The figure of Vinnie Jones may be familiar in the eyes of Hollywood movie fans. He is an actor who has starred in more than 60 Hollywood films such as Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), Swordfish (2001), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), to Madness in the Method (2017). In addition, Jones has also played in several television series such as The Musketeers (2014), Arrow, Galavant (2015-2016), to Deception (2017).
However, through his track record of life, Jones is also quite well known among football lovers. Prior to his career in acting, the man who was born on January 5, 1965, had a career as a professional footballer. Throughout his career from 1984 to 1999, he played for eight teams such as Wimbledon, Leeds United, Chelsea, to Queens Park Rangers (QPR).
Jones’ career in the world of football began to climb when he joined Wimbledon in 1986. At the club nicknamed The Dons, Jones succeeded in bringing Wimbledon to the 1998 FA Cup title. The success of becoming the 1998 FA Cup champion made Wimbledon nicknamed by the British media as The Crazy Gang. The nickname was pinned because Wimbledon was able to break the dominance of the big English clubs in the FA Cup.
In general, the nickname The Crazy Gang was given as an illustration of the characteristics of the Wimbledon game, which at that time put forward a hard and aggressive style of play. Jones became an icon in The Crazy Gang squad at the time. Understandably, he is a player with a strong character, temperament, and cannot contain his emotions on the field. Even outside the field, he also often has problems with the police because he often fights in bars.
Jones, who in the X-Men films plays the antagonist, namely Juggernaut, is a figure with a temper full of sensation and controversy. In addition to his temperamental and explosive emotions on the field, Jones also sometimes can’t keep his words. In 1992 in his second spell with Wimbledon, the English Football Federation (FA) sanctioned him with a six-month ban after making comments supporting the culture of violence and the use of foul play in football. The comments were issued in a video entitled Soccer`s Hard Men.
Including a six-month ban from the FA, Jones has been involved in a total of 40 disciplinary cases in the 1992/93 season. Jones’ ruthless attitude made Wimbledon leader, Sam Hammam, furious. It’s just that Hammam’s wrath did not shake the position of Jones, who at that time had just returned to Wimbledon, who played with Chelsea the previous season.
In his second spell with Wimbledon, Jones lasted six seasons. Until the end of the 1997/98 season Jones decided to leave for QPR. While still in QPR costume, Jones began to explore his career in acting. Jones, who is still under contract with QPR, accepted the offer of director Guy Ritchie, playing in comedy genre films; Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells (1998).
In the film, Jones plays a villain. His ruthless attitude on the gridiron was one of the reasons Ritchie gave Jones the villain role in his film. After hanging up his boots in 1999, Jones increasingly focused on pursuing a career in the film world.
In 2000, Ritchie again invited Jones to appear in a film called Snatch. Again the role of the villain is played by Jones in the film. Finished playing roles in two films directed by Ritchie, the actor who has a birthday today is increasingly establishing himself in a career on the silver screen.
The award in the Best British Actor nomination at the Empire Awards for his role in the film Snatch made Jones more confident in pursuing a career in the film world. Unmitigated Jones immediately spread his wings to cultivate the art of acting in Hollywood.
Jones’ first Hollywood film was Gone in 60 Seconds, directed by Dominic Sena. In the film, starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie, Jones plays a villain with a male character named The Spinx. Lapse of a year later, Dominic Sena again invited Jones to play a role in the film Swordfish. In the film, Jones again plays a villain.
Jones’ career in the acting world rose rapidly. In 2001, in the film Mean Machine, he finally got the main role. In the film, he again collided acting with Jason Statham. Previously, Jones and Jason had been involved in the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells.
Throughout his career in the film world, Jones was known as a specialist actor in the role of villains. Maybe because his temperament and facial expressions that seemed frightening made Jones more passionate about the role.
Having a career as an actor makes Jones more comfortable enjoying his life. But that does not mean there are no trials or problems that he has faced after becoming an actor. His life is like an actor who has not always filled with happiness.
In December 2003, Jones was involved in a criminal case after assaulting passengers on a plane. At that time Jones slapped a passenger and threatened to kill one of the flight attendants. The action was carried out by Jones under the influence of liquor. As a result, Jones was fined £1100 and ordered to perform 80 hours of community service.
In 2013 trials hit Jones’ life again, after doctors declared he had skin cancer. Not only Jones, his wife, Tanya Terry, was diagnosed with a similar disease. Jones is reluctant to give up on the situation through special treatment, with his wife he is trying to fight the cancer he suffers from.
In 2016, Jones was declared cured of the deadly disease. Jones revealed that cancer was the toughest opponent he had to face in his life. “Cancer is a bad word. I faced tough and bad challenges when I was a footballer. But cancer is the strongest and most frightening opponent in my life.
After being declared cured of cancer, Jones continued his career as an actor. As of 2017 Jones has starred in three Hollywood films titled Cross Wars, Madness in the Method, and Life Outside.
ASL
