The Late Great L. Q. Jones

Legendary character actor L. Q. Jones died on July 9 2022 at the age of 94. On television he had a recurring role on The Virginian and he was a regular on the short-lived nighttime soap opera The Yellow Rose, in addition to many guest appearances on other shows. He worked with Sam Peckinpah on the films Ride the High Country (1962), Major Dundee (1965), The Wild Bunch (1969), The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), and Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973). He also appeared in a diverse number of movies, from Love Me Tender (1956) to Casino (1995). L. Q. Jones also directed the post-apocalyptic cult film A Boy and His Dog (1975).

L. Q. Jones was born Justus Ellis McQueen on August 19 1927 in Beaumont, Texas. His mother was killed in an automobile accident when he was very young and he was raised by relatives, He learned to ride a horse while he was very young and was surrounded by rodeo performers while he was growing up. From 1945 to 1946 he served in the United States Navy. He attended Lamar Junior College in Beaumont and Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas. He studied law at the University of Texas in Austin. His roommate there was Fess Parker, who would later play Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone on television. Following his stint in college, L. Q. Jones tried work as a stand-up comic and briefly played both professional baseball and football. He tried ranching in Nicaragua, but the venture did not go well.

His former college roommate, Fess Parker, had moved to Hollywood to pursue a film career. He sent a copy of the novel Battle Cry by Leon Uris, which was set to be adapted as a movie by Warner Bros. an to be directed by Raoul Walsh. Fess Parker would play the role of Private Speedy in the film. Fess Parker encouraged L.Q. Jones to try out for the film. Ultimately, Justus Ellis McQueen was cast as Private L.Q. Jones in the film. He took the name of his character, "L. Q. Jones," as his stage name. Battle Cry was released in 1955.

The same year L. Q. Jones was cast in the role of Cheyenne Bodie's sidekick Smitty on the Western Cheyenne. Unfortunately, when producer Roy Huggins overhauled the show, his role was cut. L. Q. Jones then only appeared in three episodes of Cheyenne. In the late Fifties he guest starred on the shows Annie Oakley, On Trial, The Silence Service, Jefferson Drum, Flight, Men of Annapolis, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Black Saddle, Tightrope, This Man Dawson, Lassie, Wichita Town, Johnny Ringo, Lock Up, Buick-Electra Playhouse, Klondike, and The Rebel. He appeared in the movies An Annapolis Story (1955), Target Zero (1955), Santiago (1956), Toward the Unknown (1956), Between Heaven and Hell (1956), Love Me Tender (1956), Men in War (1957), Operation Mad Ball (1957), Gunsight Ridge (1957), The Young Lions (1958), The Naked and the Dead (1958), Buchanan Rides Alone (1958), Torpedo Run (1958), Warlock (1959), Battle of the Coral Sea (1959), Hound-Dog Man (1959), Ten Who Dared (1960), Cimarron (1960), and Flaming Star.

In the Sixties L. Q. Jones had the recurring role of ranch hand Andy Belden on The Virginian. He guest starred on the shows The Detectives, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Americans, Two Faces West, Death Valley Days, Tales of Wells Fargo, Lawman, Lassie, Wide Country, Ben Casey, Have Gun--Will Travel, Route 66, Laramie, Empire, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Wagon Train, Slattery's People, Branded, Rawhide, My Favorite Martian, A Man Called Shenandoah, Pistols 'n' Petticoats, The Jean Arthur Show, ABC Stage 67, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Cimarron Strip, Hondo, The F.B.I., The Big Valley, Hawaii Five-O, and Lancer. He appeared in the movies Ride the High Country (1962), Hell is for Heroes (1962), Showdown (1963), The Devil's Bedroom (1964), Iron Angel (1964), Apache Rifles (1964), Major Dundee (1965), Nevada Smith (1966), Stay Away, Joe (1968), Hang 'Em High (1968), The Counterfeit Killer (1968), The Wild Bunch (1969), The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), and The McMasters. He directed the movie The Devil's Bedroom (1964) under his given name of Justus McQueen.

In the Seventies Mr. Jones guest starred on the shows The F.B.I., Cade County, Gunsmoke, The Delphi Bureau, The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, Alias Smith and Jones, Assignment: Vienna, Cannon, The Magician, The Manhunter, Ironside, Kung Fu, Matt Helm, Movin' On, McCloud, CHiPs, Columbo, The Eddie Capra Mysteries, How the West Was Won, The Sacketts, The Runaways, The Incredible Hulk, Young Maverick, Wild Times, Vega$, Charlie's Angels, and Enos. He appeared in the movies The Hunting Party (1971), The Brotherhood of Satan (1971), 43: The Richard Petty Story (1972), Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), A Boy and His Dog (1975), White Line Fever (1975), Winterhawk (1975), Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976), and Fast Charlie...the Moonbeam Rider (1979). He directed the movie A Boy and His Dog (1975).

In the Eighties, L.Q. Jones was a regular on the TV shows The Yellow Rose. He guest starred on the shows Walking Tall, Riker, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Fall Guy, Voyagers!, Matt Houston,and The A-Team. He appeared in the movies He appeared in the movies The Beast Within (1982), Melanie (1982), Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982), Sacred Ground (1983), Lone Wolf McQuade (1983), Bulletproof (1987), River of Death (1989), and The Legend of Grizzly Adams (1990).

In the Nineties he had a recurring role on the TV show Renegades. He guest starred on the shows The New Adam-12; Shades of LA;  and Walker, Texas Ranger. He appeared in the mini-series In Cold Blood. He appeared in the movies Lightning Jack (1994), Casino (1995), The Friends of Harry (1995), The Edge (1997), The Patriot (1998), and The Mask of Zorro (1998).

In the Naughts he appeared in the movies Route 666 (2001) and A Prairie Home Companion (2006). He guest starred on the show Dr. Vegas.

The average person might not recognize L. Q. Jones's name, but I am sure they would recognize his face. He was one of the best character actors of the late Twentieth Century and appeared in many movies and on many TV shows as well.  He was the bounty hunter T.C. in The Wild Bunch. In The Ballad of Cable Hogue he played Taggart, one of the two men who left the title character for dead. L. Q. Jones played so many heavies in Westerns that someone could be forgiven if they thought that was all he played.  Even so, he played his share of good guys as well.  After all, he played Andy Belden on The Virginian for several years. He also played Texas Ranger Dakota Brown in Lone Wolf McQuade and Sheriff Bill Poole in The Beast Within. Over the years L. Q. Jones played a wide variety of roles on television, from ranchers to con men to servicemen to politicians. He also worked in a variety of genres beyond Westerns. He appeared in mysteries, horror movies, war movies, and even sci-fi movies. He worked with everyone from Sam Pekinpah to Elvis Presley. Although he may be best known for playing heavies in Westerns, but L. Q. Jones played a wide variety of roles and played all of them well.