Tommy Lee Jones’ first public appearance after the tragic death of his daughter Victoria: «He is not himself»

Victoria Jonesthe is award-winning actor’s minor Tommy Lee Jones, She was found dead in the early hours of New Year’s Eve. in a luxury hotel in San Francisco, California. The young woman was 34 years old, and cause The tragic death is still under investigation.

A week after the sad news that generated commotion in Hollywoodthe 79-year-old actor made his first public appearance in San Antonio, Texas. He was accompanied by his wife, the photographer Dawn Laurel-Jones61, to whom he has been married since 2001.

In the images shared by the Daily Mailwere captured by paparazzi while they were walking together towards their car. Head down at all times, the expression on the face of the protagonist of Men in Black It denoted the deep grief he is going through.

Victoria Kafka Jones with her father and stepmother. (Photo: AP)

A source close to the family told the British newspaper that the mourning deeply affected Jones, who had made several attempts to admit his daughter to a rehabilitation clinic two years before this fatal outcome.

«He’s not himself right now. «Tommy is heartbroken, he’s heartbroken,» the same source said. «He’s a tough guy who usually has everything under control, and the stress of lose your daughter «It clearly hit him like lightning,» he said.

«It’s not that work helps him, but right now he’s doing nothing to distract himself from the pain. «He’s using this time to cry.», remarked the person close to the Jones family.

The unknowns surrounding the death of Victoria Jones, the daughter of Tommy Lee Jones

The emergency call to 911, made by a guest of the Hotel Fairmontwas carried out around 3 in the morning on January 1, 2026, and warned about an unconscious woman in the hallway on the 14th floor.

In the audio recorded by the paramedics who assisted her, the episode was classified as «code 3 for overdose». Then they reported «color change«, which generally refers to the cyanosisthat is, a bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membrane that is usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood, as defined by the specialized site medlineplus.gov.

Despite CPR being performed, Victoria was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unknown how she got there alone, but there were no immediate signs of violence or visible trauma to her body.

There were also no traces of substance use found in the vicinity. It is hoped that the autopsy will shed more light on the sudden death.

In recent years he had maintained a low media profile, but on a personal level he was fighting several personal battles. Since 2017, when she attended the Tokyo Film Festival with the actor, Victoria has not made any more public appearances.

Tommy Lee Jones’ desperate attempts to help his daughter Victoria

The actor’s youngest daughter was the result of Jones’ marriage to his second wife, Kimberlea Cloughleya very low-profile woman about whom not much is known, with whom he was married for 15 years. Together they are also parents to their firstborn, Austin Leonard Joneswho is currently 43 years old.

Victoria used to accompany her father on all the red carpets where he was invited, and had also followed in his footsteps in acting from an early age.

Victoria Jones at age 11 in the cameo she starred in «Men in Black II.» Photo: IMDb

His debut in front of the cameras was at the age of 11 in a cameo in Men in Black II (2002).

She later appeared in a 2005 episode of the teen drama One Tree Hill and that same year he participated in the film The three burials of Melquiades Estradadirected by his father. Since then she moved away from acting, and little was known about her for the next two decades.

Tommy Lee Jones and his daughter watching the NBA basketball final game in 2013. (Photo: AP)

As revealed in an article by San Francisco Chronicle, Two years before Victoria’s death, her father had requested temporary guardianshipknown as conservatorship in English, so she can make decisions on her daughter’s behalf.

In the court documents cited by the British media, it is detailed that the actor declared that his daughter had «conduct that endangered her life», due to «cognitive and physical impairment» that she was suffering, and argued that she cannot understand the consequences of her actions.

Jones also explained that her daughter needed drug rehabilitation treatment. He submitted a formal petition in August 2023, with the intention of requesting his placement in a center specialized in substance addictions.

Victoria Jones in her last police booking, six months before her death. (Photo: Napa County Department of Corrections)

Marin County court records reflect that at the time Victoria Jones was involuntarily detained in a hospital in Greenbrae for being a danger to herself or others.

When he submitted the request, the actor requested that neither his daughter nor other family members, including Victoria’s mother and ex-wife, Kimberlea Cloughley Moserreceived notification of the hearing to obtain guardianship, for fear that if their daughter found out, she would «disappear again.»

Jones also stated that her daughter would likely try to «access funds that would help her continue your self-destructive behavior«.

Tommy Lee Jones with his daughter, Victoria Jones. (Photo: AFP)

A judge granted him temporary guardianship, but four months later the actor himself requested that the case be dismissed. Apparently their relationship worsened and the young woman refused to receive help.

On December 18, 2023, Marin County Superior Court Judge Kelly Simmons terminated the temporary conservatorship and granted the request to dismiss the entire case.

Three arrests in the last year of life: Victoria Jones’ battle against addictions

One year and four months later, in April 2025, it was arrested in Napa County for a domestic violence complaint and possession of controlled substance.

Then they continued two more arrests in May and June 2025, for the same reason, but she was released on bail. The deal offered by Napa County required her to plead guilty to resisting/obstructing arrest and unlawful possession of cocainebut exonerated her of the charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance.

In 1994, Tommy Leee Jones with Victoria’s mother, Kimberlea Cloughley Moser, on the Oscars red carpet.

To obtain one year of probation, he had to abstain from drug use and undergo random testing, as well as attend an alternative mental support program, such as weekly therapy. Victoria was due to appear at a court hearing on January 20 to sign the plea agreement.

The actor’s only public words were issued on January 2 through a brief press release where they confirmed the devastating loss.

«We appreciate all your kind words, thoughts and prayers. Please respect our privacy during this difficult time. Thank you,» Victoria’s family said.