Originally published on our site watchingtvnow.com
Child actors in Hollywood have been known to run into trouble later and life. Ensnaring the likes of Miley Cyrus and Macaulay Culkin, it seems even Angus T. Jones wasn’t immune to the curse of the Hollywood child stardom. Angus is best known for playing the sharp-tongue ten-year-old Jake Harper on the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men since he was 10-years-old. But life hasn’t always been easy for Angus and he left the show after years of being unhappy. Now, years later, let’s find out what ever happened to him.
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Days Before the Fame
Like most child stars, Angus T. Jones had a pretty normal life before his time in the limelight. He was born in 1993 in Austin, Texas, and lived there with his family. When the family moved to Los Angeles, California, things took a drastic turn, as the four year old was thrust into a whole new world no one could anticipate would lead to the sort of stardom and exposure he would experience.
A Reluctant Push to Acting
Angus wasn’t very keen on becoming an actor in his childhood, but his mother saw a spark in him she didn’t want to be wasted. He was dragged along to various unsuccessful auditions, until he was finally cast in an online commercial. Following the commercial he was later cast in a small role in the 1999 psychological crime heist dram, Simpatico, which starred Hollywood giants like Jeff Bridges and Sharon Stone.
Angus’ Breakout Role
After two years, Angus was finally able to land a role that would cement his spot in the global spotlight forever. Cast alongside David Arquette, he was one of the main characters in 2001’s See Spot Run, a popular Canadian-American comedy. The film tells the story of Spot, a seemingly stray bullmastiff, who turns out to be an FBI dog enrolled in a witness protection program who is being hunted by a crime boss.
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The Rise of a Child Star
After his 2001 smash hit performance in See Spot Run, Angus T. Jones was offered roles in even bigger franchises like Bringing Down the House and George of the Jungle. He also made guest appearances in TV series like ER and Dinner with Friends.
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It seemed like his star was on the rise – he was one of the hottest child stars in Hollywood, playing alongside the biggest actors in the biggest blockbuster hits – but his real breakout role was still in the making.
Angus Meets Chuck
Writer and producer Chuck Lorre was one of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time – and still is today. He is responsible for Grace Under Fire, Cybill, Dharma and Greg and The Big Bang Theory, among other hit TV shows. After the success of Dharma and Greg, he was in search of someone that would star in his new show, Two and A Half Men. After seeing Angus in The Rookie, he invited him over for an audition.
Two and A Half Men
Chuck was impressed by Angus’ audition and he was immediately handed the role of Jake Harper in 2003. The show was to feature a young boy who moves in with his divorced father and serial womanizing uncle, Charlie. The relationship between the cast members became iconic, and would span several years. When the show was just starting out, however, no one had any way of knowing just how big it would become – not to mention the fact that the whole world would watch Angus growing up in front of their eyes.
An Immediate Success
The show landed and was lauded as one of the most successful comedies of recent decades. Of particular notability was the selection of the cast. Charlie’s outspokenness, Alan’s eccentricity, and Jake’s adorableness were a match made in heaven. The 15 million strong viewer base had spoken – Two and a Half Men was a cult hit, and Angus was well on his way to becoming one of the most memorable actors, playing one of the most memorable characters in TV history.
Angus Was Completely Unconcerned
If you’ve ever watched the show, you know the humor it often presented nearly crossed boundaries that are usually better off left alone. Angus was young and felt he didn’t want to be exposed to that environment just yet so throughout the show’s run, he had no idea what was going on. His scenes were shot separately from the rest of show’s more… risque, shall we say? – content, and Angus was able to lead a relatively innocent and unscathed childhood.
A Philanthropist is Made
As the show grew more and more in popularity, Jones was flooded with requests to represent various brands. He turned down most of these and instead opted to be a philanthropist, donating a great portion of his time and money to neglected and abused children.
Leading one of the most priveledged childhoods possible, Angus’ selfless choice, at such a young age, no less, shows real strength of character and a strong moral core.
Maintaining a Normal Life
Being a child star is admittedly not very easy. One of the most difficult aspects of being a star in Hollywood is having a private life. Everyone knows who you are, and money and fame often confuse adults and children alike – not to mention his hectic, grown-up shooting schedule.
