Emmy-Winning 'This Is Us' Actor Ron Cephas Jones, An NJ Native, Dies At 66

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — North Jersey native Ron Cephas Jones, an Emmy winner and Tony nominee for his recent role on Broadway, has died at the age of 66, according to his manager.

The Paterson native and Ramapo College graduate won two Emmy awards for his role on the NBC family drama "This is Us." Jones’ manager, Dan Spilo, said in an emailed statement the actor died “due to a long-standing pulmonary issue.”

“Throughout the course of his career, his warmth, beauty, generosity, kindness and heart were felt by anyone who had the good fortune of knowing him,” Spilo said, according to the Associated Press.

Jones had a double lung transplant in 2020 because of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and spent nearly two months in a Los Angeles hospital, the AP reported.

On "This Is Us," Jones played William “Shakespeare” Hill, the biological father of character Randall Pearson (played by Sterling K. Brown). Jones won Emmys for best guest actor in a drama series in 2018 and 2020 and was nominated for two more.

“One of the most wonderful people the world has ever seen is no longer with us,” Brown said in an Instagram post after Jones’ death. “The world is a little less bright. Brother, you are loved. And you will be missed.”

Jones' daughter, Jasmine Cephas Jones, is a Broadway actress who originated the role of Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds in "Hamilton."