RIP LQ Jones (1 Viewer)

[Philip Verdieck]

Beaumont native, actor dead at 94

L.Q. Jones was a familiar character actor in more than 150 films and television shows.

www.chron.com

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A veteran of many western movies, Jones still vividly recalled working with director Sam Peckinpah, as he became a favorite among the director’s casting repertoire.

“Sam was a genius and I loved him, but he was a basket case. He drove everybody nuts," Jones said.

That was evident during the production of “Major Dundee” with Charlton "Chuck" Heston.

In the same film, Jones wasn’t spared Peckinpah’s wrath.

“Sam built a 9-foot tower on rails over a river so he could follow us in water scenes. Ben Johnson, Warren Oates, and me were chasing a band of Indians up the river and must have done something to tick Sam off," Jones said. "As we came back, he yelled out ‘You SOBs, you have no talent. I’ll see you never work in motion pictures again!’”

“I’m steaming mad. So, I rode back to the tower, stood in the saddle and climbed up the tower and told him, ‘Peckinpah, you don’t have enough talent to direct me to the men’s room.’ Absolute quiet, as everyone waited for me to be dispatched – the end of my career! But Sam just giggled, and everything was OK," Jones said. "It was just Sam being Sam.”