Watson, who played Beth Pearson, posted a moving tribute to Jones on her Instagram, alongside a carousel of photos featuring the late actor. “It was really an instant gravitation. Like anytime you were in the room Id quickly make my way to you,” her post began.
She continued, “Was it the new york energy, both of us getting a big break at the same time, the coolness, the swag, the stories of hardships and triumphs, the honesty, the laughter, the humor, the laughter, the laughter, the humor and the honesty. The genuiness. The freedom and generosity with which you gave your authentic self. Letting me know you. The joy of your meteroic rise at 59 years of life. Sharing deeply in that joy. The fact that I could say, “hey…wanna go to a diner and rehearse this scene?” and you were 100% down with it because thats where you came from. Read, rehearse, stage. You knew it well. It was your short hand. I got to witness 1st hand your commitment to wanting to give the very best performance every single time…the absolute best performance you could give. You werent satisifed unless everyone else was satisfied when cut was called.”
“I appreciate all the check-ins we shared as you continued your journey onto new adventures. The reunions we had and the love that was always there. You were my friend. And what a blessing in this life to have a friend called You. You LOVED being an actor, an artist, a forever student of life,” she wrote. “But I knew you to love nothing more than Jasmine. My heart goes out to you @jazzy_joness . You were the music to his soul. His Jaz. His jazz. His jazz.”
She concluded her tribute, “So… One time for the coolest cat. One time for the mark he left that will remain. One big ol standing ovation for my guy, Ron Cephas Jones. Jah bless and guide you sweetly home, my friend. Missing you…”