- Imminently starring in MEN IN BLACK II, Jones has now signed on to another comedy project, cheerleading film CHEER UP.
- In the futuristic action film ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981), studio heads wanted Tommy Lee Jones for the lead role, but Kurt Russel landed the part.
- According to author Erich Segal, Jones and his then Harvard roommate Al Gore, were the models for the character of Oliver in LOVE STORY (1970).
- After graduating cum laude from Harvard in 1969, he made his stage bow that same year in A PATRIOT FOR ME.
- Never took an acting class.
- Part time cattle rancher, owns 3,000-acre ranch near San Antonio, TX.
- Billy Dee Williams appears as Harvey Dent in BATMAN (1989), who in the comics became Two-Face. In BATMAN FOREVER (1995) it was Jones who played Harvey Dent/Two-Face.
- Halted production of THE FIGHT (2001) for four months after Benicio Del Toro broke his wrist while doing a fight scene and pushing back the release date.
- When he returns to the bombed-out embassy in RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (2000), there is a picture of Vice President Gore on the charred wall. Al Gore and Jones were roomates at Harvard.
- Actually wrote his own monologue in EYES OF LAURA MARS (1978), unbeknownst to the Writers' Guild, but accredited it to film's director Irvin Kershner.
- Was nominated for Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor - Suspense in 2000 for DOUBLE JEOPARDY.
- Tommy's father was abusive to him when Tommy was a child as Tommy himself has said on many occasions.
- Trade mark: Deadpan delivery
- He and Al Gore were roommates while the two were students at Harvard University. The two remain close friends.
- 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.
- Father's name was Clyde C. He did not have a middle name, just an initial.
- Real life son Austin played his son, Tommy, in Yuri Nosenko, KGB (1986) (TV)
- Injured after falling from horse during polo match. (30 October 1998)
- Writes most of his own most memorable lines in films: THE FUGITIVE (1993)... when Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) tells Marshal Gerard, I didn't kill my wife, Gerard replies, I don't care! Under Siege (1992)... William Strannix's speech after he loses his mind: Saturday morning cartoons... This little piggy... Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) ... John Neville's revealing speech at the end of the movie.
- 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.
- Good friends with: Al Gore, Willie Nelson, Gary Busey, Oliver Stone and Robert Duvall.
- His ex-wife, Kate Lardner, is Ring Lardner's granddaughter.
- Speaks Spanish fluently.
- Is a first cousin of Box Car Willie, a famous country singer.
- Was paid $20,000,000+ gross % for MEN IN BLACK II (2002)
- Was paid $10,000,000 for U.S. MARSHALS (1998)
- Was paid $7,000,000 for MEN IN BLACK (1997)
- Played offensive guard in the famous 29-29 Harvard-Yale game of 1968
- Nominated for Best On-Screen Duo at MTV Movie Awards for MEN IN BLACK (1998) - shared with Will Smith
- Nominated for Best Villain at MTV Movie Awards for BATMAN FOREVER (1996)
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries at Screen Actors Guild Awards for THE GOOD OLD BOYS (1996)
- Nominated for Best Villain at MTV Movie Awards for BLOWN AWAY (1995)
- Nominated for Best Actor Supporting at BAFTA Awards for THE FUGITIVE (1994)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at BAFTA Awards for JFK (1993)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at Academy Awards for JFK (1992)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV at Golden Globe Awards for LONESOME DOVE (1990)
- Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special at Emmy Awards for LONESOME DOVE (1989)
- Nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy at Golden Globe Awards for COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER (1981)
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."
- "I do not have a sense of humor of any recognizable sort."
Awards- Golden Boot Awards: Golden Boot (2003)
- Palm Beach International Film Festival: Lifetime Achievement Award - Acting (2000)
- Lone Star Film & Television Awards: Best TV Actor, The Good Old Boys (1996)
- Lone Star Film & Television Awards: Best TV Director, The Good Old Boys (1996)
- Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Actor, THE FUGITIVE (1994)
- Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor, THE FUGITIVE (1994)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, THE FUGITIVE (1994)
- Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Actor, THE FUGITIVE (1994)
- MTV Movie Awards: Best On-Screen Duo, THE FUGITIVE (1994) - shared with Harrison Ford
- Boston Film Festival: Film Excellence Award (1993)
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Actor, THE FUGITIVE (1993)
- Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special, The Executioner's Song (1983)
- Western Heritage Awards: Bronze Wrangler - Television Feature Film, LONESOME DOVE (1990)
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