R.I.P. Tim Jones

Tim Jones, a regular at The Comedy Store throughout the 1980s comedy boom and into the 1990s, has died.

Jones, a native New Yorker, headed west to Hollywood like many comedians in the 1970s. On the East Coast, he’d been a news writer for a local NBC station. “I wanted to be a network reporter you know, frontline reporting in the war zone and all that stuff. Then I realized it was pretty depressing. I tried to write funny, lighter stories, but they didn’t go down too well. I said, well, I’m going to go where they accept this stuff. I quit.” In Hollywood, or rather Burbank, Jones could work at The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as an NBC page. All while working his way up the comedy food chain.

In the early 1980s, he grabbed roles in many TV commercials, as well as bit parts in the comedy films Get Crazy and Up The Creek. In 1988, he scored a set on A&E’s An Evening at the Improv:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdabdJmFWog

That led to bigger breaks, with a recurring role on Dear John, and a guest spot on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

But he always performed stand-up. The photo of him above is from 2003.

“Tim Jones was a great human being. This is sad news, indeed,” wrote Jimmy Shubert.

From Eddie Brill: “RIP Tim Jones. We had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs back in the late eighties at the Comedy Store. Did a few road gigs together as well. One of the nicest guys in the biz. Generous soul.”

From John Caponera: “Such a good guy. Funny and under appreciated. Great spirit”

Longtime Comedy Store fixture Argus Hamilton wrote of Jones:

“We all loved Tim at the Comedy Store where he killed crowds at Westwood in the late 70s and then at Sunset through the 80s and 90s, and he headlined the road as well. He was a real gentleman, and as an NBC page in 1980, he personally kept me calm just before i walked out to do my first shot on Johnny in 1980…..Just before the curtain opened, my right leg started shaking uncontrollably, and Tim put his arm around me and said, “Remember, Argus, it’s JUST a party!” which is EXACTLY what a party animal needed to hear….. And Tim was the first to hug me congratulations backstage after Johnny walked over and shook my hand on the air after my set 8 minutes later. I owed that whole set to his pep talk!.. Tim–like Jackson–was part of our Comedy Store weekly football games at Coldwater Park throughout the late 70s and early 80s, six-on-six, seven on seven, and we all bonded on the field as we did onstage and with the ladies and the partying and everything that comprised that glorious era. The women LOVED Tim, for he was a gentle soul with a razor-sharp wit, and we could sit around and tag each other’s punchlines all day, over a doobie or two, and come down from Mulholland Drive with another two minutes of material. He was a born comic. Mitzi loved Tim as well, and he was truly family, and I’m so sorry over his recent lingering illness, but I guarantee comedy fans this: the Comedy Store Way Upstairs just got one hell of an opener-emcee. RIP, Timmy, see you soon enough. He’ll be at St. Peter’s Gate while I’m being reviewed telling me to relax, it’s just a party!…..”

Rest in Peace, Tim. You shall be missed.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

View all posts by Sean L. McCarthy →

6 thoughts on “R.I.P. Tim Jones

  1. I worked with Tim Jones many times, from Omaha to Sacramento and places in between. We shared a lot of laughs! Tim was a great, squeaky-clean closer and his writing gift was obvious–a real professional on and off the boards. They’ll be getting a great HEADLINER UPSTAIRS while Argus Hamilton’s ego-maniacal insecurity is checked at St. Peter’s gate. He was a great, humble individual (Tim Jones, that is!)

    CHRIS CURTIS

  2. So sad to hear about Tim Jones. We went to college together. Is it possible to get more information on his passing, family, etc.?

  3. My husband Tim Jones died from ALS-related respiratory failure. He was diagnosed 7 years ago. He continued to do standup till he could no longer get up on stage. He died in his Studio City home. Tim lived long enough to see his son, Blake Jones, attend Harvard. Tim was loved by everyone who knew him and is greatly missed.

    1. Hi Renee, I’m sorry for your loss. Tim lived around the corner from me growing up. Back then all I new is that he played the drums. He was a number of years older than m and I looked up to him. On TV years ago I saw him on the Dating game, then a beer commercial. Later on Up the Creek and a stand up comedy act. Last week I cell phone some the scenes of him on an episode of Chips. Every time I saw him on TV I was proud. May God bless you and your son.

Comments are closed.