L.Q. Jones was born on August 19, 1927, in Beaumont, Texas, to Jessie Paralee and railroad worker Justus Ellis Mcqueen Sr. Jones’ mother died in a vehicle accident while he was a child, and he was raised by relatives. “I had a horse by the time I was 8 or 9 and grew up among tough rodeo folks – my uncle was into roping,” he later remarked of his childhood. This was where he thought his love of Westerns originated. After a number of years, he graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School in 1945. He then joined the Navy and served from 1945 to 1946. He went on to study Law, Business and Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.

While there, he shared a room with Fess Parker, who would become a lifetime friend (also a future Hollywood star known for his role as Daniel Boone).

After graduating from college in 1951, he worked as a stand-up comedian, professional baseball player, football player, and even rancher in Nicaragua. L.Q. Jones, on the other hand, could not find his calling in any of these fields.

Then he got a letter from Fess Parker, his old college roommate. This letter would alter the course of his life and alter his name.

How Justus Mcqueen Became L.Q. Jones

Jones corresponded with Fess Parker while struggling to earn a livelihood from the beans, maize, and dairy on his ranch in Nicaragua.

Parker pushed Jones to travel to Hollywood and apply for a role in the impending Warner Bros. military film Battle Cry in his letters.

Jones greatly appreciated his part as L.Q., a soldier. Jones opted to use the name as his stage name going forward.

L.Q. Jones, The Actor

Following his breakthrough in Battle Cry, Jones was able to keep busy in the 1960s and 1970s, playing roles in a variety of films. L.Q. Jones frequently portrayed comedic side roles in these films, which were generally Western or military in nature.

At this point, he began working on a number of western films and TV episodes for Sam Peckinpah.

In 1955, he appeared as “Smitty Smith” in three episodes of Clint Walker’s series Cheyenne (1955 – 1963).

Jones would get his first Emmy nomination five years later, in 1960, for his first dramatic part in the film The Rebel.

From then, he went on to feature in films like The Wild Bunch (1969), where he got to portray some of his most memorable parts.

L.Q. Jones’ portrayal as bounty hunter T.C. in The Wild Bunch is one of his most memorable appearances.

Jones entered the producing business with fellow actor Alvy Moore in the mid-1960s, forming the production firm LQ/JAF.

They collaborated on and released four films:

The Devil’s Quarters (1964)
The Witchcrafter (1969)
The Satanic Brotherhood (1971)
A Young Man with His Dog (1975)
Jones directed and co-wrote numerous of these ventures, but his most notable effort was the development of the 1975 picture A Boy and His Dog.

The film, based on the same-titled novel, depicts the narrative of a child and his psychic dog through a post-apocalyptic desert.

This film went on to become a science fiction cult classic. Jones was nominated for a Hugo Award for his adaptation of the story.

Many others approached him after that endeavour to direct their films, but his love was acting, therefore he declined.

Net Worth

L.Q. Jones had a net worth of $2 million at the time of his death. Jones, who was born into humble circumstances, wasn’t sure what he wanted to accomplish.

Jones, on the other hand, was able to launch a successful career in Hollywood by embracing an opportunity provided by a college acquaintance. It wasn’t easy, and he sometimes worked on multiple projects each week, but his many film appearances would solidify his popularity and allow him to amass a fortune.

His tremendously successful, if brief, a career as a filmmaker also contributed significantly to his income.

Facts

L.Q. Jones was a well-known American actor and filmmaker best remembered for his appearances in Sam Peckinpah’s films Ride the High Country, Major Dundee, The Wild Bunch, The Ballad of Cable Hogue, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.

L.Q. Jones is no longer among us. He passed away on July 9, 2022.

L.Q. Jones passed away at the age of 94.

L.Q. Jones was born in Beaumont, Texas, in the United States of America, on August 19, 1927. Jessie Paralee McQueen and Justice Ellis McQueen are his serving parents.