---
name: "Henry Jones"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/henry-jones"
fi1m_id: "henry-jones"
imdb_id: "nm0428216"
tmdb_id: 5732
wikidata_id: "Q1375484"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 August 1912"
died: "17 May 1999"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 83
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-04T16:26:55.125130+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Henry Jones

## Identity

Henry Jones

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/henry-jones
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** henry-jones
- **IMDb ID:** nm0428216
- **TMDB ID:** 5732
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1375484
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Jones_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1375484, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428216/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5732

Actor. Born 1 August 1912 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. Died 17 May 1999.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 August 1912, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
- **Died:** 17 May 1999
- **Active:** 1958–1990
- **Also known as:** Henry Burk Jones, Генри Джонс
- **Average Fi1m score:** 83, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 92 (1), 1960s 84 (1), 1980s 73 (1), 1990s 84 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 87 to 78 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Crime 2, Drama 2, Comedy 1, Mystery 1, Romance 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $227m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Jones_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1375484, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428216/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5732

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Nine to Five*](https://film.one/film/nine-to-five.md) (73)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Henry Jones

> Henry Jones gives small parts distinct personalities through a droll, swooping voice and an aptitude for making ordinary people unsettling. We value his precision, especially when he has only a few minutes to establish who someone is.

Listen to Henry Jones as the coroner in *Vertigo* (1958): four minutes are enough to hear why he was so useful in a small part. His droll, swooping voice gives an official figure a disconcerting individuality. We found the monologue unsettling because that distinctive delivery keeps the coroner from sounding like a neutral source of information. It is a precise piece of supporting acting, and a good reason to pay attention whenever Jones turns up.

An earlier marker is *The Bad Seed* (1956), in which he plays the sinister janitor Leroy Jessup, a role he had originated on Broadway in 1954. It makes sense that an actor so comfortable giving ordinary occupations an unpleasant edge should have taken that part successfully from stage to screen. His later parts include the bike salesman in *Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid* (1969). Ministers, judges, janitors and clerks recur in his work; these are people a story might otherwise hurry past.

Alfred Hitchcock has James Stewart and Kim Novak to carry the painful fascination at the centre of *Vertigo*, and Jones does not need to compete with them. His droll delivery can be funny without making the person speaking seem harmless. The film's mystery is far-fetched and some journeys drag, but his brief appearance needs no such allowance. We would be cautious about treating a memorable cameo as proof that an actor should have been a leading man; Jones gives us plenty to value at this length.

He plays Sims in Stephen Frears's *The Grifters* (1990), a late appearance in a career of supporting work across film, television and the stage. We recommend that cruel, funny crime drama chiefly for Anjelica Huston's disturbing force, with the reservation that John Cusack struggles beside her. It would be excessive to recommend it principally for Jones. For a first encounter with his work, start with *Vertigo* and pay attention to the coroner.

## Biography

Henry Jones (also credited as Henry Burk Jones) was an American character actor of stage, film and television. Born on 1 August 1912, he died on 17 May 1999 in Los Angeles. He made his Broadway debut in a 1938 production of Hamlet and later originated the role of handyman Leroy Jessup in The Bad Seed on stage, reprising it in the 1956 film.

Jones appeared in more than 180 films and television productions. He is known for his role as the coroner in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo (1958), as well as appearances in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Arachnophobia (1990), Dick Tracy (1990) and The Grifters (1990). On television he had roles in series including The Twilight Zone (1959), Phyllis and MacGyver. He won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Sunrise at Campobello.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com, nytimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *The Grifters* (1990), Fi1m 84, as Sims — [page](https://film.one/film/the-grifters.md)
- *Nine to Five* (1980), Fi1m 73, as Mr. Hinkle — [page](https://film.one/film/nine-to-five.md)
- *Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid* (1969), Fi1m 84, as Bike Salesman — [page](https://film.one/film/butch-cassidy-and-the-sundance-kid.md)
- *Vertigo* (1958), Fi1m 92, as Coroner — [page](https://film.one/film/vertigo.md)

## Complete filmography (160)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Picture Windows: Lightning* (1995), as Assayer
- *Breathing Lessons* (1994), as Sam
- *Mastergate* (1992), as Oral Proctor
- *Grass Roots* (1992), as Sen. Ben Carr
- *The Grifters* (1990), as Sims — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-grifters.md)
- *Arachnophobia* (1990), as Dr. Sam Metcalf
- *Dick Tracy* (1990), as Night Clerk
- *Enid Is Sleeping* (1990), as Old Man
- *Nowhere to Run* (1989), as Judge Culbert
- *Coach* (1989), series, as Mr. Newbower
- *I Married Dora* (1987), series, as Hughes Whitney Lennox
- *The Leftovers* (1986), as Thorndike
- *Sidekicks* (1986), series, Actor
- *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Charles 'Papa Chuck' Banning
- *The Comedy Factory* (1985), series, as Morton Waterman
- *Code Name: Foxfire* (1985), as Phillips
- *Code Name: Foxfire* (1985), series, as Phillips
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Morris Penroy
- *Scarecrow and Mrs. King* (1983), series, as Barney Dorsey
- *Gun Shy* (1983), series, as Homer McCoy
- *The Magic Statue* (1982), as Cyril Carson
- *Filthy Rich* (1982), series, Actor
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, Actor — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *Deathtrap* (1982), as Porter Milgrim
- *Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang* (1982), Actor
- *Falcon Crest* (1981), series, as B. Riley Wicker
- *Here's Boomer* (1981), series, Actor
- *California Gold Rush* (1981), as Joe Gillis
- *Nine to Five* (1980), as Mr. Hinkle — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/nine-to-five.md)
- *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as The Butler
- *Mrs. Columbo* (1979), series, as Josh Alden
- *B. J. and the Bear* (1979), series, Actor
- *Supertrain* (1979), series, as James Malinson
- *Vega$* (1978), series, Actor
- *Fantasy Island* (1978), series, as Bank Teller
- *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Frank Jensen
- *CHiPs* (1977), series, as Dutton
- *Tail Gunner Joe* (1977), as Armitage
- *Quincy, M.E.* (1976), series, as Richard Hawley
- *Phyllis* (1975), series, as Jonathan Dexter
- *Who Is the Black Dahlia?* (1975), as Lee Jones
- *Barney Miller* (1975), series, as Father Clement
- *Please Call It Murder* (1975), as Dr. Vincent
- *Roll, Freddy, Roll!* (1974), as Theodore Menlo
- *Kolchak: The Night Stalker* (1974), series, as Captain Julian Wells
- *Petrocelli* (1974), series, as Wheaton
- *Run, Joe, Run* (1974), series, as Feeny
- *These Are the Days* (1974), series, Actor
- *The Six Million Dollar Man* (1974), series, as Dr. Dolenz, Dr. Chester Dolenz
- *The Outfit* (1973), as Doctor
- *Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice* (1973), series, Actor
- *The Girl with Something Extra* (1973), series, as Owen Metcalf
- *Hitched* (1973), as Barnstable
- *Tom Sawyer* (1973), as Senhor Dobbins
- *Hawkins* (1973), series, as George Davis
- *The Letters* (1973), as Mailman
- *Pete 'n' Tillie* (1972), as Mr. Tucker
- *Ghost Story* (1972), series, as Truthers
- *The Daughters of Joshua Cabe* (1972), as Codge Collier
- *The Paul Lynde Show* (1972), series, Actor
- *Napoleon and Samantha* (1972), as Mr. Amos Gutteridge
- *Emergency!* (1972), series, as Dr. Alexander Knott
- *Skin Game* (1971), as Sam Cutler
- *Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law* (1971), series, as Dr. Metz
- *The Day They Hanged Kid Curry* (1971), as Judge
- *The Man and the City* (1971), series, Actor
- *Support Your Local Gunfighter* (1971), as Ez
- *Love Hate Love* (1971), as Tom Blunden
- *Alias Smith and Jones* (1971), series, Actor
- *Night Gallery* (1970), series, as Malcolm Hample
- *Dirty Dingus Magee* (1970), as Rev. Green
- *The 48-Hour Mile* (1970), as Decker
- *Rabbit, Run* (1970), as Mr. Angstrom
- *The Partridge Family* (1970), series, as Mr. Phelps
- *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), series, as Mr. Arnell — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md)
- *The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County* (1970), as Hanson
- *The Movie Murderer* (1970), as Martin Moss
- *Nanny and the Professor* (1970), series, as Mr. Abercrombie
- *Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid* (1969), as Bike Salesman — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/butch-cassidy-and-the-sundance-kid.md)
- *Rascal* (1969), as Garth Shadwick
- *Angel in My Pocket* (1969), as Will Sinclair
- *Support Your Local Sheriff!* (1969), as Henry Jackson
- *Something for a Lonely Man* (1968), as R.J. Hoferkamp
- *Here Come the Brides* (1968), series, Actor
- *The Mod Squad* (1968), series, as Herbert Milne
- *Adam-12* (1968), series, as Harry Craig
- *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Mr. McKim, George
- *The Outsider* (1968), series, Actor
- *Project X* (1968), as Dr. Crowther
- *Stay Away, Joe* (1968), as Hy Slager
- *The Guns of Will Sonnett* (1967), series, as Preacher Soul
- *The Second Hundred Years* (1967), series, as Langston Barnes
- *The Crucible* (1967), as Reverend Parris
- *The Champagne Murders* (1967), as Mr. Clark
- *That Girl* (1966), series, Actor
- *Tarzan* (1966), series, Actor
- *The Tammy Grimes Show* (1966), series, Actor
- *Never Too Late* (1965), as Dr. Kimbrough
- *Honey West* (1965), series, as Reedy Comfort
- *Lost in Space* (1965), series, as Jeremiah Smith
- *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as General Alderson
- *Profiles in Courage* (1964), series, as Hamilton Fish
- *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Landers, Jonas Morgan
- *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.* (1964), series, as Vincent Lockridge, Dean Timothy Dwight
- *Bewitched* (1964), series, Actor
- *Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea* (1964), series, as Dr. Sprague
- *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as Prof. Raymond Shipley
- *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Harrison Quentin Filmore
- *Channing* (1963), series, as Dean Fred Baker
- *The Best Years* (1963), as Dean Baker
- *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Alex Morrow
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Ned Cochran
- *The Investigators* (1961), series, as The Gov
- *The New Breed* (1961), series, as Davidson
- *Angel Baby* (1961), as Ben Hays
- *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor
- *Outlaws* (1960), series, Actor
- *Checkmate* (1960), series, as Ed Thurston, D.A.
- *Thriller* (1960), series, as Erik Borg, Carl Somers
- *The Bramble Bush* (1960), as Parker Welk
- *Cash McCall* (1960), as Gil Clark
- *The Untouchables* (1959), series, as Brooks Wells
- *Startime* (1959), series, as Byrnes
- *Adventures in Paradise* (1959), series, as Professor Flanders
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as J. Hardy Hempstead — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as King Arthur / Uncle Leo
- *Vertigo* (1958), as Coroner — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/vertigo.md)
- *The Mystery of Thirteen* (1957), as Walter Palmer
- *The Real McCoys* (1957), series, as Jed McCoy
- *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Ben Morrell
- *3:10 to Yuma* (1957), as Alex Potter
- *Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?* (1957), as Henry Rufus
- *The Girl Can't Help It* (1956), as Mousie
- *The Girl He Left Behind* (1956), as Hanson
- *The Bad Seed* (1956), as Leroy Jessup
- *Playwrights '56* (1955), series, Actor
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Wally Long, Harry Parker, George Tiffany, John Treadwell, Miles Cheever
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Harvey Cagle, Papa Steiffer, J. Luther Gross
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Homer McCoy
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Dr. Barney O'Keefe
- *Father Knows Best* (1954), series, as Mr Kermit
- *Janet Dean, Registered Nurse* (1954), series, Actor
- *Letter to Loretta* (1953), series, as Henry Stokes
- *Revlon Mirror Theatre* (1953), series, Actor
- *You Are There* (1953), series, as William Savage
- *Taxi* (1953), as Thorndike (uncredited)
- *Mr. Matches* (1953), as Mr. Matches
- *The Lady Says No* (1952), as Potsy
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Sam
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor
- *Tales of Tomorrow* (1951), series, Actor
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Sanford, Jim, Dan
- *Danger* (1950), series, Actor
- *The Web* (1950), series, Actor
- *Robert Montgomery Presents* (1950), series, Actor
- *Suspense* (1949), series, as Man at Train Station, Mr. Matches
- *Studio One* (1948), series, as Sloane, Simon Hazlett, Mr. Weaver, St. Barnabas, Sam
- *The Philco Television Playhouse* (1948), series, as Professor Stark-Purvis
- *Kraft Television Theatre* (1947), series, as Professor Bowdin
- *This Is the Army* (1943), as Mr. Brown / World War One Bugle Audition Observer (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![English: Harbor Drive-In theater advertisement for the psychological thriller film, Vertigo. 24 July 1958.](https://film.one/media/person/59157/gallery-068f89384a9e.jpg) English: Harbor Drive-In theater advertisement for the psychological thriller film, Vertigo. 24 July 1958. — Paramount Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Harbor_Drive-In_Ad_-_24_July_1958%2C_National_City%2C_CA.jpg/1280px-Harbor_Drive-In_Ad_-_24_July_1958%2C_National_City%2C_CA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Harbor Drive-In theater advertisement for the psychological thriller film, The Bad Seed. 25 October 1956.](https://film.one/media/person/59157/gallery-67a0df983b57.jpg) Harbor Drive-In theater advertisement for the psychological thriller film, The Bad Seed. 25 October 1956. — Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Harbor_Drive-In_Ad_-_25_October_1956%2C_National_City%2C_CA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Henry Jones](https://film.one/media/person/59157/gallery-dacb9125506b.jpg) Henry Jones — Ross-Stillman Productions, Inc., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Henry_Jones_%281952%29_in%2C_The_Lady_Says_No.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Cloris Leachman as Phyllis Lindstrom and Henry Jones as her stepfather-in-law, Judge Jonathan Dexter from the television program Phyllis. (1975)](https://film.one/media/person/59157/gallery-703fc0347e90.jpg) Photo of Cloris Leachman as Phyllis Lindstrom and Henry Jones as her stepfather-in-law, Judge Jonathan Dexter from the television program Phyllis. (1975) — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Henry_Jones_Cloris_Leachman_Phyllis_1975.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Henry Jones](https://film.one/media/person/59157/gallery-5856210b1b2f.jpg) Henry Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![Henry Jones](https://film.one/media/person/59157/gallery-add674020e11.jpg) Henry Jones — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1958: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/henry-jones