Actor Tommy Lee Jones made a rare public appearance in Austin, Texas. He stepped onto the red carpet for the Season 2 premiere of FX’s crime comedy series The Lowdown. The event, held at the AFS Cinema on October 7, 2026, marked the 80-year-old Academy Award-winning star’s first red carpet appearance in nearly three years.
Looking relaxed, Jones posed for photographers alongside series creator Sterlin Harjo and co-stars Ethan Hawke and Ryan Kiera Armstrong. For the outing, the actor wore a navy windowpane plaid blazer, a light blue button-up shirt, and dark blue jeans.
A Return to Television in The Lowdown
Jones’ appearance in Austin ties directly to his role in the upcoming season of the FX series. The veteran actor appears in a two-episode arc during Season 2, playing Lee Raybon Senior. His character is the estranged father of series protagonist Lee Raybon, portrayed by Ethan Hawke.
In the neo-noir crime drama set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Hawke plays a bookstore owner who moonlights as an investigative citizen journalist exposing local political corruption and powerful families. Showrunner Sterlin Harjo admitted that casting Jones was an ambition he initially thought out of reach.
“We’re just kind of going about who would be a great formidable figure in Lee Raybon’s life and Tommy Lee popped up in our mind,” Harjo shared in an interview. “Then we couldn’t get him out and he was a fan of The Lowdown.”
Ethan Hawke expressed admiration for his co-star, calling it an absolute privilege to share the screen with him. Hawke praised Jones’ enduring career and the depth he brings to the role, emphasizing that the veteran actor delivers a powerful performance rather than a quick cameo.
Stepping Back Into the Spotlight After Personal Tragedy
The Austin premiere marks Jones’ first major public appearance since the December 2023 red carpet event for his crime thriller film Finestkind. It also represents his return to the public eye following a painful period for his family.
The actor’s return follows the death of his 34-year-old daughter, Victoria Jones, who passed away on January 1. Victoria was found unresponsive in a San Francisco hotel room, and the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled her death an accidental overdose caused by toxic effects. Following the tragedy, Jones and his family released a brief statement expressing gratitude for public support and requesting privacy.
Fans and industry peers have welcomed the actor’s return to the spotlight. Season 2 of The Lowdown is scheduled to premiere on the platform on October 14, 2026.
