Neal Jones
# Neal Jones

Neal Jones (born January 2, 1960) is an American stage, film, and television actor. He is best known for his role as Billy Kostecki in Dirty Dancing.

## Early life and education

Neal Jones was born on January 2, 1960, in Wichita, Kansas. Jones attended the Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts in St. Louis, Missouri.

## Career

After attending the Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts in St. Louis, Jones moved to New York and began his professional career in Nicol Williamson's production of Macbeth at the Circle in the Square. This was followed by The Corn Is Green at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and the Tony Award-winning, Big River, at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. He went on to appear in numerous New York stage productions, including Mike Leigh's Ecstasy and Tom Dulack's Diminished Capacity at The New Group, Kenneth Branagh's Public Enemy at the Irish Arts Center, and The Great Lakes Theater Festival’s world premiere of Dylan Thomas's A Child's Christmas in Wales in Cleveland, Ohio, directed by Clifford Williams. As a director he staged the world premiere of Celtic Tiger (Me Arse) by Don Creedon, and the New York premiere of Joseph O'Connor's Red Roses and Petrol, both at the Irish Arts Center in New York, where he has also served as Artistic Director. He is a member of the Actors Studio.

His first film appearance was in Dirty Dancing, followed by more than 25 films, including Taylor Hackford's The Devil's Advocate (one of four films in which he appears with Al Pacino), In America and G.I. Jane. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2008 Malibu International Film Festival for his role in the independent film Mona.

Jones also has appeared in several television series, including The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Law & Order, and Criminal Minds (as Karl Arnold aka The Fox). He appeared in seven episodes of the FX series Rescue Me as Peter Reilly, the gay son of Chief Jerry Reilly. Jones's work in Generation Kill was singled out for praise by reviewers Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe and Alan Sepinwall of the Star-Ledger.

## Filmography

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1987 | Dirty Dancing | Billy Kostecki | |
| 1992 | Glengarry Glen Ross | Man in Donut Shop | |
| 1993 | Romeo Is Bleeding | Clerk | |
| 1996 | Looking for Richard | Messenger | |
| 1996 | Ratchet | Sam Leary | |
| 1997 | Silent Prey | Kevin O'Neill | a.k.a. Silent Predator |
| 1997 | Sax and Violins | | |
| 1997 | G.I. Jane | Duty Officer | |
| 1997 | The Devil's Advocate | Larry - Florida Reporter | |
| 1998 | Day at the Beach | Chuck Hanson | |
| 1998 | Come To | Biker 1 | short film |
| 1998 | The Siege | NYPD Representative | |
| 2000 | Chinese Coffee | Eteocles/Actor in play | |
| 2001 | Queenie in Love | Doctor | |
| 2001 | Way Off Broadway | Mr. Scott | |
| 2002 | Bridget | Hawks Anwalt | |
| 2002 | Changing Lanes | Newsroom Writer | |
| 2002 | In America | Immigration Officer #1 | |
| 2003 | Beautiful Kid | | direct-to-video release |
| 2004 | Zombie Honeymoon | Officer Carp | |
| 2005 | Game 6 | Yessiree Bob | |
| 2006 | The House Is Burning | Sheriff | |
| 2008 | Mona | John | Nominated—2008 Malibu International Film Festival, Best Supporting Actor |
| 2009 | Carbone's Birthday | Pachenko | short film |
| 2010 | Heterosexuals | Barry | |

### Television

| Year | Series | Episode(s) | Role |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1989 | Monsters | "Taps" | Gary Gregory |
| 1991 | Law & Order | "Misconception" | Ray |
| 1995 | Law & Order | "Privileged" | Bill D. |
| 1998 | Law & Order | "Bad Girl" | Mr. Flynn |
| 1999 | Sex and the City | "The Awful Truth" | Richard |
| 2000 | Third Watch | "Demolition Derby" | Brian |
| 2001 | The Sopranos | "Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood" | Agent Tancredi |
| 2004 | The Jury | "The Honeymoon Suite" | Kevin Sykes |
| 2004 | Rescue Me | "Kansas", "Orphans" | Peter Reilly |
| 2005 | Rescue Me | "Sensitivity", "Reunion", "Shame", "Believe", "Brains" | Peter Reilly |
| 2005 | Criminal Minds | "The Fox" | Karl Arnold a.k.a. The Fox |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | "Maltese Cross", "Weeping Willow" | Chief of Detectives Bradshaw |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | "Flipped" | Chief of Detectives Bradshaw |
| 2007 | Crossing Jordan | "Seven Feet Under" | Russell Berman |
| 2008 | Generation Kill | Seven episodes—complete series | Sgt. Maj. John Sixta |
| 2009 | Law & Order | "Take-out" | Alex Boone |
| 2009 | Criminal Minds | "Outfoxed" | Karl Arnold a.k.a. The Fox |
