Tommy Lee Jones, the acclaimed actor with an Oscar to his name, has taken a step back from the Hollywood limelight to embrace a slower, more grounded lifestyle in his home state of Texas. In a recent interview with The New York Times, the 80-year-old star reflected on his choice to return to his roots, stating, “There came a time when I became aware that I could live anywhere I wanted to. So, in my wisdom, I went home.”
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The Oscar-winning actor now resides on a considerable 6,000-acre estate in San Saba, Texas, where he spends his days managing the historical property alongside his wife, Dawn Laurel-Jones. The couple dedicates their time to the estate’s agricultural efforts, including breeding polo horses and navigating the challenges posed by a local pack of wild hogs that threaten to damage their home.
Despite his resurgence in the television industry, with a notable role alongside Ethan Hawke in FX’s upcoming series “The Lowdown,” Jones has revealed that his heart remains deeply rooted in the Texas Hill Country. His estate features two polo fields, a rustic limestone house built in 1856, and a vast array of antiques, showcasing both personal history and artistic inclinations. The fort-like home was established in an era when Sam Houston was still a prominent figure in Texas history, providing a unique backdrop for the actor’s private life.
Jones’s childhood experiences shaped his appreciation for Texas. After growing up in Midland, where his father worked as a roughneck in the Permian Basin, he attended St. Mark’s School, a prestigious preparatory institution in Dallas. He later continued his education at Harvard University, where he shared a room with future Vice President Al Gore. Despite a successful career following his Ivy League education, the acclaimed star ultimately chose to return to his birthplace of San Saba.
The couple’s estate is not just a pastoral retreat but also home to an eclectic assortment of artefacts. Inside their residence, visitors can find objects such as two slate-top tables by Frank Lloyd Wright and a 120-year-old sofa from Gustav Stickley. Additionally, ancient Native American items unearthed on the property adorn the rooms, offering a glimpse into the area’s rich cultural past.
While Tommy Lee Jones enjoys the tranquillity of rural living, the joys of country life come with challenges. He faces ongoing issues with local feral hogs, which have been wreaking havoc on the property’s lawn. The actor, however, is hesitant to erect a fence around the house, expressing a desire to maintain the estate’s architectural integrity. “I didn’t want any fences around the house,” he explained. “As you can see, the house has an architectural statement to make.”
In sharing their lives on the ranch, both Jones and his wife appreciate the retreat from the public eye. Dawn Laurel-Jones has highlighted the challenges of living under constant scrutiny, stating that it can be very alienating for her husband. “It’s very alienating for him to be objectified so thoroughly,” she observed, underscoring the importance of their private life in maintaining his sense of self.
Tommy Lee Jones and Dawn first crossed paths while working on the 1995 television movie “Good Old Boys,” where Dawn served as a second assistant camera operator. Today, their partnership extends beyond romance, as they work together managing the estate’s equine activities. In addition to their polo horses, they share their lives with two Italian Greyhounds, whimsically named after actors that Jones admires.
Although the actor has ventured back into the realm of television, returning to the small screen is far from an abandonment of his beloved Texas. For Jones, the charm of the Lone Star State is undeniable, as he fondly reflects, “I knew that God loved me. Because he put me on the ground in Texas.”
With firm roots in both his heritage and the soothing landscape of San Saba, Tommy Lee Jones continues to strike a balance between his legacy in Hollywood and his cherished life in Texas. The actor highlights how a deep understanding of his personal boundaries and the solace of the countryside shape his ongoing journey.
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