L.Q. Jones Net Worth

Have you ever wondered how much the net worth of L.Q. Jones is? Justus Ellis Mcqueen, known professionally as L.Q. Jones was a highly successful American actor and director.

Appearing in films such as Ride the High Country (1962), Major Dundee (1965), Pat Garrett, and Billy the Kid (1973), he made a name for himself as a performer in several well-known western films.

During the course of his career, he appeared alongside some of the biggest stars in cinema.

At the time of his death, he had accrued a net worth of $2 million. In this post, we’ll explain how this well-known actor and director built his fortune and achieved his success.

Early Life

L.Q. Jones was born on August 19, 1927, in Beaumont, Texas, to Jessie Paralee and Justus Ellis Mcqueen Sr., who was a railroad worker at the time.

When Jones was young, he lost his mother to a car accident, and relatives raised him.

Of his early life, he later said: “I had a horse by the time I was 8 or 9 and grew up around tough rodeo people – my uncle was into roping.” This was where he believed that his love of Westerns first began.

Years passed, and he completed his high school education at Port Neches–Groves High School in 1945. He then entered the Navy and served in the years 1945-1946. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied law, business, and journalism.

While there, he roomed with a man who would become a lifelong friend, Fess Parker (also a future Hollywood star known for his role as Daniel Boone).

After leaving college in 1951, he worked various odd jobs as a stand-up comedian, a professional baseball player, a football player, and even a rancher in Nicaragua. However, L.Q. Jones could not find his vocation in any of these professions.

Then, he received a letter from his old college roommate, Fess Parker. This letter would change the trajectory of his life and change his name.

How Justus Mcqueen Became L.Q. Jones

While attempting to make a living off the beans, corn, and dairy on his ranch in Nicaragua, Jones entered into a correspondence with Fess Parker.

In his letters, Parker encouraged Jones to come to Hollywood and audition for a part in the upcoming Warner Bros. war movie Battle Cry.

Jones thoroughly enjoyed his role as a soldier called L.Q. Jones decided to adopt the name as his stage name from then on.

L.Q. Jones, The Actor

Immediately following his debut appearance in Battle Cry, Jones was able to remain busy performing roles in a number of films in the 1960s and 1970s. These films were often Western or Military in genre and L.Q. Jones often played humorous side characters.

At this time, he began regularly working for Sam Peckinpah on a variety of western films and TV shows.

In 1955, he was cast as a character called “Smitty Smith” in three episodes of Clint Walker’s series Cheyenne (1955 – 1963).

Five years later, in 1960, Jones would receive his first Emmy nomination for his first dramatic role in the film, The Rebel. 

From here, he would go on to star in films such as The Wild Bunch (1969), where he would have the opportunity to play his most iconic roles.

Indeed, one of the roles for which L.Q. Jones is remembered is his performance as the bounty hunter T.C. in The Wild Bunch.

L.Q. Jones, The Director

Jones began working on the other side of the camera in the mid-1960s when he formed the production company known as LQ/JAF with fellow actor Alvy Moore.

Together they produced and released four films:

• The Devil’s Bedroom (1964)
• The Witchmaker (1969)
• The Brotherhood of Satan (1971)
• A Boy And His Dog (1975)

Jones directed and co-wrote several of these projects, but the achievement for which he was most proud was his creation of the 1975 film, A Boy and His Dog.

The movie, based on a book of the same title, tells the story of a boy and his telepathic dog who make their way across a post-apocalyptic desert.

This film would eventually become a science-fiction cult classic. Jones won a Hugo Award for his adaptation of the story.

After that project, many people wanted him to direct their films, but his passion was more for acting, and he turned them down.

L.Q. Jones Net Worth 2023

At the time of his death, L.Q. Jones had a net worth of $2 million. Born into reduced circumstances, Jones wasn’t sure what he wanted to do.

However, by seizing the opportunity his college friend gave him, Jones was able to start a successful career in Hollywood.

It wasn’t easy, and he occasionally worked on several different projects each week, but his many roles in films would cement his fame and enable him to grow his wealth.

His highly successful, albeit short-lived, career as a director was also key in building his fortune.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Key Takeaways

Be Patient For The Opportunity

Jones came out of high-school unsure of what he wanted to do with his life. At this point, there was no way he could have known that he would eventually build a successful career as an actor in Hollywood.

He served in the Navy, studied various topics at university, and even tried his hand at being a rancher abroad.

One lesson from Jones’ story is that sometimes, you must be patient and wait for the opportunity to succeed.

Seize The Moment

If Jones hadn’t agreed to come to Hollywood to audition for that role when his friend asked him, he would never have experienced the success that he did.

This is another takeaway from the story. When an opportunity comes, you need to seize it.

Keep Your Friends

One of the critical elements of Jones’ story is the relationships he built with the people he knew. The friendship he built at college eventually led to his first opportunity.

This ability to make friends and keep them enabled him to build relationships and gave him opportunities to make so many well-known performances.

Success in life is often built on a foundation of solid relationships reinforced by trust.