Jeffrey Jones

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Date of Birth : Sep 28th 1947

Character actor Jeffrey Jones earned an enduring spot in the zeitgeist with his portrayal of frustrated principal Ed Rooney, Matthew Broderick’s outwitted nemesis in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Although he has tried to steer clear of playing only sinister roles, the actor’s imposing height, bugged-out eyes, easy sneer, and shock of reddish-blond hair give him vaguely devilish features that have prompted villain typecasting. However, the actor is also widely respected and considered a boon wherever he appears.

Jones was born on September 28, 1947, a native of Buffalo, NY. He involved himself in pre-med studies at Lawrence University in Wisconsin prior to getting the acting bug. His first jobs were on-stage, initially with Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater, then internationally in South America, Canada, and London. In the late ’70s he began working in film and landed one of his first plum roles as Emperor Joseph II in Milos Forman’s Amadeus (1984), for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor.

This paved the way for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), in which Jones plays the hissable, cartoonish high school principal hell bent on proving that the title character is faking an illness in order to play hooky. Viewers won’t soon forget Rooney’s disastrous home invasion in which he is mangled by a dog and thrice karate-kicked by Ferris’ sister (Jennifer Grey).