After he graduated from Sunset High School in the early ’60s, Mickey Jones launched successful careers as a professional drummer and a film and TV actor.
Jones died Feb. 7 from an undisclosed illness. He was 76.
He joined Dallas native Trini Lopez’s band after high school.
Mickey Jones, left, with Trini Lopez on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
Jones also played with Johnny Rivers and backed Bob Dylan on his 1966 world tour after Levon Helm quit. That tour included the infamous “Dylan goes electric” gig in Manchester England. Jones joined Kenny Rogers’ band, The First Edition, and was awarded 17 gold records and performed on Rogers’ TV show “Rollin’ on the River.”
When that band broke up, Jones began pursuing acting fulltime.
He is perhaps best known for his role as Pete on the ABC show “Home Improvement.” He also played Rodney “Hot Rod” Dunham on “Justified. And he acted in movies including “Total Recall,” “Sling Blade” and “Tin Cup.”
Jones was involved in charity fundraising, often supporting veterans causes.
In 2007, he published his memoirs, “That Would Be Me: Rock & Roll Survivor to Hollywood Actor.”
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Jean Starr, and their two children.
