BIOGRAPHY
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 was struck very ill with spinal meningitis, and consequently lost his hearing. After he became deaf, he attended Missouri School for the Deaf (MSD), which teaches in his native American Sign Language. After his illness, CJ’s residual hearing was too good to qualify for MSD. So his deaf father, Clarence, fought the MO school system to get CJ a place in the all deaf school. In this communication rich environment he flourished from a shy hearing boy into a deaf leader. He was class president, a cub scout, varsity football quarterback, a state pole vault record holder, and voted class valedictorian.
CJ played Joseph in the 2017 summer hit "Baby Driver", directed by Edgar Wright and co-starring Ansel Elgort. This role made CJ the first black deaf actor in an international Blockbuster. Also in 2017 he played Uriah, a leading role, in the indie horror film "Door in the Woods" directed by Chase Goforth. Soon you can see him as Odin in "Castle Rock", a HULU Original production written by Stephen King. CJ is thrilled to be working with the brilliant James Cameron on the Avatar Sequels. CJ will be seen this season of United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell.
CJ never sits still. He has developed 3 one man shows that have toured the US, Japan, Sweden, Australia, Ecuador, and Canada. He co-wrote and directed 6 classic fairytales for children’s television, a series called “Once Upon A Sign”. CJ produced the International Sign Language Theater Festival, which hosted theater artists from all over the US, Russia, and Mexico. CJ’s perseverance and talent make him ready to tackle any role.
CJ is a legend in the deaf world, acclaimed for his humor and inspiration. He has done it all: TV, movies, educational films, and theater. He has toured with his stand up comedy all over the world. He continues to use his never-ending passion in acting, producing, and directing to give back to the deaf and sign language community.
FILM
AVATAR SEQUELS
Directed by James Cameron | Produced by Lightstorm Entertainment
SUPPORTING ACTOR
BABY DRIVER
Written and Directed by Edgar Wright | Produced by Sony Pictures
JOSEPH
DOOR IN THE WOODS
Written and Directed by Chase GoForth | Rockhill Studios/Pictures Movers
URIAH
UNBREAKABLE
Directed by Rick Tejada-Flores | Produced by Paradigm Productions
NARRATOR
SEE WHAT I'M SAYING
Directed by Hilari Scarl | Produced by WorldPlay Productions
HIMSELF
HEART IS A DRUM MACHINE
SpeakEasy Films & Moog
HIMSELF
PATHFINDER
Produced by 20th Century Fox
VOICE OVER
THE RIDE
Directed by John Flanders | Produced by Rough Pine Productions
STARRING
DREAMS
Produced by Sony – DreamWorks
FEATURED
TELEVISION
CASTLE ROCK
HULU: Bad Robot, Writ. Stephen King
ODIN
UNITED SHADES OF AMERICA
CNN: Host W. Kamau Bell
HIMSELF
THROUGH DEAF EYES
PBS Network
HIMSELF
ONCE UPON A SIGN (6)
Dawn Sign Press
6 CHARACTERS
DISCOVERY TRAVEL CHANNEL
Discovery Network
HIMSELF
LINCOLN HEIGHTS
ABC Family
CO-STAR
FRASIER
NBC Network
CO-STAR
COLD CASE
CBS Network
CO-STAR
A DIFFERENT WORLD
NBC Network
CO-STAR
SESAME STREET
PBS Network
CO-STAR
THE COMEDY HOUR
Discovery Network
GUEST STAR
HAPPY HANDS KIDS KLUB
TCN Network
HOST
THEATER
WORLD ADVENTURIST
National Tour
COMEDY
WHAT ARE YOU... DEAF?
Stephen Rothman
ONE MAN SHOW
CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD
Gordon Davidson
ORIN
THE THREE MUSKATEERS
NTD National Tour
ATHOS
FOUR SAINTS IN THREE ACTS
NTD National Tour
ENSEMBLE
TWELFTH NIGHT
Cornerstone Theater
ANTONIO
LOS FAUSTINOS
Cornerstone Theater
ST. MIGUEL
LOVE OF NIGHTINGALE
Cornerstone Theater
CAPTAIN
EVERYMAN IN THE MALL
Cornerstone Theater
ENSEMBLE
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
Deaf West Theater
MARTINI
ROAD TO REVOLUTION
Deaf West Theater
NATHANIEL
FLAVIA AND THE DREAM MAKER
Access Theater
HANKY MAN
THE LIVING CARTOON
International Tour
ONE MAN SHOW
AWARDS
SAG-AFTRA HAROLD RUSSELL AWARD - 2018
Actor and deaf-advocate CJ Jones is recognized for his role as Joseph in the 2017 summer hit "Baby Driver", directed by Edgar Wright and co-starring Ansel Elgort. This role made CJ the first black deaf actor in an international Blockbuster film.
BEST ACTOR - NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL - 2018
CJ Jones wins Best Actor for his performance in 'Door In The Woods' at the Nashville Film Festival in 2018.