About Jeffrey Jones

Growing up in Buffalo

Jeffrey Jones was born in Buffalo, NY on September 28, 1946. He did not live in Buffalo for long as his family moved to Putney, Vermont where he attended high school there and later enrolled at Lawrence University for pre-med. He performed in some university productions where he caught the eye of Tyrone Guthrie who then recruited Jones to work at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Starting his Career

His career on the stage included over 125 productions starting at the Guthrie Theatre and then moving internationally to South America, Canada, and London. He began to work in the film industry in the 1970s.

Jones had many small roles in movies and tv shows. Some of his best known roles include Emperor Jospeh II in Amadeus, Charles Deetz in Beetlejuice, and Edward R. Rooney in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. He played all three of these roles very well, especially in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The New York Times’ described his performance as having “fine cartoon like ferocity”.

Later in Jones’ Career

After Jones appeared in the golf comedy, Who’s Your Caddy?, he left the tv and film industry for a couple years. He returned with an uncredited cameo as Collier’s editor Charles Colebaugh in the HBO original film Hemingway & Gellhorn. In May 2015, Jones returned to the stage with the New American Theatre production of 63 Trillion.

Jones’ Personal Life

Jones has a son, Julian Coutts, who is also an actor. In Jones’ free time, he likes to engage in everyday tasks such as home repairs.