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Oscar Winner Tommy Lee Jones Returns to Television After Nearly 40 Years
14 March 2026
BREAKING NEWS —
Veteran actor Tommy Lee Jones, 79, has joined the cast of FX’s acclaimed series ‘The Lowdown’ for its upcoming second season. This marks his first scripted television role in nearly four decades.
In a major casting coup for FX, Oscar and Emmy winner Tommy Lee Jones has signed on to co-star in the second season of the Western-noir drama ‘The Lowdown.’ He will star opposite Ethan Hawke in the series created by Sterlin Harjo (‘Reservation Dogs’).
The network announced the news this week, though details about Jones’s character remain under wraps. Industry reports highlight that this move ends a three-year acting hiatus for the legendary performer and represents a significant return to series television. His last major on-screen TV role was in a late-1980s Western miniseries.
A Storied Career
Jones is an American actor best known for his dry, taciturn portrayals of lawmen, military figures, and cowboys. His career spans over five decades.
- Notable Films: ‘The Fugitive’ (for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), ‘Men in Black,’ ‘No Country for Old Men,’ ‘Lincoln,’ and ‘Jason Bourne.’
- Directorial Work: He has also directed films, including ‘The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada’ (2005), ‘The Sunset Limited’ (2011), and ‘The Homesman’ (2014).
- Last Major Film: According to filmography records, his last major film role was as CIA Director Robert Dewey in 2016’s ‘Jason Bourne.’
The addition of Jones to ‘The Lowdown’ significantly raises the profile of the critically praised but under-the-radar series. He joins a cast that also includes Betty Gilpin. Production on Season 2 is expected to begin later this year.
This casting news confirms that one of Hollywood’s most respected and enduring character actors is far from finished, choosing a prestigious, character-driven project for his return to the small screen.