Angus T. Jones

Angus T. Jones
Jones at the 38th People's Choice Awards in January 2012
Born (1993-10-08) October 8, 1993 (age 30)[1]
Alma materUniversity of Colorado Boulder
OccupationActor
Years active1999–2016, 2023–present
Known forJake Harper in Two and a Half Men
Awards

Angus Turner Jones[2] (born October 8, 1993) is an American actor who played Jake Harper on the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men, for which he won two Young Artist Awards and a TV Land Award during his 10-year tenure as one of the show's main characters.

Career

Jones's first film role was as a five-year-old in the 1999 film Simpatico. From 2001 to 2003, he had supporting roles in films including See Spot Run, The Rookie, Bringing Down the House, George of the Jungle 2, and The Christmas Blessing.

Two and a Half Men

In 2003, Jones was cast in the sitcom Two and a Half Men as Jake Harper, the "half man" of the title, a 10-year-old living with his divorced father (played by Jon Cryer) and hedonistic uncle (played by Charlie Sheen). The show was the most popular sitcom in the United States for most of its run, with an average audience of around 15 million people.[3]

In 2010, Jones became the highest paid child star in television at the age of 17 when his new contract with Two and a Half Men guaranteed him US$7.8 million over the next two seasons, amounting to US$300,000 for each of the 26 episodes.[4][5][6]

Jones in 2011

During the show's ninth season, which ran from 2011 to 2012, Jones' character Jake was given more adult storylines: he was portrayed as a heavy marijuana user, as well as being sexually active both with girls his own age and older women. The final episode of season 9 shows Jake graduating from high school and joining the army. At the annual PaleyFest held in Los Angeles, California in March 2012, Jones, who turned 18 during the ninth season, said that he was uncomfortable with the new storylines, saying that it was "very awkward" to do the "adult thing" while not an adult.[7]

In October 2012, Jones described his path to a newfound religious faith in detail during an interview with a Seventh-day Adventist–sponsored Voice of Prophecy radio program.[8]

In November 2012, Jones said that he had been baptized and no longer wanted to appear on Two and a Half Men, calling the show "filth" and saying it conflicted with his religious views. He also encouraged people to stop watching the show.[9] His views gained the attention of the media after Jones appeared in a video posted on the YouTube channel of ForeRunner Chronicles, an independent ministry run by Christopher Hudson.[10] Jones issued a statement the next day clarifying his position.[11]

Soon afterwards, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America released a statement indicating that the Forerunner Chronicles is not associated with the Adventist Church and that Hudson is not an ordained Seventh-day Adventist pastor.[12]

Producers for the show said he was not expected back on the set until 2013, as his character does not appear in the last few episodes of season 10.[13] CBS announced in April 2013 that he would be downgraded to recurring status for season 11,[14] but ultimately he did not appear at all during Season 11. He was replaced on the show by Amber Tamblyn. On March 18, 2014, Angus T. Jones officially announced his departure from the show, stating he had been "a paid hypocrite".[15][16] However, he returned in a cameo for the series finale in Season 12, "Of Course He's Dead", which aired February 19, 2015.

Personal life

Jones attended University of Colorado Boulder after departing Two and a Half Men.[17]

In 2016, Jones joined the management team of Tonite, a multimedia and event production company started by Justin Combs and Kene Orjioke.[18]

As of 2016, Jones is no longer a member of faith-based "business-model" organizations, and has expressed an interest in returning to acting.[19]

Charity work

On June 7, 2008, Jones lent his support to the First Star Organization to help abused and neglected children.[20] Two months later, he joined other celebrities at the annual "Rock 'N Roll Fantasy Camp".[21] On October 4 of that year, Jones attended the Variety's Power of Youth benefit for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.[22]

In October 2009, Two and a Half Men co-star Jon Cryer presented Jones with the award for the Rising Star of 2009 at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Rising Star Gala.[23]

Jones has supported the anti-bullying alliance Be A Star co-founded by The Creative Coalition and WWE.[24]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Simpatico "Five-year-old kid"
2001 See Spot Run James McGuire
2002 The Rookie Hunter Morris
2003 Bringing Down the House Georgie Sanderson
2003 George of the Jungle 2 George Jr. Direct-to-video
2010 Due Date Jake Harper

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001 ER Sean Gattney Episode: "Quo Vadis?"
2001 Dinner with Friends Sammy Television film
2003 Audrey's Rain Tye Powell Television film
2003–2015 Two and a Half Men Jake Harper 226 episodes
Main role (Seasons 1–10)
Guest role (Season 12)
2005 The Christmas Blessing Charlie Bennett Television film
2005 Big Brother 6 Himself Guest appearance
2008 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Himself Episode: "Two and a Half Deaths"
2010 Hannah Montana T.J. Episode: "Sweet Home Hannah Montana"
2016 Horace and Pete Horace, the 9th Episode: "10"
2023 Bookie Himself Episode: "1"

Awards

Year Result Award Category Work
2002 Nominated Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film: Young actor age 10 or younger See Spot Run
2003 Nominated Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film: Young actor age 10 or younger The Rookie
Won Character and Morality Entertainment Awards Carmie Award
2004 Won Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Series: (Comedy or Drama): Young actor age 10 or younger Two and a Half Men
2006 Won Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy): Supporting Young Actor
2008 Nominated Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Series: Leading Young Actor
2009 Won TV Land Awards Future Classic Award

References

  1. ^ "Famous birthdays for Oct. 8: Bella Thorne, Chevy Chase". UPI. October 8, 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  2. ^ Eng, Joyce (2011-09-07). "8 Things You Don't Know About Two and a Half Men's Angus T. Jones". TV Guide. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  3. ^ Boren, Zachary Davies (February 20, 2015). "Two and Half Men series finale: A look back at the biggest sitcom of the 21st century". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-07.
  4. ^ "It's Evening in America". Vanity Fair. May 2012. Page 158.
  5. ^ TMZ Staff (October 8, 2010). "Two and a Half Men' Kid Scores MASSIVE Contract". TMZ. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  6. ^ Powers, Lindsay (October 8, 2010). "Two and a Half Men' kid signs $300K-ep deal - Makes him highest-paid child TV star". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  7. ^ Sean Daly, The Clicker (March 13, 2012). "'Men' star Angus T. Jones: It's 'very awkward' playing a grown-up". MSNBC. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  8. ^ Jeffery, Connie Vandeman (November 2012). Turning Point: Angus T. Jones Testimony. Archived 2012-11-16 at the Wayback Machine Voice of Prophecy
  9. ^ "Angus Jones Says Two and a Half Men is "filth"". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  10. ^ Crocker, Lizzie (November 28, 2012). Is Christopher Hudson Behind Angus Jones’s ‘Two and a Half Men’ Attack? The Daily Beast
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 27, 2012). Angus T. Jones Breaks Silence About Controversial ‘Two And A Half Men’ Remarks. Deadline Hollywood
  12. ^ "Adventist Church's official statement regarding Angus T. Jones from Two and a Half Men". A Sabbath Blog. November 27, 2012.
  13. ^ "Two And A Half Men actor not expected on set - report". 3 News NZ. November 28, 2012.
  14. ^ "Two and a Half Men Adding a Lady to Replace Angus T. Jones". US Magazine. May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  15. ^ Cowell, Maria (November 27, 2012). How 'Two and a Half Men' Star Became a 'Paid Hypocrite.' Christianity Today
  16. ^ "'Two and a Half Men' Child Star 'Was a Paid Hypocrite'". ABC News. March 18, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  17. ^ Two and a Half Men's Angus T. Jones Admits 'I Got Pretty Doomsday with My Thinking'
  18. ^ Martin, Paley (July 25, 2016). "Diddy's Son and Former 'Two and a Half Men' Star Angus T. Jones Are Joining Forces". Billboard.
  19. ^ "Two and a Half Men's Angus T. Jones: Why He Left Faith-Based Organizations". People. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  20. ^ New Wave of Celebrity Kids Making A Difference: First Star "Come Be A Kid Again!" Archived 2009-01-30 at the Wayback Machine The Insider. 2008. Retrieved on 2009-06-15.
  21. ^ "Rock 'N Roll Fantasy Camp". New York Post. New York City: News Corp. June 6, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2009.
  22. ^ Variety and Target announce the 2008 Target Presents Variety's Power of Youth to benefit St. Jude St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. July 31, 2008. Retrieved on 2009-06-14.
  23. ^ Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles PRNewswire.com. October 22, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-10-30.
  24. ^ "Picture - Angus T. Jones Los Angeles, California, Thursday 11th August 2011". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.

External links

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