CJ JONES

BIOGRAPHY

Hollywood has awakened to the brilliance of CJ’s many talents.  After decades of TV, Film, Stand-up Comedy, and Stage Appearances that brought him unsurpassed popularity in Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Hearing Signers communities worldwide, CJ is making an impact throughout the entertainment industry.

CJ created the Na’vi Sign Language (NSL) for James Cameron’s highly anticipated Avatar 2 and will introduce the world to NSL as part of the film’s promotional campaign. CJ also received global acclaim for his role as Joseph, the caring father to Ansel Elgort as Baby, in Edgar Wright’s blockbuster Baby Driver and will reprise the role in the upcoming Baby Driver 2.

In addition to CJ’s many breakthrough roles in broadcast and streaming series, recently including Freeform’s Everything’s Gonna Be Okay and Hulu’s Castle Rock, are his many accomplishments as a producer, director, and writer, including short films, co-writing and directing several episodes of the popular fairy tales series Once Upon A Sign, and creating and producing the International Sign Language Theater Festival.  

A leading advocate and champion for the inclusion and representation of people with disabilities at all levels in all forms of media, CJ is an in-demand speaker and frequent panelist at industry events in Hollywood and around the world.  His many talks in forums from TedX to Gallaudet’s 2021 Commencement Address, where he will be the recipient of an Honorary Degree, can be seen on YouTube.  

CJ was born in St. Louis, MO, one of seven hearing children born to Deaf parents who communicate in American Sign Language. At age 7, he contracted spinal meningitis and consequently lost his hearing.  Possessing a zest for life and commitment to giving, CJ’s dedication to the betterment of the Deaf Community grew into a passion.  Armed with an indomitable spirit and abundant talent, his warmth, energy, and optimism excite everyone he meets. 

It is with this combination of support, perseverance, and optimism that CJ launched Sign World Studios, a Hollywood-based production company creating entertaining content for all, conceived by deaf talent, and brought to life by inclusive and diverse teams of deaf and hearing professionals.  And to ensure a continuous pipeline of industry-ready deaf talent is available to be hired by media companies anywhere in the world, CJ proudly launched SignLight, a non-profit subsidiary, to train this generation - and the next - for jobs at every level in the industry.