CJ Jones

CJ Jones is a deaf American actor, comedian, writer, director, producer, and advocate whose career spans more than four decades in the entertainment industry. At age 7, Jones lost his hearing due to spinal meningitis. He graduated from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf and joined the National Theater for the Deaf, touring nationally with main stage plays. Jones was cast as Orin in "Children of a Lesser God" on a Bus/Truck Broadway tour, earning an Ensemble Tony Award for his performances.

Jones is recognized for his role as Joseph in "Baby Driver," directed by Edgar Wright and co-starring Ansel Elgort, making him the first Black deaf actor in an international blockbuster film. He received the SAG-AFTRA Harold Russell Award for his performance in "Baby Driver." His screen work includes appearances in Freeform's "Everything's Gonna Be Okay," Hulu's "Castle Rock," "Avatar: The Way of Water"—where he developed the Na'vi Sign Language—and "The Last of Us." Jones won Best Actor at the Nashville Film Festival for his role in "Door in the Woods."

As a comedian, Jones developed three one-man shows and toured the United States, Japan, Sweden, Australia, Ecuador, and Canada. He has performed a Tony Award-winning play on national tour and directed deaf students from high school to kindergarten in their own productions. Jones co-wrote and directed six classic fairy tales for children's television for the series "Once Upon a Sign." He also produced the International Sign Language Theater Festival, which hosted theater artists from the United States, Russia, and Mexico.

Jones launched Sign World Studios, a Hollywood-based production company creating content conceived by deaf talent and produced by inclusive teams of deaf and hearing professionals. He also launched SignLight, a nonprofit subsidiary, to train deaf talent for jobs at every level in the industry. Jones is an advocate for the inclusion and representation of people with disabilities in media and is a frequent speaker and panelist at industry events in Hollywood and internationally. His talks, including presentations at TEDx and Gallaudet University Commencement, where he received an honorary degree, are available on YouTube. Through his work on screen, stage, and as a speaker, Jones advances authentic representation in entertainment.