L.Q. Jones, ‘Wild Bunch’ star and director of ‘A Boy and His Dog,’ dead at 94

L.Q. Jones, a veteran character actor who starred in Sam Peckinpah’s classic “The Wild Bunch” and later directed “A Boy and His Dog,” died Saturday, his family said. He was 94.

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Jones’ death was confirmed by his grandson, Erté deGarces, Variety reported. Jones died in Hollywood Hills surrounded by family members, deGarces told the entertainment news website.

Jones is best known for his role as bounty hunter T.C. in the 1969 film, “The Wild Bunch,” directed by Peckinpah.

Jones first worked with Peckinpah in 1960 on the short-lived television series “Western Klondike,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. He portrayed one of the four ruthless brothers in 1962′s “Ride the High Country” and was a Confederate soldier in 1965′s “Major Dundee.”

He also played villains in Peckinpah’s “The Ballad of Cable Hogue” in 1970 and “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid” in 1973, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Sam was a genius and I loved him, but he was a basket case. He drove everybody nuts,” Jones said in a 2017 interview.

Jones portrayed ranch hand Andy Belden on 25 episodes of “The Virginian” over an eight-year period, played a villain who slipped a noose around Clint Eastwood’s neck in 1968′s “Hang ‘Em High,” and had a role as a sheriff on the prime-time soap opera “The Yellow Rose” in 1983-84, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Westerns were his specialty on television, as he appeared on “Gunsmoke,” “Wagon Train,” “Rawhide,” “The Rifleman,” “Have Gun -- Will Travel” and “The Big Valley.”

Born Justice Ellis McQueen on Aug. 19, 1927, in Beaumont, Texas, Jones attended the University of Texas at Austin where he met Sue Lewis, Variety reported. The two divorced in the 1970s after 23 years of marriage.

McQueen adopted his stage name, L.Q. Jones, with his first film role in the 1955 film “Battle Cry,” the website reported.

Jones produced four independent films during his career, Variety reported. He produced, directed and wrote the 1975 feature “A Boy and His Dog,” which is adapted from science fiction legend Harlan Ellison’s novella of the same name.

The cult black comedy was set in the post-apocalyptic year of 2024 that starred Don Johnson and Jason Robards, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Survivors include his sons, Randy McQueen and Steve Marshall, and a daughter, Mindy McQueen, Deadline reported.

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