Last updated on: January 25, 2025
Clyde C. Jones is best known as the father of famous actor Tommy Lee Jones. While not as well-known as his son, Clyde lived a fascinating life that played a role in shaping Tommy’s future. From his work as a cowboy to his time in the oil industry, Clyde’s experiences were far from ordinary. In this article, we will take a closer look at his life, career, and relationship with his son.
Quick Facts About Clyde C. Jones
Full Name | Clyde C. Jones |
Birthdate | November 28, 1926 |
Died | April 17, 1986 |
Age | 59 (at the time of his passing) |
Occupation | Cowboy, Oil Field Worker |
Husband/Wife | Lucille Marie Scott (married in 1945, divorced twice) |
Education | N/A |
Parents | Thomas Ransom Columbus Jones & Mary Elizabeth Nash |
Grandchildren | Victoria Jones, Austin Leonard Jones |
Children | Tommy Lee Jones (son), David Michael Jones (son) |
Net Worth | <$1 million |
Early Life of Clyde C. Jones
Clyde C. Jones was born on November 28, 1926, in Memphis, Texas. He was from a family that had deep roots in the state. His parents were Thomas Ransom Columbus Jones and Mary Elizabeth Nash. They raised him in a time when life in Texas was tough, and hard work was a must. Clyde grew up in a rural area where he learned the values of self-reliance and toughness. These values would stay with him throughout his life.
Personal Life and Family
In 1945, Clyde married Lucille Marie Scott. The two were married on September 27, 1945, and had one son, Tommy Lee Jones, who was born on September 15, 1946. Their marriage, however, faced challenges. Clyde and Lucille went through a rocky relationship, divorcing twice during Tommy’s childhood. Despite the difficulties, Clyde and Lucille remained important figures in Tommy’s life.
Unlike Tommy, Clyde’s personal life is not that intriguing. In a few of the interviews where Tommy spoke about his father, he said it was quite a terrible time when he was going through his teenage years. Tommy suffered some physical assaults when he was young, and those generally influenced his life. However, this had a hand in influencing how Tommy acted on the screens and in Hollywood film roles that he would do later.
Clyde as an Oil Worker and Cowboy
Clyde C. Jones spent most of his early years as a cowboy. Cowboys were a big part of Texas history, and Clyde adopted the rugged, independent lifestyle that went with the job. He worked on cattle ranches and in the fields, where he learned the hard work and hardships of cowboy life.
As Clyde grew older, he changed careers and entered the oil industry. It was a large change, but it provided an opportunity that allowed him to be himself. He worked in all the oil fields, even spending part of his teenage years abroad in North Africa with Tommy. This is what helped define his life with Tommy at the early stages. Clyde was a traveling man who worked in the oil fields. This distance from home greatly influenced the family dynamics and complicated his relationship with Tommy.
Legacy and Influence on Tommy Lee Jones
Surely Clyde had a bearing on Tommy Lee Jones’s life. He could not have avoided the fact that Clyde was crucial to molding Tommy into what he is today, despite all of the difficulties and hardships they shared. Tommy very often talks about his tough childhood life and his rocky relationship with his father, who was abusive towards him, when discussing his background as an actor. The power and strength in Clyde’s own life were carried by Tommy into his acting career.
Tommy Lee Jones became one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. Still, he’s probably best known for his roles in films like The Fugitive and No Country for Old Men. These are indeed characters tough and unyielding in their approach, similar to some of the lessons Tommy learned from his father. The relationship between the two was certainly troubled, but Clyde’s life and work surely had a tremendous impact on shaping Tommy’s character.
READ ALSO: Tommy Lee Jones Net worth, Age, Wife, Family, Facts & More
Clyde C. Jones later years and death
Clyde C. Jones of La Feria, Texas, died on 17 April 1986. His death was the close to a life which had been given over to challenge and toil. Not as widely known as his son, Clyde’s story is important in understanding Tommy Lee Jones’s background. Much of Tommy’s childhood was shaped by Clyde’s tough, cowboy spirit and later by his oil-field experience that led him into Hollywood.
Source: celebs.infoseemedia.com