Tommy Lee Jones: From Two Failed Marriages to Finding True Love with The One Who Captured His Heart

Tommy Lee Jones is a celebrated actor, yet many believe his success is also due to the support of his wife, Dawn Laurel-Jones, whom he married in 2001.

The famous Texan, known for his roles in ‘The Fugitive,’ ‘JFK,’ and ‘Lincoln,’ met his future wife in 1995 on a film set where both were working.

In March 1998, Jones and Laurel-Jones stepped out publicly for the first time as a couple on the red carpet.

The couple has actively supported The Climate Reality Project, an organization founded by Jones’ close friend Al Gore. In 2012, they joined an expedition to Antarctica with the group and later participated in an auction in London, where Laurel-Jones sold several of her photographs from the journey.

“She captured some stunning images there. Naturally, with the ice melting, her photos emphasize that effect. They’re quite striking. She sold 17 of them, raising just over $401,000 for this organization that we are deeply involved in,” the actor shared with The Independent.

So, who is Dawn Laurel-Jones?
The pair first met in 1995 on the set of ‘The Good Old Boys.’ It was not only a film in which Jones starred, but it also marked his TV directorial debut. Laurel-Jones was working as an assistant camera operator at the time.

At that time, Jones was still married to his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughley, but their marriage ended in divorce in 1996.

The couple eventually married in a private ceremony in March 2001, in Alamo Heights, Texas. Notably, Laurel-Jones’ sister, Deborah, an architect, designed the groom’s quarters on their property, as reported by The New Yorker.

Jones, who already had two children, Austin and Victoria, from his marriage to Cloughley, welcomed Laurel-Jones into the family as their stepmother.

The couple has an unusual past time:

Interestingly enough, and not unlike the royal family, Jones and his wife are keen polo players. In fact, in 2006 funded two teams that included himself and his wife, six professional polo players, and over 50 horses!

For six months the teams spent time as Jones’ farm and stables in Florida, with Jones telling The Texas Monthly: “We are at the top of our game. We can beat anybody, anytime, anywhere.”

As for Laurel-Jones, playing polo was new to her when she began her relationship with Jones. And despite never having played before meeting him, Jones said his wife was “one of the best women polo players in the country” even though “she didn’t even know how to ride a horse 10 years ago.”

The couple currently resides on a historic cattle ranch in Texas with a rich history spanning over 150 years. However, they value their privacy greatly. Jones emphasized to the Texas Monthly in 2006: “The gates are locked. We keep it shut down. Just friends and family, no outsiders. Just how I like it.”

He further elaborated, “During the summers, we work with the cattle, and then around seven o’clock in the evening, we start playing polo. We continue until about nine, and afterward, we gather around the fire to cook and watch the nightfall. It’s a fulfilling life. Everyone is content.”

Moreover, Laurel-Jones and her husband divide their time between their Texas ranch and a luxurious 74-acre polo estate in Buenos Aires, Argentina. What opulence!

During the filming of ‘The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada,’ a movie directed by and featuring Jones, his wife played a crucial role as the on-set still photographer.

In a true family endeavor, their then-14-year-old daughter Victoria also had a part in the film. However, Jones shared that she overslept during filming, prompting him to dismiss her from the set. Nevertheless, the production team discreetly woke her up and hurried her to the set, ensuring she made it in time for her role, without Jones being aware of the intervention at the time.