---
name: "Jeffrey Jones"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jeffrey-jones"
fi1m_id: "jeffrey-jones"
imdb_id: "nm0000470"
tmdb_id: 4004
wikidata_id: "Q377662"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "28 September 1946"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-05T01:47:34.096030+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."
---

# Jeffrey Jones

## Identity

Jeffrey Jones

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jeffrey-jones
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jeffrey-jones
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000470
- **TMDB ID:** 4004
- **Wikidata ID:** Q377662
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Jones, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q377662, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000470/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4004

Actor. Born 28 September 1946 in Buffalo, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 28 September 1946, Buffalo, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1984–2004
- **Also known as:** Jeffrey Duncan Jones
- **Frequently works with:** [Tim Burton](https://film.one/person/tim-burton.md), [Johnny Depp](https://film.one/person/johnny-depp.md), [Winona Ryder](https://film.one/person/winona-ryder.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 72 (5), 1990s 76 (5), 2000s 91 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 69 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 6, Drama 4, Fantasy 3, History 3, Adventure 2, Crime 2
- **Screen time:** 19 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,011m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Jones, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q377662, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000470/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4004

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Beetlejuice*](https://film.one/film/beetlejuice.md) (83)
- **AMC+:** [*Ferris Bueller's Day Off*](https://film.one/film/ferris-buellers-day-off.md) (81)
- **Apple TV:** [*Sleepy Hollow*](https://film.one/film/sleepy-hollow.md) (78)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Crucible*](https://film.one/film/the-crucible.md) (68)

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

## Fi1m on Jeffrey Jones

> Jeffrey Jones is most useful when he takes a pompous man seriously enough to make him funny. We value his deadpan reactions and his place in an ensemble; casting him simply to look sinister makes less use of him.

Jeffrey Jones keeps a straight face when the situation has become absurd. His imposing appearance gives pompous men a useful head start, and his deadpan reactions make their self-importance funny without much visible effort. The breakthrough as Emperor Joseph II in *Amadeus* (1984) put him in a period ensemble; Ed Rooney, the obsessive principal in *Ferris Bueller's Day Off* (1986), made comic authority the more conspicuous speciality. We favour that use of him over casting which asks his features to do little beyond suggesting a villain.

His Skip Tyler in John McTiernan's *The Hunt for Red October* (1990) belongs to a film that takes professional competence seriously. The pleasure is in watching people try to understand one another under pressure, with a supporting cast that makes difficult work seem like something people actually do for a living. Remembering Jones only as a comic obstacle would leave out this kind of ensemble work. The screenplay's attempts to give its men private lives can feel dutiful, though, and some of the sentiment has too little preparation.

Tim Burton offers another setting for that deadpan manner, beginning with Charles Deetz in *Beetlejuice* (1988) and continuing with Criswell in *Ed Wood* (1994). In the latter, artistic failure is funny without making the people involved contemptible. Jones belongs to a company that Burton treats with unusual kindness, rather than inviting us to enjoy its inadequacies from a safe distance. We were moved by *Ed Wood*, because Martin Landau's vulnerability gives weight to the optimism around him. It runs long, and its affection sometimes leaves Johnny Depp with too little to play, but those faults do not spoil the pleasure of spending time with these people.

The later recurring role of A.W. Merrick in *Deadwood* (2004–2006), reprised in its 2019 film, extends the work beyond those conspicuous comic parts. The recurring risk is typecasting: looking forbidding can become the whole assignment, when the deadpan offers more interesting possibilities. Start with *Ed Wood*, with a little patience for its length.

## Biography

Jeffrey Jones, also credited as Jeffrey Duncan Jones, is an American actor. He was born on 28 September 1946 in Buffalo, New York, and studied at the Putney School, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and Lawrence University.

Jones began his career in theatre, including work at the Guthrie Theater, and later appeared on Broadway. His film roles include Emperor Joseph II in *Amadeus* (1984), Edward R. Rooney in *Ferris Bueller's Day Off* (1986), Charles Deetz in *Beetlejuice* (1988), Skip Tyler in *The Hunt for Red October* (1990), and Criswell in *Ed Wood* (1994). He also portrayed A. W. Merrick in the series *Deadwood* (2004–2006) and the 2019 film continuation.

On stage, Jones received Tony Award nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Play for *The Crucible* (1988) and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for *The Secret Garden* (1991).

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

## On Fi1m (11)

- *Deadwood* (2004), Fi1m 91, as A. W. Merrick — [page](https://film.one/tv/deadwood.md)
- *Sleepy Hollow* (1999), Fi1m 78, as Reverend Steenwyck — [page](https://film.one/film/sleepy-hollow.md)
- *Stuart Little* (1999), Fi1m 66, as Uncle Crenshaw — [page](https://film.one/film/stuart-little.md)
- *The Crucible* (1996), Fi1m 68, as Thomas Putnam — [page](https://film.one/film/the-crucible.md)
- *Ed Wood* (1994), Fi1m 84, as Criswell — [page](https://film.one/film/ed-wood.md)
- *The Hunt for Red October* (1990), Fi1m 82, as Skip Tyler — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october.md)
- *Beetlejuice* (1988), Fi1m 83, as Charles — [page](https://film.one/film/beetlejuice.md)
- *Without a Clue* (1988), Fi1m 64, as Inspector Lestrade — [page](https://film.one/film/without-a-clue.md)
- *Ferris Bueller's Day Off* (1986), Fi1m 81, as Ed Rooney — [page](https://film.one/film/ferris-buellers-day-off.md)
- *Howard the Duck* (1986), Fi1m 43, as Dr. Walter Jenning — [page](https://film.one/film/howard-the-duck.md)
- *Amadeus* (1984), Fi1m 91, as Emperor Joseph II — [page](https://film.one/film/amadeus.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

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

- *Deadwood: The Movie* (2019), as A. W. Merrick
- *Big City Greens* (2018), series, Story
- *10.0 Earthquake* (2014), as Gladstone
- *Hemingway & Gellhorn* (2012), as Charles Colebaugh (uncredited)
- *Who's Your Caddy?* (2007), as Richard Cummings
- *Night of Henna* (2005), Producer
- *Deadwood* (2004), series, as A. W. Merrick, A.W. Merrick — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/deadwood.md)
- *Stuart Little: The Animated Series* (2003), series, as Uncle Crenshaw Little (voice)
- *Par 6* (2002), as Lloyd Bator Jenkins
- *How High* (2001), as Vice President
- *Justice League* (2001), series, as Sir Swami (voice)
- *Dr. Dolittle 2* (2001), as Joe Potter
- *Till Dad Do Us Part* (2001), as Brady
- *Trailer Park Boys* (2001), series, as Jason Maloney
- *Invader ZIM* (2001), series, as Presidentman / Crowd Man / Guy in Crowd #2 (voice)
- *Heartbreakers* (2001), as Mr. Appel
- *The Zeta Project* (2001), series, Actor
- *Company Man* (2000), as Senator Biggs
- *Stuart Little* (1999), as Uncle Crenshaw — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/stuart-little.md)
- *Sleepy Hollow* (1999), as Reverend Steenwyck — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/sleepy-hollow.md)
- *Flypaper* (1999), as Roger
- *Ravenous* (1999), as Hart
- *There's No Fish Food in Heaven* (1998), as Minister Pete
- *The Devil's Advocate* (1997), as Eddie Barzoon
- *Santa Fe* (1997), as Dr. Raskin (uncredited)
- *The Pest* (1997), as Gustav
- *The Crucible* (1996), as Thomas Putnam — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-crucible.md)
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Dr. Scott Perkins
- *The Avenging Angel* (1995), as Brother Milton Long
- *Houseguest* (1995), as Ron Timmerman
- *Ed Wood* (1994), as Criswell — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/ed-wood.md)
- *Heaven & Earth* (1993), as Minister (uncredited)
- *Batman: The Animated Series* (1992), series, as Nivens (voice)
- *Out on a Limb* (1992), as Matt Skearns / Peter Van Der Haven
- *Stay Tuned* (1992), as Spike
- *Mom and Dad Save the World* (1992), as Dick Nelson
- *Enid Is Sleeping* (1990), as Floyd
- *The Hunt for Red October* (1990), as Skip Tyler — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october.md)
- *Valmont* (1989), as Gercourt
- *The People Next Door* (1989), series, as Walter Kellogg
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Professor Finley
- *Who's Harry Crumb?* (1989), as Eliot Draisen
- *Without a Clue* (1988), as Inspector Lestrade — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/without-a-clue.md)
- *Beetlejuice* (1988), as Charles — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/beetlejuice.md)
- *The Gambler: The Legend Continues* (1987), as Buffalo Bill
- *DTV: Monster Hits* (1987), as Man in the Magic Mirror
- *The Hanoi Hilton* (1987), as Fischer
- *Fresno* (1986), series, as Mr. Acme
- *George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation* (1986), series, as Thomas Jefferson
- *George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation* (1986), as Thomas Jefferson
- *Howard the Duck* (1986), as Dr. Walter Jenning — Fi1m 43, [page](https://film.one/film/howard-the-duck.md)
- *Ferris Bueller's Day Off* (1986), as Ed Rooney — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/ferris-buellers-day-off.md)
- *If Tomorrow Comes* (1986), series, as Budge Hollander
- *Transylvania 6-5000* (1985), as Lepescu
- *Amazing Stories* (1985), series, as John Baldwin
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as Carl Wilkerson (segment "Opening Day")
- *Amadeus* (1984), as Emperor Joseph II — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/amadeus.md)
- *Atalanta Strategy* (1984), as Interviewer
- *Easy Money* (1983), as Clive Barlow
- *The Soldier* (1982), as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense
- *Secret Service* (1977), as Sgt. Wilson
- *Kojak* (1973), series, as Attendant — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md)
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Sgt. Wilson
- *The Revolutionary* (1970), as Red-Haired Radical Committee Member

## Gallery

- ![Jeffrey Jones](https://film.one/media/person/77570/gallery-716539a48c58.jpg) Jeffrey Jones — Greg Gorman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Jeffrey_Jones.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Jeffrey Jones](https://film.one/media/person/77570/gallery-679f88d85eb7.jpg) Jeffrey Jones — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/jeffrey-jones