We have witnessed Angus T. Jones grow up before our eyes, from a young boy of 10 years to a man in his twenties. He captured our hearts with his character on one of the most beloved TV shows in film history.
Angus was offered the role of Jake Harper in Two and a Half Men at a young age. His vibrant personality, quick wit, and adorable face were more than enough to convince the show’s producers to cast him. Reflecting on those early days, he once said, “It was great not having to have the anticipation of a phone call.”
On the series, he portrayed the son of Jon, played by Jon Cryer, a divorcee, and the nephew of Charlie, played by Charlie Sheen, a womanizer living a hedonistic and carefree life. People fell in love with Angus from the very first episode, and he became an overnight celebrity with millions of fans. Each episode was watched by a staggering 15 million viewers. As the highest-paid child actor ever, Angus earned $300,000 per episode, making history in the process.
Before his role in Two and a Half Men, Angus appeared in commercials starting at the age of four and had roles in several movies, including Simpatico, See Spot Run, The Rookie, Bringing Down the House, and George of the Jungle 2.
However, after ten years on the show that brought him immense success, Angus had had enough of Hollywood. His character, Jake Harper, took a turn that not many expected, becoming a teenager who smoked marijuana and lacked interest in studying. Consequently, Angus decided to leave the show and later expressed regret for being a part of it. One of the reasons behind his regret was his decision to join the Seventh-day Adventist church, a Protestant Christian denomination known for its conservative principles and lifestyle, which contradicted the content of Two and a Half Men.
In an interview with Seventh-Day Adventist filmmaker Christopher Hudson for The Forerunner, Angus urged viewers to stop watching the show, stating, “If you watch Two and a Half Men, please stop watching Two and a Half Men. I’m on Two and a Half Men, and I don’t want to be.” He emphasized the negative effects of television on the brain and expressed that one cannot be a true God-fearing person while being on a show like that.
In 2014, when Angus officially left the show, he acknowledged the difficulty of being a part of something that made light of serious issues affecting many people in the world. He described himself as a “paid hypocrite” for not aligning with the show’s content but continuing to participate.
However, he later realized that his words had been offensive to Chuck Lorre, the show’s producer, and although he maintained his opinion about the series, he felt the need to apologize to Lorre for his remarks.
Since leaving the show, Angus has maintained a low profile and pursued his studies in religion at college. He found solace in stepping away from the glamour of Hollywood, and today, at 27 years old, he looks completely different. With long hair and a beard, he shares puzzling and often cryptic messages on his Instagram profile.
