---
name: "Tommy Lee Jones"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/tommy-lee-jones"
fi1m_id: "tommy-lee-jones"
imdb_id: "nm0000169"
tmdb_id: 2176
wikidata_id: "Q170587"
roles: ["Actor","Director"]
born: "15 September 1946"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 17
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 16
updated: "2026-10-23T21:11:19.981560+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."
---

# Tommy Lee Jones

## Identity

Tommy Lee Jones

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tommy-lee-jones
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** tommy-lee-jones
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000169
- **TMDB ID:** 2176
- **Wikidata ID:** Q170587
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Lee_Jones, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170587, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000169/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2176

Actor and director. Born 15 September 1946 in San Saba, Texas, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Director
- **Born:** 15 September 1946, San Saba, Texas, USA
- **Active:** 1970–present
- **Also known as:** Tom Lee Jones
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 17: 16 acting, 1 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Barry Sonnenfeld](https://film.one/person/barry-sonnenfeld.md), [Laurie MacDonald](https://film.one/person/laurie-macdonald.md), [Walter F. Parkes](https://film.one/person/walter-f-parkes.md), [Will Smith](https://film.one/person/will-smith-2888.md), [Akiva Goldsman](https://film.one/person/akiva-goldsman.md), [Andrew Davis](https://film.one/person/andrew-davis.md), [Arnon Milchan](https://film.one/person/arnon-milchan.md), [Clayton Townsend](https://film.one/person/clayton-townsend.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 3 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 16 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 57 (1), 1980s 81 (1), 1990s 74 (7), 2000s 70 (2), 2010s 70 (6)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 67 across 15 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 11 of 16 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 8, Drama 8, Thriller 7, Science Fiction 5, Crime 4, Adventure 3
- **Screen time:** 32 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $4,548m across 16 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Lee_Jones, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170587, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000169/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2176

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Fugitive*](https://film.one/film/the-fugitive.md) (88), [*The Homesman*](https://film.one/film/the-homesman.md) (72)
- **Apple TV:** [*No Country for Old Men*](https://film.one/film/no-country-for-old-men.md) (91)
- **Tubi:** [*Men in Black*](https://film.one/film/men-in-black.md) (82)
- **Disney+:** [*Captain America: The First Avenger*](https://film.one/film/captain-america-the-first-avenger.md) (64)
- **Paramount+:** [*Men in Black 3*](https://film.one/film/men-in-black-3.md) (63)
- **HBO Max:** [*Batman Forever*](https://film.one/film/batman-forever.md) (56)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Men in Black II*](https://film.one/film/men-in-black-ii.md) (48)

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

## Fi1m on Tommy Lee Jones

> Tommy Lee Jones can make another actor funnier simply by refusing to look impressed. We rate him most highly when a director trusts that restraint, rather than asking the familiar scowl to do everything.

In *Men in Black* (1997), Tommy Lee Jones's Kay treats alien business as work that ought to be finished without a fuss. Will Smith's Jay wants a response, and Jones gives him barely enough to continue. We laughed at his refusal to look impressed: Smith's curiosity gets funnier each time it meets that straight face. Jones makes the partnership worth watching even when the plot has little to offer, because he lets the other actor's eagerness do so much of the work.

His early breakthrough was as Doolittle Lynn in *Coal Miner's Daughter* (1980), before Samuel Gerard in *The Fugitive* (1993) established him as a major star. Lawmen, military men and cowboys are familiar territory, suited to the dry wit and Texas drawl. That repeated casting can leave a film assuming that his presence has done its character work. We want a reason for the gruffness, even when it is entertaining.

*Natural Born Killers* (1994) shows what happens when restraint is set aside. As Warden Dwight McClusky, Jones commits to the excess with enough vigour to keep the broad characterisation entertaining. The limitation comes from Oliver Stone's direction: when everyone is equally outrageous, another extravagant performance has less chance of surprising us. Jones is worth watching, but more nuance would have helped, and his enthusiasm cannot cure the film's repetitive media satire.

Barry Sonnenfeld gets more from him by leaving his comic timing alone in *Men in Black*. Donald Peterman's cinematography keeps the human reactions clear amid the effects, while Jim Miller's editing preserves the pauses Jones needs. Bo Welch's production design gives the organisation plenty of visual jokes without reducing the actors to decorations. Danny Elfman's score is sometimes too busy announcing the fun, when Jones's stillness has already made the joke.

The later work includes an understated performance as Ed Tom Bell in the Coen brothers' *No Country for Old Men* (2007). That is a useful next stop for anyone who knows him chiefly through the comedy. Start with *Men in Black* for the double act, and allow the man his pauses.

## Biography

Tommy Lee Jones is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Clay Shaw in *JFK* (1991), Samuel Gerard in *The Fugitive* (1993), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Warden Dwight McClusky in *Natural Born Killers* (1994).

Other notable performances include Agent K in the *Men in Black* film series (1997–2012), Ed Tom Bell in *No Country for Old Men* (2007), Thaddeus Stevens in *Lincoln* (2012), and H. Clifford McBride in *Ad Astra* (2019). He has also appeared in *Batman Forever* (1995), *Captain America: The First Avenger* (2011), and *Jason Bourne* (2016).

Jones was born on 15 September 1946 in San Saba, Texas.

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

## On Fi1m (17)

### Performed in (16) — the average rests on these

- *Ad Astra* (2019), Fi1m 78, as H. Clifford McBride — [page](https://film.one/film/ad-astra.md)
- *Jason Bourne* (2016), Fi1m 61, as CIA Director Robert Dewey — [page](https://film.one/film/jason-bourne.md)
- *Lincoln* (2012), Fi1m 82, as Thaddeus Stevens — [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md)
- *Men in Black 3* (2012), Fi1m 63, as Agent K — [page](https://film.one/film/men-in-black-3.md)
- *Captain America: The First Avenger* (2011), Fi1m 64, as Colonel Chester Phillips — [page](https://film.one/film/captain-america-the-first-avenger.md)
- *No Country for Old Men* (2007), Fi1m 91, as Ed Tom Bell — [page](https://film.one/film/no-country-for-old-men.md)
- *Men in Black II* (2002), Fi1m 48, as Kay — [page](https://film.one/film/men-in-black-ii.md)
- *Men in Black* (1997), Fi1m 82, as Kay — [page](https://film.one/film/men-in-black.md)
- *Batman Forever* (1995), Fi1m 56, as Harvey Two-Face / Harvey Dent — [page](https://film.one/film/batman-forever.md)
- *Natural Born Killers* (1994), Fi1m 64, as Warden Dwight McClusky — [page](https://film.one/film/natural-born-killers.md)
- *The Client* (1994), Fi1m 72, as Roy Foltrigg — [page](https://film.one/film/the-client.md)
- *The Fugitive* (1993), Fi1m 88, as Samuel Gerard — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fugitive.md)
- *Under Siege* (1992), Fi1m 77, as William Strannix — [page](https://film.one/film/under-siege.md)
- *JFK* (1991), Fi1m 80, as Clay Shaw — [page](https://film.one/film/jfk.md)
- *Coal Miner's Daughter* (1980), Fi1m 81, as 'Mooney' Lynn — [page](https://film.one/film/coal-miners-daughter.md)
- *Love Story* (1970), Fi1m 57, as Hank Simpson — [page](https://film.one/film/love-story.md)

### Directed (1)

- *The Homesman* (2014), Fi1m 72, as George Briggs — [page](https://film.one/film/the-homesman.md)

## Complete filmography (88)

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

- *Angel and the Badman* (2026), Actor — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/angel-and-the-badman.md)
- *The Burial* (2023), as Jeremiah O'Keefe
- *Finestkind* (2023), as Ray Eldridge
- *Wander* (2020), as Jimmy Cleats
- *The Comeback Trail* (2020), as Duke Montana
- *Ad Astra* (2019), as H. Clifford McBride — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/ad-astra.md)
- *Shock and Awe* (2017), as Joe Galloway
- *Just Getting Started* (2017), as Leo
- *Mechanic: Resurrection* (2016), as Max Adams
- *Jason Bourne* (2016), as CIA Director Robert Dewey — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/jason-bourne.md)
- *Criminal* (2016), as Dr. Franks
- *The Homesman* (2014), as George Briggs · Director, Writer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-homesman.md)
- *The Family* (2013), as FBI Agent Robert Stansfield
- *Lincoln* (2012), as Thaddeus Stevens — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md)
- *Emperor* (2012), as General Douglas MacArthur
- *Hope Springs* (2012), as Arnold Soames
- *Men in Black 3* (2012), as Agent K — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/men-in-black-3.md)
- *Captain America: The First Avenger* (2011), as Colonel Chester Phillips — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/captain-america-the-first-avenger.md)
- *The Sunset Limited* (2011), as White · Executive Producer, Director
- *The Company Men* (2010), as Gene McClary
- *In the Electric Mist* (2009), as Dave Robicheaux
- *No Country for Old Men* (2007), as Ed Tom Bell — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/no-country-for-old-men.md)
- *In the Valley of Elah* (2007), as Hank Deerfield
- *The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández* (2007), as Narrator (voice)
- *A Prairie Home Companion* (2006), as Axeman
- *The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada* (2005), as Pete Perkins · Director, Producer
- *Man of the House* (2005), as Ranger Roland Sharp · Executive Producer
- *The Missing* (2003), as Samuel Jones
- *The Hunted* (2003), as L.T. Bonham
- *Men in Black II* (2002), as Kay — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/men-in-black-ii.md)
- *Space Cowboys* (2000), as Hawk Hawkins
- *Rules of Engagement* (2000), as Col. Hayes Lawrence "Hodge" Hodges II
- *Double Jeopardy* (1999), as Travis Lehman
- *Small Soldiers* (1998), as Chip Hazard (voice)
- *U.S. Marshals* (1998), as Samuel Gerard
- *Men in Black* (1997), as Kay — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/men-in-black.md)
- *Volcano* (1997), as Mike Roark
- *Batman Forever* (1995), as Harvey Two-Face / Harvey Dent — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/batman-forever.md)
- *The Good Old Boys* (1995), as Hewey Calloway · Director, Teleplay
- *Cobb* (1994), as Ty Cobb
- *Blue Sky* (1994), as Hank Marshall
- *Natural Born Killers* (1994), as Warden Dwight McClusky — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/natural-born-killers.md)
- *The Client* (1994), as Roy Foltrigg — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-client.md)
- *Blown Away* (1994), as Ryan Gaerity
- *Heaven & Earth* (1993), as Steve Butler
- *The Fugitive* (1993), as Samuel Gerard — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fugitive.md)
- *House of Cards* (1993), as Jake Beerlander
- *Under Siege* (1992), as William Strannix — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/under-siege.md)
- *JFK* (1991), as Clay Shaw — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/jfk.md)
- *Fire Birds* (1990), as Brad Little
- *The Package* (1989), as Thomas Boyette
- *Lonesome Dove* (1989), series, as Woodrow F. Call
- *Gotham* (1988), as Eddie Mallard
- *Point of View* (1988), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Stormy Monday* (1988), as Cosmo
- *April Morning* (1988), as Moses Cooper
- *Stranger on My Land* (1988), as Bud Whitman
- *The Big Town* (1987), as George Cole
- *Broken Vows* (1987), as Pater Joseph McMahon
- *The Park Is Mine* (1986), as Mitch
- *Double Image* (1986), as Steve Daley
- *Black Moon Rising* (1986), as Quint
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Steve Daley
- *The River Rat* (1984), as Billy
- *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (1984), as Brick
- *Nate and Hayes* (1983), as Captain Bully Hayes
- *The Executioner's Song* (1982), series, as Gary Gilmore
- *The Rainmaker* (1982), as Starbuck
- *The Executioner's Song* (1982), as Gary Mark Gilmore
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Brick Pollitt
- *Back Roads* (1981), as Elmore Pratt
- *Barn Burning* (1980), as Ab Snopes
- *Coal Miner's Daughter* (1980), as 'Mooney' Lynn — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/coal-miners-daughter.md)
- *Eyes of Laura Mars* (1978), as John Neville
- *The Betsy* (1978), as Angelo Perino
- *Rolling Thunder* (1977), as Johnny Vohden
- *The Amazing Howard Hughes* (1977), as Howard Hughes
- *The Amazing Howard Hughes* (1977), series, as Howard Hughes
- *Jackson County Jail* (1976), as Coley Blake
- *Charlie's Angels* (1976), as Aram
- *Smash-Up on Interstate 5* (1976), as Officer Hutton
- *Baretta* (1975), series, Actor
- *Eliza's Horoscope* (1975), as Tommy Lee
- *Life Study* (1973), as Gus
- *Love Story* (1970), as Hank Simpson — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/love-story.md)
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Moses Cooper
- *The Razor's Edge*, as Taxman
- *Outside Man*, as Gus Wanamaker

## Gallery

- ![Tommy Lee Jones](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-a37d5638b8f2.jpg) Tommy Lee Jones — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Tommy_Lee_Jones_2017.jpg/1280px-Tommy_Lee_Jones_2017.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![From left to right, actor Brad Pitt, producer, co-writer, and director James Gray, and actor Tommy Lee Jones are seen on stage before a screening of their film  (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-76944d4f9e52.jpg) From left to right, actor Brad Pitt, producer, co-writer, and director James Gray, and actor Tommy Lee Jones are seen on stage before a screening of their film  (2019) — Aubrey Gemignani, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/%22Ad_Astra%22_Screening_at_National_Geographic_NHQ201909160013.jpg/1280px-%22Ad_Astra%22_Screening_at_National_Geographic_NHQ201909160013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actor Tommy Lee Jones speaks before a screening of the film "Ad Astra" at National Geographic Society, Monday, September 16, 2019 in Washington. The film was pr](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-51a22e23ca78.jpg) Actor Tommy Lee Jones speaks before a screening of the film "Ad Astra" at National Geographic Society, Monday, September 16, 2019 in Washington. The film was pr — Aubrey Gemignani, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/%22Ad_Astra%22_Screening_at_National_Geographic_NHQ201909160016.jpg/1280px-%22Ad_Astra%22_Screening_at_National_Geographic_NHQ201909160016.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![From left to right, actor Brad Pitt, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, film producer, co-writer, and director James Gray, and actor Tommy Lee Jones pose for a (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-4e24994c84a1.jpg) From left to right, actor Brad Pitt, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, film producer, co-writer, and director James Gray, and actor Tommy Lee Jones pose for a (2019) — Aubrey Gemignani, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/%22Ad_Astra%22_Screening_at_National_Geographic_NHQ201909160021.jpg/1280px-%22Ad_Astra%22_Screening_at_National_Geographic_NHQ201909160021.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tommy Lee Jones](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-9ebb7b312283.jpg) Tommy Lee Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![Tommy Lee Jones](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-165f785aa2cf.jpg) Tommy Lee Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![Tommy Lee Jones](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-699376794c22.jpg) Tommy Lee Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![From left to right, actor Tommy Lee Jones, film producer, co-writer, and director James Gray, and actor Brad Pitt arrive on the red carpet for a screening of th (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-1e4b27f3c229.jpg) From left to right, actor Tommy Lee Jones, film producer, co-writer, and director James Gray, and actor Brad Pitt arrive on the red carpet for a screening of th (2019) — Aubrey Gemignani, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/%22Ad_Astra%22_Screening_at_National_Geographic_NHQ201909160024.jpg/1280px-%22Ad_Astra%22_Screening_at_National_Geographic_NHQ201909160024.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actor Tommy Lee Jones arrives on the red carpet for a screening of the film "Ad Astra" at National Geographic Society, Monday, September 16, 2019 in Washington.](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-df1ee947ea03.jpg) Actor Tommy Lee Jones arrives on the red carpet for a screening of the film "Ad Astra" at National Geographic Society, Monday, September 16, 2019 in Washington. — Aubrey Gemignani, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/%22Ad_Astra%22_Screening_at_National_Geographic_NHQ201909160025.jpg/1280px-%22Ad_Astra%22_Screening_at_National_Geographic_NHQ201909160025.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Tommy Lee Jones](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-5060e8e67517.jpg) Tommy Lee Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![Tommy Lee Jones](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-e02fd1f3c515.jpg) Tommy Lee Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![Tommy Lee Jones](https://film.one/media/person/78395/gallery-8e286b7f769f.jpg) Tommy Lee Jones — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 3 nominated

- 2013: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Lincoln*
- 2008: Best Actor (nominated), for *In the Valley of Elah*
- 1994: Best Supporting Actor (won), for *The Fugitive*
- 1992: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *JFK*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1994: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (won), for *The Fugitive*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 1983: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *The Executioner's Song*

### Cannes Film Festival — 1 won

- 2005: Cannes Best Director Award (won), for *The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada*

### Other awards — 1 won

- Donostia Award 2012: Donostia Award (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/tommy-lee-jones