Tommy Lee Jones, 80, breaks silence on retirement plans after three-year red carpet absence

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tommy Lee Jones has no plans to retire, despite having considered the possibility.

Days after making his first red carpet appearance in three years, the actor discussed his latest role in FX’s ‘The Lowdown,’ his return to television, and his experience working with Ethan Hawke.

Jones’ comments come as he and his family continue to grieve the death of his 34-year-old daughter, Victoria Jones, who died on January 1.

Tommy Lee Jones rules out retirement after TV return

“Yes, I have,” Jones exclusively told E! News’ Will Marfuggi when asked whether he had considered retirement during a joint interview with his co-star Ethan Hawke. However, he made his decision clear, adding, “I’m not gonna do it.”

Jones is enjoying his career, including his latest appearance in the second season of the FX series, in which he plays Hawke’s estranged father. Joining the world of ‘The Lowdown’ was “very inviting” for the actor, who described the set as “a happy place to be.”

“I would have been happy to play any part in that world,” Jones said, adding that what appealed to him most was simply “what it was.”

Tommy Lee Jones and Ethan Hawke attend FX's 'The Lowdown' season 2 premiere at AFS Cinema on October 07, 2026 in Austin, Texas (Rick Kern/Getty Images)

Hawke credited the show’s creator, Sterlin Harjo, with establishing an environment that encouraged collaboration and trust. “One of the things that Sterlin does so well is he works from a place of friendship,” Hawke explained.

He added that Harjo trusts the actors and cinematographer, providing leadership while allowing everyone to contribute in their own way. According to Hawke, this creates “an openness and a feeling of playfulness that makes an easy band to join.”

Jones agreed with his co-star, saying, “There's a great deal of freedom because there's a great deal of structure.” Both actors acknowledged that opportunities like ‘The Lowdown’ do not come along very often.

“It wasn't just doing a show,” Hawke told E! News. “Sterlin gave us an opportunity to give a performance and we had opportunities to play characters that have a lot going on.”

Tommy Lee Jones grieves daughter Victoria’s death at 34

Jones and his family are also grieving the death of his daughter, Victoria Jones, who was 34. The Oscar winner and his family released a statement on January 2, thanking those who had offered support during this difficult time.

“We appreciate all of the kind words, thoughts, and prayers,” the statement to E! News read. “Please respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

Victoria, an actress who made her debut in ‘Men in Black II’ at age 11, was found dead in a San Francisco hotel room in the early hours of January 1, according to law enforcement sources cited by TMZ.

San Francisco Fire Department officials told E! News that emergency responders were dispatched at 2:52 am on New Year's Day. When paramedics arrived, they pronounced the victim, whose identity was not disclosed by the department, dead at the scene.

Victoria's official cause of death has not been disclosed. Jones’ bond with his daughter was also among the inspirations behind ‘The Homesman,’ a Western exploring sexism in the 1800s that he wrote, directed and starred in.

“My grandmother, my mother, my wife, and my daughter are all women,” Jones told his co-star Meryl Streep in a 2014 conversation with Interview magazine.

He added that many of his close friends were women and that he was interested in understanding their experiences and what was wrong.