Reed Jones

Reed Jones (June 30, 1953 – June 19, 1989) was a dancer and choreographer who performed on Broadway between 1975 and 1987. Born in Portland, Oregon, Jones built a career that spanned stage performance, choreography, film, and television.

Jones is perhaps best known for originating the role of Skimbleshanks, the Railway Cat, in the original Broadway company of Cats. He came to the part under unusual circumstances, having initially been cast as an understudy. When Willie Rosario, the performer originally assigned the role, sustained a prolonged knee injury during the pre-opening rehearsal period, Jones stepped in and ultimately originated the character. His other notable Broadway credit came with the 1980 Jerome Robbins revival of West Side Story, in which he played Big Deal.

His Broadway career encompassed a wide range of productions and responsibilities. He served as dance captain on the 1979 revival of Peter Pan and again on Play Me a Country Song in 1982. Additional stage credits included America in 1981, A Chorus Line in 1983, As Is in 1985, and The Loves of Anatol in 1985. Jones also contributed as a choreographer, taking on that role for the 1983 Broadway production of You Can't Take It With You. In 1979, he toured as a dancer alongside Sandy Duncan.

Beyond the stage, Jones accumulated screen credits as both a performer and a choreographer. He appeared in a 1979 episode of Live from Lincoln Center and danced in the 1985 film adaptation of A Chorus Line. He received a choreography credit on the 1981 film The Fan, starring Lauren Bacall, and provided musical staging when You Can't Take It With You was broadcast on Great Performances in 1984.

Jones died on June 19, 1989, in Sherman Oaks, California, eleven days before his thirty-sixth birthday.