurring one, with Jones appearing in a total of 43 episodes and winning the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in both 2018 and 2020.
His Emmy win in 2020 also made history for being the first time a father-daughter duo won an Emmy on the same night, with his daughter Jasmine winning the Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Emmy for her work in #FreeRayshawn.
He also appeared in a number of other projects over his lifetime, having debuted in 1994 with the film Murder Magic. He also appeared in He Got Game (1998), Half Nelson (2006), Mr. Robot (2015-2016), Dolemite Is My Name (2019), Truth Be Told (2019-2023), and many more. He was also a stage actor.
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He was set to play Elijah Muhammad, the mentor of Malcolm X in upcoming historical anthology series Genius: MLK/X, which will now be a posthumous release for him.
Jones’ This is Us castmate and on-screen son Brown posted a touching tribute to the actor on Instagram following news of his passing.
“Life imitated artwork as we speak, and some of the fantastic folks the world has ever seen is now not with us. @cephasjaz has handed away, and the world is rather less vivid. Brother, you’re liked. And you may be missed. Keep them laughing within the subsequent part of existence, and I’ll see you after I get there.”
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Another castmate, actress Mandy Moore, also expressed her thoughts and condolences.
“Getting to know and work with Ron on the wild experience of ‘This Is Us’ was the best gift- he was pure magic as a human and an artist…I’ll treasure all the moments ceaselessly.(*66*)
“Even though he wasn’t around set as much as we all wished, he was such an intrinsic part of the fabric of the show, it’s like he was always there.
Sharing a picture from a scene of them together, she said, “I’ll always remember how particular it was to movie this explicit episode and welcome him again to say a correct goodbye to our TIU household and the entire expertise. I’m simply so unhappy. My ideas and love are with Jasmine and his household and buddies. Love you, @cephasjaz.”
Jones opened up in 2021 about his illness, sharing that he had gotten a double lung transplant in 2020, recovering in hospital for two months after the procedure.
In a 2022 interview, he thanked his co-stars and producers for helping him through a health scare on his final day on set.
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“You cats held me after I was struggling and also you did not let me go. You’ve been there for a really troublesome a part of my life. I’m a strolling miracle,” he told them.
“My entire life has been the stage,” Jones said, “The thought of not performing once more appeared worse to me than loss of life.”(*66*)
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