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Tommy Lee Jones
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Biography
Height
6'
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Mini biography
Born in San Saba, Texas, USA. Son of Clyde C. and Lucille Marie (Scott). Worked in underwater construction and on an oil rig. Attended St. Mark's School of Texas, a prestigious prep school for boys in Dallas, on a scholarship. Went to Harvard on another scholarship. Roomed with future Vice-President Al Gore. Played offensive guard in the famous 29-29 Harvard-Yale game of '68 known as "The Tie". Received a B.A. in English literature and graduated cum laude, Harvard, 1969. Following college, moved to New York and began his theatrical career on Broadway in _A Patriot for Me_ 1969. In 1970, he made his film debut in _Love Story_. While living in New York, he continued to appear in various plays, both on- and off-Broadway: _Fortune and Men's Eyes_ (1969); _Four on a Garden_ (1971); _Blue Boys_ (1972); _Ulysses in Nighttown_ (1974). During this time, he also appeared on a daytime soap opera, _One Life To Live_ as Dr. Mark Toland from 1971-75. Moved with wife Kate Lardner, granddaughter of short-story writer/columnist Ring Lardner, and her two children from a previous marriage, to Los Angeles. There, he began to get some roles on television: _Charlie's Angels_ (pilot - 1976); _Smash-Up On Interstate 5_ (TV movie), 1976; and _The Amazing Howard Hughes_ (TV movie - 1977). In 1980, while working on the movie _Back Roads_ he met and fell in love with Kimberlea Cloughley, whom he later married. More roles in television, both on network and cable, stage and film amassed him a reputation as a strong, explosive, thoughtful actor, who could handle supporting as well as leading roles. He made his directorial debut in _The Good Old Boys_ (TNT, 1995) In addition to directing and starring in the film, he co-wrote the teleplay (with J.T. Allen). The film, based on Elmer Kelton's novel, is set in west Texas where Mr. Jones has strong family ties. Consequently, this story of a cowboy facing the end of an era has special meaning for him.
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Spouse
'Kimberlea Gayle Cloughley' (30 May 1981 - 1996) (divorced)
Kate Lardner (1971 - 1978) (divorced)
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Trivia
Mr. Jones' personal stunt double from 1987 through the present is stuntman Clifford Happy.
His wife, Kate Lardner, is Ring Lardner's granddaughter.
Father's name was Clyde C. He did not have a middle name, just an initial.
Ten days after graduating from Harvard, he landed his first role in the Broadway production of _A Patriot for Me_ with Maxmillian Schell. Closed after 49 performances.
Never took an acting class.
Part time cattle rancher, owns 3,000-acre ranch near San Antonio, TX.
Plays and raises polo ponies. His team recently won the U.S. Polo Association's Western Challenge Cup (1993). Invites the Harvard's best polo players to his ranch to practice each fall.
Writes most of his own most memorable lines in films: _The Fugitive_... when Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) tells Marshal Gerard "I didn't kill my wife." Gerard replies "I don't care!" _Under Siege_... William Strannix's speech after he loses his mind: "Saturday morning cartoons... This little piggy... " _Eyes of Laura Mars_... John Neville's revealing speech at the end of the movie.
Father of Austin Leonard, 11, and Victoria, 2.
Shares the same birthday as Oliver Stone, who directed Jones in JFK (1991), 0107096, and Natural Born Killers (1994)
According to author Erich Segal, Jones and his then Harvard roommater Al Gore, were the models for the character of Oliver in "Love Story".
Real life son Austin played his son, Tommy, in Yuri Nosenko, KGB.
(30 October 1998) Injured: fell from horse during polo match.
He and Al Gore were roommates while the two were students at Harvard University. The two remain close friends.
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Personal quotes
"Somebody's gonna give you some money to perform a job, you do your best to make 'em a good hand... "
"It's no mean calling to bring fun into the afternoons of large numbers of people. That too is part of my job, and I'm happy to serve when called on."
"My thanks to the Academy for the very finest, greatest award that any actor can ever receive. The only thing a man can say at a time like this is -- I am not really bald."
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