Ron Cephas Jones

Ron Cephas Jones (; January 8, 1957 – August 19, 2023) was an American actor, best known for his role as William Hill in the drama series This Is Us (2016–2022), which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award; along with four consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning twice for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2018 and 2020.

Jones appeared in television series such as Mr. Robot (2015–2016), The Get Down (2016–2017), Luke Cage (2016–2018), and Truth Be Told (2019–2023). He also appeared in a number of films, including Paid In Full (2002) Half Nelson (2006), Across the Universe (2007), Glass Chin (2014), The Holiday Calendar (2018), Dog Days (2018), and Dolemite Is My Name (2019).

In 2022, he was nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play at the 75th Tony Awards, for his performance in the Broadway play Clyde's.

Early life and education Ron Cephas Jones, who was of African American heritage, was born on January 8, 1957.

He grew up in Paterson, New Jersey. He attended John F. Kennedy High School and then 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. He graduated from Ramapo in 1978. In 2022, he received a Tony Award nomination for his role in the Lynn Nottage play Clyde's.

His film credits include his most memorable role as Harlem drug dealer, Rich Porter's uncle "Ice" aka Johnny "Apple" Porter in the 2002 Roc-A-Fella produced film 'Paid In Full' as well as He Got Game (1998), Sweet and Lowdown (1999), Half Nelson (2006), and Across The Universe (2007). In television, he appeared as Reverend Lowdown in the episode "The Goat Rodeo" of the 2013 television series Low Winter Sun and he played Romero, a member of "fsociety" in the 2015 television series Mr. Robot. He also appeared on season 3 of the show Banshee as Philadelphia kingpin Mr. Frazier. He played Harlem chess master Bobby Fish in season 1 of Marvel's Luke Cage. Jones appeared on the NBC drama series This Is Us as William Hill, the biological father of Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown). Jones received critical acclaim for his performance on This Is Us and received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2018 and 2020 for his performance.

Jones appeared in the Hulu teen drama series Looking for Alaska, as well as the Apple TV+ crime drama series Truth Be Told, opposite Octavia Spencer, Lizzy Caplan and Aaron Paul.

Personal life Jones and British-born jazz singer Kim Lesley had a daughter, actress Jasmine Cephas Jones (born 1989).

Death Jones had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and underwent a double lung transplant in 2020. He died on August 19, 2023, at the age of 66, from what his agent termed "a long-standing pulmonary issue".

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 Murder Magic Buddy Dixon 1996 Naked Acts Joel 1998 He Got Game Prison Guard Bowell 1999 A Day in Black and White

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2018 Madden NFL 19 Earl Coates Story mode, "Longshot Homecoming"

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Project Result 2017 Gold Derby Awards Best Drama Supporting ActorThis Is Us Black Reel Awards for Television Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series OFTA Television Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 2018 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Gold Derby Awards Best Drama Guest Actor Black Reel Awards for Television Outstanding Guest Actor, Drama Series Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards 2022Tony AwardsBest Performance by a Featured Actor in a PlayClyde's Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play 2024 Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesTruth Be Told