When we first met Jake Harper, he was the lovable kid with the cutest pinchable cheeks on Two and a Half Men. The show became one of the most successful sitcoms in history, and Angus T. Jones, who played Jake, was certainly one of its focal points throughout. As he grew on the show, his antics often became quite delinquent, though not as much as his uncle’s on the show — and outside of it. Despite his massive popularity on the show and the huge sums he was being paid as a child actor because of it, Angus still opted to leave the show after Season 10.
He did make an in-person guest appearance for the series finale, but by that point, it was clear that he was no longer that interested in being a star. He commanded close to a quarter million dollars per episode and had a career that was already more successful than most young actors could ever dream while he was still a minor. He was a ready-made star by the time he stepped away from the show and had the potential to go on to make millions more as an actor. Instead, Angus T. Jones virtually disappeared from the acting world thereafter.
Angus T. Jones’s Acting Career
Angus T. Jones’s acting career may have traversed more than fifteen years in the biz, but the vast bulk of those years, and certainly the most successful parts of it all came from Two and a Half Men. He appeared on the show for ten years straight. However, contrary to what most people think, he was already acting before it. In fact, he appeared in seven movies before he was cast as Jake Harper.
He made his acting debut in 1999 when at just five years old, he made a small appearance in the Jeff Bridges, Nick Nolte, and Sharon Stone crime film, Simpatico. Between then and 2003, Angus appeared in other films such as the hit comedy, Bringing Down the House, which starred Steve Martin and Queen Latifah. He was also “George Jr.” in George of the Jungle 2, the direct-to-video sequel to Brendan Fraser’s original kid’s film. Angus also made appearances on two TV films and an episode of E.R., so his career wasn’t doing too badly at all. However, everything changed drastically when Chuck Lorre came calling.
Angus T. Jones as Two and a Half Men’s Jake Harper
As Jake Harper, Angus T. Jones had found a role he was born to play. The early seasons of the show saw him as a cute kid with a fast mouth that added a hilarious dynamic to what was already a very funny show. Charlie Sheen’s hedonistic character on Two and a Half Men (aside from his antics of it) coupled with Jon Cryer’s long-suffering role as his brother, were both complemented perfectly by Angus’s childish spunk.
Jake Harper’s one-liners depicted him as a lovably moronic kid with large ideas and an attitude to match provided many of the most memorable moments on the show, helping to cement it as a huge hit. Angus T. Jones was at the height of his fame during his time on Two and a Half Men but never capitalized on it as much as he probably could have. He did appear in a TV film and an episode each of CSI and Hannah Montana during that time. However, he was far less prolific than most actors who commanded his fame might have been in his position. Before long, he was also making waves for his comments and personal views.
By 2012, while Jake Harper was visibly growing older on the show, Angus T. Jones was also becoming a very outspoken and controversial young man outside of it. Angus’s devout Christian values were becoming well known. However, he stunned the world and many fans of the show when he delivered a video testimony in which he spoke out against what he felt was glorified hedonism.
“If you’re watching Two and a Half Men, please stop watching Two and a Half Men. I’m on Two and a Half Men. I don’t want to be on it. … Please stop filling your head with filth.”
The comments caused a huge stir and a lot of outrage on both sides of the debate. Through a PR company, Angus did later release a statement to Deadline in which he walked back much of what he had said.
Here’s a little of what he said in an apology to his work colleagues and fans of the show.
“I apologize if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed. I never intended that.”
Why Angus T. Jones Quit Acting
By the time he left the show, Angus T. Jones made it clear that Two and a Half Men had grown to be at odds with his faith and beliefs, once stating that staying on it made him a “paid hypocrite.” After appearing in the final season of it, he made one final acting appearance on an episode of the Louis C.K.-directed web series, Horace and Pete. Angus then left the world of acting behind.
He later enrolled as an environmental studies major at the University of Colorado at Boulder. People reported that he then switched majors to Jewish Studies before later seeming to be done with faith-based organizations and possibly trying to get back into acting.
“Over the last three years I’ve been involved with various faith-based organizations. Right now, I’m stepping away from the organizational business-model programs. I’m interested in seeing where I go without an organization putting a stamp of approval on if I’m good or bad or whatever.”
That was seven years ago, but Angus T. Jones has not been seen in a notable acting role since. Whatever Angus decides in the future, most people would love to see him on their screens again. While he keeps a pretty low profile, many fans cannot understand why someone with the acting world at his feet would choose to walk away from it at the height of his career. Then again, given the fact that he made more than enough money from the show to sustain himself, and he clearly detests Hollywood, perhaps the question is why should he return to acting.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
