Sam J. Jones

Samuel Gerald Jones was born on August 12, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Sacramento, California. After high school, he served in the United States Marine Corps from 1972 to 1974, where he also played American football. Following his military service, he moved to Seattle with aspirations of joining the Seattle Seahawks, though he was not accepted. Instead, he played for their practice team, the Flyers, as a semi-professional from 1976. To support himself, Jones also embarked on a modeling career, appearing in a full-frontal nude photo spread in Playgirl magazine in 1975 under the alias “Andrew Cooper III”, and starring in local TV commercials for a sporting goods store. In 1977, he relocated to Los Angeles to further his acting career.

Jones made his film debut in Blake Edwards’ romantic comedy “10” in 1979. This role paved the way for his most recognized performance as the titular character in the 1980 cult classic “Flash Gordon,” a role for which his hair was dyed blonde. The film achieved moderate box office success, grossing $27.1 million in North America and $22 million in the UK against a $20 million budget. However, a disagreement between Jones and producer Dino De Laurentiis led to the cancellation of a planned “Flash Gordon” film trilogy. Following “Flash Gordon,” Playgirl magazine re-published his 1975 photo spread in January 1981, this time using his real name. He continued his acting career with diverse roles, primarily in television, including his co-starring role as Chris Rorchek in the TV series “Code Red” from 1981 to 1982. He also appeared as Johnny Valentine on the HBO series “1st & Ten” in the late 1980s and early 1990s, showcasing his range across various genres and platforms.

His career saw a resurgence in public attention with cameo appearances as a version of himself in the comedies “Ted” (2012) and “Ted 2” (2015), which introduced him to a new generation of audiences. Beyond acting, Jones transitioned into a high-end security professional role, moving away from a full-time acting career to provide for his family. In this capacity, he has secured high-profile clients traveling between the United States and Mexico. He also served as an executive producer for “Life After Flash” (2019), a crowdfunded documentary that explored his career and the long-lasting impact of “Flash Gordon.” This documentary highlighted the challenges and triumphs throughout his professional life, offering a deeper insight into his experiences in Hollywood and beyond.