As a dedicated fan and avid viewer of “This Is Us,” I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the profound impact of Ron Cephas Jones‘ character, William Hill, on both the show and its audience. His poignant words about cherishing life’s moments have resonated deeply with me, especially now that he is no longer with us in real life.
Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan are revisiting a significant scene acted by their late colleague Ron Cephas Jones. This scene carries a deeper impact now that Jones is no longer with us.
On “This Was Us,” the podcast they co-host together with their “This Is Us” colleagues, Moore discussed a scene from the show where Jones’ character, William Hill, who is the biological father of Randall Pearson played by Brown, shares his perspective on life while fighting cancer.
“How does it feel to be dying?” he’s asked. Moore reads his answer from the script:
I’ve spent countless moments in my life watching the beautiful pieces of existence whiz by me at an ever-increasing pace. It’s as if I’m standing still while the world is in a frenzy around me, each moment a precious gem I long to grasp but can only watch slip through my fingertips.
I could tell he truly grasped the depth of his words during our emotional reunion scenes on the show, just like my character did in the game when I uncovered a long-lost family secret.
Moore described how strenuous the hike was for Ron, explaining, “He found it extremely challenging, as if he was laboring heavily. His breathing was labored as well. The scene where he sat down was in the script, but it also reflected his true need to rest during filming. It added authenticity to the moments we were capturing for this episode and season. You’re correct that Ron deeply related to his character’s experiences, making those scenes even more touching.”
After Moore revealed Jones’ personal health issues during his portrayal of his character’s last days, Brown commented that Jones’ monologue built upon the foundation the show had established: “Impressive, these words serve as guidance for living.”
Despite the fact that William, played by Jones, passed away early in the show’s storyline, his character continued to appear through flashbacks and significant emotional scenes. The series, which is known for its time jumps, featured William in these moments, even during the moving finale, where he had been diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 stomach cancer.
After wrapping up the show in real life, Jones passed away in August 2023 at the age of 66 due to a long-term pulmonary issue. In 2021, he disclosed that he underwent a double-lung transplant as a result of his secret struggle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He spent close to two months receiving treatment at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and expressed gratitude towards his co-stars and producers for supporting him during filming. Following the shooting of his last scene as William for the series finale, he expressed on set, “You all held me up when I was struggling and never let go. You’ve been with me through a tough time in my life. I’m a fortunate survivor.”
As I sat before my screen, stunned by the sudden news, I couldn’t help but feel like the line between reality and my favorite game had blurred. “CephasJaz is gone,” I read on the screen, my heart sinking with each word. “The world just lost one of its most brilliant souls.” It felt surreal, almost as if I was watching a cutscene in a game where the hero’s journey took an unexpected turn. The gaming community mourned together, sharing tributes and memories of the man who had touched our lives through his passion for gaming. It was a sad reminder that even in the virtual world, loss is a reality we all must face.
Creator Dan Fogelman mentioned Jones’ character’s outcome as one of the most daring risks the show took during its successful television tenure when looking back on potential storyline pitfalls.
As a gamer, I remember feeling a hint of skepticism when this TV series first started, thinking “it’s just network TV.” But boy, were we in for a surprise! In the very second episode, we skipped ahead eight years from the pilot. Ron Cephas Jones brought his character to life and became a fan favorite – unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to him in the first season. Jack, the family patriarch, met an untimely end in the second season. Making those bold decisions kept us on our toes and made for an exciting viewing experience.
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2024-07-17 18:24