Richard Timothy Jones (born January 16, 1972) is an American actor. He has worked extensively in both film and television productions since the early 1990s. His television roles include Ally McBeal (1997), Judging Amy (1999–2005), CSI: Miami (2006), Girlfriends (2007), Grey's Anatomy (2010), Hawaii Five-0 (2011–2014), Narcos (2015), and Criminal Minds (2017). Since 2018, he has played Police Lieutenant Wade Grey on the ABC police drama The Rookie.

His film roles include portrayals of Lamont Carr in Disney's Full Court Miracle (2003), Laveinio "Slim" Hightower in Rick Famuyiwa's coming-of-age film The Wood (1999), Mike in Tyler Perry's dramatic films Why Did I Get Married? (2007) and Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010), and Captain Russell Hampton in the Hollywood blockbuster Godzilla (2014).

Early life

Jones was born in Kobe, Japan, to African-American parents and grew up in Carson, California. He is the son of Lorene, a computer analyst, and Clarence Jones, a professional baseball player who at the time of Richard's birth was playing for the Nankai Hawks in Osaka. He has an older brother, Clarence Jones Jr., who works as a high school basketball coach. They returned to North America after Clarence's retirement following the 1978 season. His parents later divorced. Jones attended Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California, then graduated from Tuskegee University.

Career

Since the early 1990s, Jones has worked in both film and television productions.

His first television role was in a 1993 episode of the series California Dreams. That same year, he appeared as Ike Turner Jr. in What's Love Got to Do with It. From 1999 to 2005, he starred as Bruce Calvin van Exel in the CBS legal drama series Judging Amy.

Over the next two decades, Jones starred or guest-starred in high-profile television series such as Ally McBeal (1997), CSI: Miami (2006), Girlfriends (2007), Grey's Anatomy (2010), Hawaii Five-0 (2011–2014), Narcos (2015), and Criminal Minds (2017).

His film roles include portrayals of Lamont Carr in the Disney film Full Court Miracle (2003), Laveinio "Slim" Hightower in Rick Famuyiwa's coming-of-age film The Wood (1999), and Mike in Tyler Perry's dramatic films Why Did I Get Married? (2007) and Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010), and Captain Russell Hampton in the Hollywood blockbuster Godzilla (2014).

From 2017 to 2018, Jones played Detective Tommy Cavanaugh in the CBS drama series Wisdom of the Crowd.

Since February 2018, Jones has played the role of Lieutenant and Former Watch Commander Wade Gray in the ABC police procedural drama series The Rookie with Nathan Fillion.

Personal life

Jones was married to Nancy Robinson for over two decades. They share three children. Their long relationship came to an end in 2021, marking the close of an important chapter in his life. In late 2023, Richard T. Jones began a new journey, marrying his second wife, Kristy “Kris” Horiuchi. with whom he has 3 children.

He is a Christian.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993What's Love Got to Do with ItIke Turner Jr.
1994M.A.N.T.I.S.Gangbanger #2TV movie
Renaissance ManCorporal Jackson Leroy
HelicopterMalikShort
1995Jury DutyNathan
1996Black Rose of HarlemCateye
The Trigger EffectRaymond
JohnsMr. Popper
1997Hollywood ConfidentialDexterTV movie
Event HorizonCooper
Kiss the GirlsSeth Samuel
1998Goodbye LoverDetective One
1999IncognitoJake HunterTV movie
The WoodLaveinio "Slim" Hightower
Voices of GloryGeorge E. StephensShort
2000Auggie RoseOfficer Decker
LockdownAvery Montgomery
2002Book of LoveBen Strong
GSummer G
Moonlight MileTy
Phone BoothSergeant Jonah Cole
Second StringGerry FullertonTV movie
2003Full-Court MiracleLamont CarrTV movie
2004TwistedWilson Jefferson
Soul PlaneFalse Denzel
BreachAlan McCabeShort
CollateralTraffic Cop #1
ParadiseSenator Michael LinneyTV movie
Finding NeoMorphin'UsShort
2005Guess WhoMan on Cellphone
Riding the Bus with My SisterJesseTV movie
2006The PackageVance aka BruceShort
Time BombDouglas CampbellTV movie
Traci TownsendTravis
Cutting RoomSteve
2007Game of LifeMark
Why Did I Get Married?Mike
2008Vantage PointHolden
15 Minutes of FameBradley Wainwright
2010Why Did I Get Married Too?Mike
Caught in the CrossfireCaptain Emmett
Boston's FinestLt. Gerald JaglomTV movie
2011King of the UndergroundHimself
Super 8Overmyer
2012Note to SelfCurtis Sr.
The Great DivideJeff
Atlas Shrugged II: The StrikeEddie WillersTV movie
2013200 YearsWillieShort
Life of a KingPerry
The Last LetterMr. Tines
2014GodzillaCaptain Russell Hampton
Hear No EvilSamuel Carson
CruRichard 'Rich' Hughes
Lyfe's JourneyPastor TaylorTV movie
2015ForgivenessPastor Joseph Jenkins
Hot PursuitDetective Jackson
ConcussionAndre Waters
2016Cursed AngelLutherTV movie
Restored MeCoach Maurice Durrell
2017Secrets of DeceptionDetective Jones
CHiPsParish
Another YouProfessor Thompson
A Question of FaithDavid Newman
2018The PublicChief Edwards
Edge of the WorldChaplain Jacobs
SanitatumShelton Scott
2019Round of Your LifeCoach Wilson
2023The Hard HitDirector Ross
2025Aftershock: The Nicole P Bell StoryAnthony RiccoPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992RenegadeSlickEpisode: "Second Chance"
1993California Dreams'Big Bad' BoEpisode: "High Plains Dreamer"
1994NYPD BlueWillyEpisode: "Serge the Concierge"
In the Heat of the NightDonald 'Donnie' MuirEpisode: "Who Was Geli Bendl?"
1995Sweet JusticeTyrinRecurring Cast
CourthouseQuentin "Q" ThomasEpisode: "Fair-Weathered Friends"
1996Dangerous MindsKimboleyEpisode: "Pilot"
1997–98Brooklyn SouthOfficer Clement JohnsonMain Cast
1998Ally McBealMatt GriffinRecurring Cast: Season 2
1999–05Judging AmyBruce Calvin van ExelMain Cast
2001Hollywood SquaresHimselfRecurring Guest
2005Sex, Love & SecretsDr. Barnaby WalkerRecurring Cast
2006CSI: MiamiChris KaiserEpisode: "Collision"
2006–07GirlfriendsAaron WatersRecurring Cast: Season 7–8
2007Blvd. of Broken DreamsHimselfEpisode: "Chris Penn/Tara McMullen"
Las VegasKeith MannixEpisode: "The Chicken Is Making My Back Hurt"
DirtBulldogEpisode: "Come Together"
2008Numb3rsBlanchardEpisode: "Pay to Play"
2008–09Terminator: The Sarah Connor ChroniclesJames EllisonMain Cast
2010BonesMr. WhiteEpisode: "The Proof in the Pudding"
Grey's AnatomyColonel Dan MooneyEpisode: "Suicide Is Painless"
2011–13Hawaii Five-0Governor Samuel "Sam" DenningRecurring Cast: Season 2–3, Guest: Season 4
2012–13NikitaCommander Evan DanforthRecurring Cast: Season 3
2013RevolutionKen DawsonRecurring Cast: Season 2
2014SatisfactionCarlEpisode: "...Through Revelation"
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJudge Oscar BriggsEpisode: "Pornstar's Requiem"
2015NCIS: New OrleansSecurity Team Leader Ryan AnsonEpisode: "Careful What You Wish For"
ExtantJD's FriendRecurring Cast: Season 2
American Horror Story: HotelDetective Andrew HahnRecurring Cast
2015–16NarcosCIA OfficerRecurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2
2016LuciferJoe HansonEpisode: "The Would-Be Prince of Darkness"
2017Criminal MindsOfficer Lionel WilkinsRecurring Cast: Season 12
Daytime DivasBen BransonEpisode: "We Are Family"
2017–18TeachersFrank HumphreyRecurring Cast: Season 2
Wisdom of the CrowdDetective Tommy CavanaughMain Cast
Santa Clarita DietRickRecurring Cast: Season 1–2
2018–presentThe RookiePolice Sergeant/Lieutenant Wade GreyMain Cast
2020Home TownHimselfEpisode: "Los Angeles to Laurel"
2021A Black Lady Sketch ShowBubbaEpisode: "Sister, May I Call You Oshun?"
2022The Rookie: FedsPolice Sergeant II Wade GreyEpisode: "Countdown"

External links