Jeffrey Jones

American character actor

Jeffrey Jones is an acclaimed American actor known for his roles in films like Amadeus, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Beetlejuice. Despite his successful career, he faced legal troubles in the early 2000s related to charges of soliciting a minor. However, his talent and contributions to cinema continue to be recognized.

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About the Jeffrey Jones

Jeffrey Duncan Jonesis an American actor, known for his roles as Emperor Joseph II in Amadeusand Deadwood: The Movie (2019).

His career started in Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, and advanced to London and Broadway. In film and television, Jones has had many roles which capitalized on his deadpan portrayal of characters in unusual situations, often to comic effect. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his performance in Amadeus and a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble cast of Deadwood.

In 2003, Jones was charged with soliciting a minor to pose for nude photographs. He pleaded no contest and had two subsequent arrests for failing to update his sex offender status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jeffrey Jones is known for his roles as Emperor Joseph II in Amadeus, Edward R. Rooney in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Charles Deetz in Beetlejuice, Dr. Skip Tyler in The Hunt for Red October, and A.W. Merrick in Deadwood.

Jeffrey Jones was born on September 28, 1946.

Jeffrey Jones often played characters in unusual situations, often with a deadpan, comedic effect.

Jeffrey Jones was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his performance in Amadeus, and a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble cast of Deadwood.

In 2003, Jeffrey Jones was charged with soliciting a minor to pose for nude photographs. He pleaded no contest and had two subsequent arrests for failing to update his sex offender status.

Jeffrey Jones started his acting career at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, before advancing to London and Broadway.

Jeffrey Jones’ deadpan portrayal of characters in unusual situations often had a comic effect, which contributed to his success in film and television.

23 Quotes by Jeffrey Jones

  1. 1.

    Ive done Hay Fever and this one was called Another Time by Ronald Harwood.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  2. 2.

    My son tried to work in films and he ultimately gave it up, he finally couldn’t make a living, he couldn’t support himself. He worked all the time and he didn’t make enough money to have a house, have an apartment.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  3. 3.

    Part of the film business is, if you want an apple, you buy an apple.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  4. 4.

    If you’re an employer, you want to hire an employee who’ll do their job, not do your bidding.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  5. 5.

    A lot of the reasons why something is a favorite thing are all things you don’t necessarily see, the place, the people, the time, where you are, what it meant to you at the time.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  6. 6.

    I think the same way about theatre, you go out there and you are creating a world for a moment that can actually have a real impact on people, present some kind of story that gives you something to think about when you walk away, feeling enriched – if it works out well.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  7. 7.

    My job is to help the functioning of the story, not to draw attention to myself, but to make my characters function within the story, to work for the benefit of the story, to make the whole thing work.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  8. 8.

    Every actor wants to have a character that changes, that has some kind of movement, that gets from point A to point B, that doesn’t just supply one note.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  9. 9.

    I’ve been awfully busy, and I haven’t gone to many movies.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  10. 10.

    I got a phone call from Douglas Campbell and from Jerome Guthrie, who offered me a job out of the blue.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  11. 11.

    I know a lot of people who are very good at their craft who have learned – people behind the camera – who really have a lot to offer because they know what they’re doing, they know what to do, they’ve made their mistakes.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  12. 12.

    I’ve gotten to go wonderful places, meet interesting and intelligent people, and I started of course in the theatre and continue to work in the theatre where there is some intelligence involved in it.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  13. 13.

    But it’s true, it’s nothing new that decisions about what movies are to be made, and how they’re to be made, and who’s to be hired to do what, and whether you hire somebody to do their job, or whether you hire somebody to fill a position and you tell them what to do.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  14. 14.

    And from my character’s point-of-view in Ravenous, he had been collected by Robert Carlyle’s character, he had become infected by this ravenous, cannibalistic power, and he was making the best of it.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  15. 15.

    I only know from my own personal experience, and I personally feel that there’s a cyclical nature to things, so you don’t want to start making generalizations about how bad things have become in comparison to the old days.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  16. 16.

    I just hope that some of the movies I’m in are still welcome years from now.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  17. 17.

    Certainly Amadeus because it was a very powerful time for me, we filmed it in the Czech Republic at a time of lots of social and political change going on in that part of the world.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  18. 18.

    I would like to feel that I have a range and that it’s not just a matter of being a comic actor or a serious actor, because those are really artificial classifications, I think.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  19. 19.

    There may be the kinds of things that you may find interesting, but then there’s also the practical reality of needing to make a living and this is what you have to choose from.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  20. 20.

    So when you make an impression in a certain kind of role, that tends to be the type of role that you get offered.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  21. 21.

    Well, I think that there is a connection between being a lawyer and a doctor and an actor. They kind of, in some ways, have the same appeal, I suppose.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  22. 22.

    This outfit called Los Angeles Theatre Works does readings of plays.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor

  23. 23.

    Well, my brother was a schizophrenic, so I understood it in a different way from seeing my brother.

    Jeffrey Jones

    American character actor