Vinnie Jones Biography

Summary

"Vincent Peter 'Vinnie' Jones" (born January 5, 1965) is an English-born ex-footballer (and former captain of the Wales national football team) and successful film actor. He has capitalized on his tough man image gained through his football and is now famous for his aggressive style of acting and highly intimidating demeanour.

Biography

Football career

Jones was born in Watford to a father who worked as a gamekeeper. He started his football career in 1984 at non-league Wealdstone, during which time he combined playing football with being a hod-carrier. He played one season in second-level Swedish club IFK Holmsund in 1986 and helped them win the series.

Later that year he moved to Wimbledon for a £10,000 fee. He was part of the 'Crazy Gang' team that won the FA Cup in 1988, arguably the club's greatest achievement. He subsequently played for Leeds United, Sheffield United, and Chelsea, before moving back to Wimbledon again in 1992. He played over 250 games for the Dons, before briefly becoming player/coach of QPR in 1998. When overlooked for the vacant post of manager of QPR, he announced his retirement from the game.

While a footballer, he became quickly infamous for his brutal 'hard man' image, which frequently brought much criticism of his style of play. He was sent off 12 times in his career, and once was booked after only five seconds of play. In one notorious incident he distracted Paul Gascoigne by grabbing his testicles. During another match, he ended the career of Tottenham defender Gary Stevens with a vicious tackle. However, during his season at Leeds United, he proved that he could prosper and play well without the illegal side of his game, and under the stewardship of Howard Wilkinson only received 3 yellow cards in the whole season.

He also was the presenter of the infamous "Soccer's Hard Men" video released in 1992, which featured archived footage of himself and many other 'hard men' of the game, and included advice for budding 'hard men'. After the release of the video, Jones received a £20,000 fine from The FA for 'bringing the game into disrepute.'

A high point in his football career was when he was chosen to play international football for Wales. Despite his Welsh surname, the qualifying relationship was his grandfather on his "mother's" side, who came from Ruthin, north Wales. He earned eight caps and even captained the side.

Vinnie has stated that he would eventually like to return to football, possibly with Leeds United. Jones told Yorkshire Radio 'I will come back without a doubt, Leeds fans gave me so much and it's a club very close to my heart.' Currently, when his acting schedule allows, he turns out for the over-35 team of Los Angeles amateur club Hollywood United, alongside several other football-playing celebrities.

Other works

On 6 December 1998 Jones appeared at the World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view Capital Carnage, where he played up his 'hard man' image, acting as a special guest enforcer for the main event. Before the match he had a (staged) fight with fellow enforcer The Big Bossman and was 'red carded' and kicked out. He came back at the end of the show to drink beer with 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and referee Earl Hebner. Jones returned to the promotion, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, on 18 February 2007 at No Way Out, where he claimed he had 'kicked Stone Cold's arse' on the set of "The Condemned".

In May of 2002, Vinnie played a character in the music video for Westlife's single 'Bop Bop Baby'.

In November 2002 Jones released an album of blues and soul songs on Telstar called "Respect" in the UK, as his musical debut under the tuition of Phil Edwards. He also appeared in a series of UK TV advertisements for Bacardi.

Vinnie appeared on the first episode of the second season of the current Top Gear in their 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' segment. He managed to make it around the track in 1' 53'.

In 2000, Jones caused controversy when he appeared in an ad for a drink called 'Red Devil'. In the ad, Jones is pruning flowers in his garden when he sees a robin crying because its bird feeder is empty. Vinnie fills the feeder, and places it on the windowsill of his kitchen. Seeing the feeder, the robin flies at it, collides with the kitchen window, and slides down the pane while Vinnie bursts out laughing. Many parents said the ad (which drew about 390 complaints) was tasteless, and upsetting for children. Later, the ad was shown only after the nine o'clock watershed. The ad was eventually axed.

Jones was the first ever guest host for The Friday Night Project when it first aired on Channel 4 in February 2005. As of September 2006, Jones' image and voice are being used in a campaign by UK bookmakers Ladbrokes to promote greyhound racing, a sport Jones has been connected with in the past, as a racing dog owner and an enthusiast. Jones has recently appeared as himself in an RAC commercial also featuring his wife, Tanya.

Jones recently voiced the introductory track, "Change", to Joss Stone's album, Introducing...Joss Stone.

Personal life

In December 2003 Jones was convicted of air rage offences committed on a flight the previous May. Following his conviction Bacardi withdrew the ads in which Jones appeared. He was convicted of assaulting a neighbour in 1998.

He used to live in Dronfield, near Sheffield. In 2005, he became president of Hertfordshire Agricultural Society.

Vinnie is also President of NOBS (the National Organisation of Beaters and Pickers-up) and is a keen countrysports enthusiast.

Jones now live with his wife, Tanya, and their two children in Los Angeles.