Sam J. Jones

The blond who infuriated De Laurentiis

Sam J. Jones landed in Dino De Laurentiis's office with an imposing physique and no dramatic experience. It was 1979, and the Italian producer was desperately looking for a face that could compete with the success of Lucas's galactic saga. Jones was a Florida Marine who had barely poked his head into the comedy 10 alongside Bo Derek.

It was a train wreck.

During the shoot of Flash Gordon in 1980, tensions over the contract and the shooting per diems blew up the relationship between the actor and the producer. Jones walked off the set before post-production was over. As a result, voice actor Peter Marinker had to dub much of Jones's dialogue in the final version. That decision to abandon ship early cost him his reputation with the major Hollywood studios for decades.

But the public knew nothing about these behind-the-scenes fights. For moviegoers in 1980, Jones was the ultimate hero in a red tank top. The film didn't make a splash at the U.S. box office, but it instantly became a cult favorite in Europe and the UK. Queen's soundtrack helped lock his image into the eighties aesthetic forever.

From the Marines to executive protection

The 1980s were an uphill battle for someone who had reached the stratosphere of science fiction. Jones tried to regain his footing with the series The Spirit in 1987, but the pilot failed to win over the networks. From then on, the actor accepted that his place was in B-movie action films and episodic television guest spots.

In 1981 he starred in the series Code Red and later appeared in The A-Team. His physique was still his best work tool. He worked nonstop on direct-to-video productions such as Silent Assassins in 1988 and Driving Force in 1989. He wasn't chasing critical acclaim but rather supporting his family with steady paychecks.

Away from the spotlight, Jones made a pragmatic decision. He drew on his military training to launch a private security company. For years he devoted himself to protecting top executives and public figures on risky trips through Mexico and other Latin American countries. During that time, the actor felt more at home with a gun on his belt than with a script under his arm.

The uniform suited him better than the spandex did.

The Rescue of Seth MacFarlane

Just when it seemed his name would only show up on lists of has-beens, something changed. In 2012 Seth MacFarlane called him to take part in Ted. The director was an obsessive fan of the 1980 movie and wanted Jones to play himself. The script presented him as an unpredictable party guy who still lived in the shadow of his most famous character.

The move paid off because Jones agreed to poke fun at his own tough-guy image. The success of Ted brought him back to the front lines and let him reprise the role in the sequel from 2015. Thanks to these appearances, a new generation of viewers discovered his earlier work. In 2017, the documentary Life After Flash took a close look at his downfall and subsequent professional redemption.

In 2019 he appeared in the movie The Silent Natural and has stayed involved in independent projects such as Edgar Allan Poe’s Lighthouse Keeper, shot in 2016. His schedule is now filled with comic book conventions, where he signs autographs for $50 per signature. It's a lucrative business that taps into the nostalgia of those who grew up watching him save the universe.

Today, Jones lives far from the bright lights of Los Angeles.

His last credited appearance in a mid-budget production was in 2023, with a supporting role in an action thriller. He still keeps the same haircut and the same physical discipline he had when he served in the Marines. In 1980 he signed a three-movie contract but only ended up shooting one, out of pride in his stand-off with De Laurentiis.