Doug Jones: podcast appearances and interviews

Doug Jones, born on May 24, 1960, is an American actor, contortionist, and mime artist. He is recognized for his performances as non-human characters, often through the use of heavy makeup and visual effects. Jones has collaborated extensively with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, appearing in films such as Mimic, Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Crimson Peak, and The Shape of Water. In addition to his work with del Toro, Jones has appeared in other films including Hocus Pocus, Tank Girl, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Absentia, Ouija: Origin of Evil, and The Bye Bye Man. His television work includes roles in the science fiction series Falling Skies, del Toro’s horror series The Strain, and from 2019 to 2024, he portrayed Baron Afanas in the vampire comedy series What We Do in the Shadows, occasionally performing with and without creature makeup. From 2017 to 2024, Jones also played the character Saru in the series Star Trek: Discovery. Known for his physicality and versatility, Jones has built a distinguished career portraying non-human characters across various genres in film and television.