The Curious, Controversial History of Former Child Star Angus T. Jones ('Two and a Half-Men')

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Former child star Angus T. Jones hit it big on the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men, which originally aired on CBS from 2003 to 2015. Jones played young Jack Harper, son of Jon Cryer’s Alan Harper character, and nephew of Charlie Sheen’s Charlie Harper.

As with Sheen and his role (who was replaced later by Ashton Kutcher as Walden Schmidt), Jones did not remain with the series for its entire run.

A Closer Look

In 2013, Angus T. Jones exited his cushy role as Jack following controversial statements that he made about working on the series, which he lambasted. He subsequently beseeched viewers to tune out. “If you watch Two and a Half Men, please stop watching [it],” he said in a video streamed online. “‘I’m on Two and a Half Men, and I don’t want to be on it. Please stop watching it. Please stop filling your head with filth. Please.”

In March 2014, the actor granted an interview to Houston television station KHOC, and once more professed his shame of Men, which he said opposed his core Christian beliefs. In a report by The Wrap, Jones said the series makes “light of topics in our world that are really problems for a lot of people,” and that he was “a paid hypocrite,” because even though he wasn’t pleased with the show’s creative direction, he still kept performing on it.

Jones was raking in approximately $250,000 per episode and, unfortunately, has not worked steadily on any major television series since.

Jones later regretted his comments with a public statement, while his fans later praised his words.

A New Image for Mr. Jones

For 12 seasons, Two and a Half Men was a comedy mega-hit for CBS. The Emmy-winning series marked the big break for Angus T. Jones, who was only 10 years old when the show’s pilot premiered.

Following the show's cancelation, however, Jones disappeared from the limelight (that ultimately turned dim), leaving his followers to question his whereabouts.

In 2023, however, Jones was spotted in Los Angeles sporting a dramatic new look that was quite the departure from his former child actor appearance on Two and a Half Men.

Conclusion

For decades, the Hollywood spotlight has proven to be an overwhelming (and sometimes deadly; i.e. Dana Plato) experience for actors and creative sorts of all ages, but especially former child stars.

Fortunately, Angus T. Jones found the strength and stamina required to find a measure of peace and tranquility beyond the glimmer and glare of Tinseltown.