Dot-Marie Jones

Dot-Marie Jones Headshot

Actress • Athlete • Olympian

Birth Date: January 4, 1964

Age: 60 years old

Birth Place: Turlock, California

Dot Jones embodied the idea that talent came in all shapes and sizes. Prior to acting alongside A-list film and television stars, Jones dominated the world of competitive arm wrestling, winning numerous world titles and championships that earned her an impressive reputation in the sport. She entered the entertainment arena as a gladiator-type competitor on the syndicated game show "Knights and Warriors" (1992), but soon found herself with bit acting roles on several hit TV series. Jones often played imposing and intimidating characters that were based around her athletic figure and stature, yet she always delivered emotional and memorable performances. She further carved out a solid acting career with a breakout role on "Glee" (Fox, 2009-15) as a brutish-yet-endearing football coach. Her pitch-perfect casting on "Glee" showcased Jones' prowess outside of competitive arm wrestling and established her as an all-around character actor with the ability to engage audiences of all ages.

Dorothy-Marie Jones was born on Jan. 4, 1964 in Turlock, an agricultural town located in central California. She was introduced to the sporting world at a young age, competing in track during middle school before shifting into competitive weightlifting as a student at Hilmar High School in Hilmar, CA. Jones, who was voted female athlete of the year at her high school, began competing in arm wrestling, where she won her first championship at 19. She continued her athletic career well into her college years, attending Fresno State University on a track scholarship and competing in softball, shot put, and power lifting. Jones qualified for the 1988 Olympic trials in shot put, finishing sixth overall, but her sports career also came at a price. She suffered multiple body injuries and underwent a surgical procedure on her left knee that knocked her height down an inch. Jones spent her post-college years working as a youth counselor at the Fresno County Juvenile Probation Center while professionally competing in arm wrestling and winning multiple world titles.

With no intention of ever pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, a woman named Shirley Eson discovered Jones at a bodybuilding tournament. Eson, who went by the nickname "Sky" on the competitive game show "American Gladiators" (syndicated, 1989-1997), encouraged the stocky-framed and deep-voiced Jones to audition for a Medieval-themed game show titled "Knights and Warriors." Jones made her television debut on the short-lived series playing the female warrior "Lady Battleaxe." After the syndicated "Knights and Warriors" ended after only one season, Jones took on minor roles - often playing an athlete, bully or prison guard - on various television shows, including a recurring appearance on the hit family sitcom "Married with Children" (Fox, 1987-1997). She made her mainstream feature debut in 1998 opposite Robin Williams in the medical comedy "Patch Adams." Her athletic background helped Jones land her second recurring television role, playing a junior high school gym teacher on the highly successful Disney Channel series, "Lizzie McGuire" (2001-04). Jones first worked with filmmaker and producer Ryan Murphy on his provocative medical drama series "Nip/Tuck" (FX, 2003-2010) The former arm wrestling champion appeared on several episodes - first as a studio grip who worked on the fictional show-within-the-show "Hearts n' Scalpels," and as a bridesmaid at the wedding of Roma Maffia's character, an anesthesiologist at a plastic surgery facility. Murphy went on to cast Jones in a supporting role on the 2008 unaired pilot "Pretty/Handsome," about a married father of two (Joseph Fiennes) who tells his family that he is transsexual. Even though "Pretty/Handsome" failed to make it on air, Murphy's next project "Glee" proved to be ratings gold. The series followed a rag-tag group of high school students involved in show choir. "Glee" launched the careers of several talented newcomers, including Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, and turned comic actress Jane Lynch into a superstar. Around the time "Glee" was taking off, Jones appeared on several critically acclaimed series, including "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 2004-12) and "Hawthorne" (TNT, 2009-11), yet a breakout role still eluded her career. Coincidentally, she ran into the show's co-producer Brad Falchuk - whom she worked with on "Nip/Tuck" and "Pretty Handsome" - at a Whole Foods market and asked him, point blank, for a job. The next thing she knew, Jones received a call from Murphy talking about a new character he had in mind for her. That role eventually turned into Shannon Beiste, a high school football coach with a big build and an even bigger heart. Jones, as Coach Beiste, joined the cast of "Glee" during its second season and instantly won over the show's most loyal fans and critics alike. In fact, the role eared her Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011 and 2012.

Credits

BrosStream

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Cherry
Movie
2022

Bar Fight!

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Elena
Movie
2022

Rattled!

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Tennessee
Movie
2022

The Swing of Things

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Finley
Movie
2020

Golden Arm

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Big Sexy
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2020

The Bravest Knight

Voice
The Baker
Show
2019

Sins & Seduction

Actor
Louise
Movie
2019

3 from hellStream

Actor
Slackjaw
Movie
2019
58%

Greener Grass

Actor
Little Helen
Movie
2019

Halfway

Actor
Movie
2019

Comedy Happens

Guest
Show
2018

Dead Women Walking

Actor
Dorothy
Show
2018

The ResidentStream

Guest Star
Meg Mullins
Series
2018

Hurricane Bianca: From Russia With Hate

Actor
Svetlana
Movie
2018

DoubtStream

Guest Star
Judge Pauline Perillo
Series
2017
55%

Manic

Actor
Janice
Movie
2017

I'm OK

Actor
Mom
Movie
2017

TeachersStream

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Marta
Series
2016

Jane The VirginStream

Guest Star
Series
2014
100%

Playing HouseStream

Guest Star
Biker
Series
2014
90%

Muffin Top: A Love Story

Actor
Christina
Movie
2014

The MillersStream

Guest Star
Duke
Series
2013
47%

The GoldbergsStream

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Sister Mary Theresa
Series
2013

White T

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Thelma
Movie
2013

Baby DaddyStream

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Series
2012

Doc McStuffinsStream

Actor
Coach Kay
Series
2012

Long Island MediumStream

Self
Reality
2011

2 Broke GirlsStream

Guest Star
Big Reba
Series
2011

And They're Off...

Actor
Prom Date
Movie
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Cougar TownStream

Guest Star
Woman
Series
2009
89%

Modern FamilyStream

Guest Star
Louise
Series
2009
85%

GleeStream

Actor
Coach Beiste
Series
2009
70%

GleeStream

Guest Star
Shannon Beiste
Series
2009
70%

The MentalistStream

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Airport Manager
Series
2008

Chelsea Lately

Guest
Talk
2007

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

Men in Trees

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Series
2006
56%

My Name Is EarlStream

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Letter Writer
Series
2005
82%

Prison BreakStream

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Skittlez
Series
2005
61%

The Suite Life of Zack & CodyStream

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Series
2005

Nip/TuckStream

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Tess
Series
2003
74%

George LopezStream

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Series
2002

Stray Dogs

Actor
Jolene Carter
Movie
2002

RebaStream

Guest Star
Dot
Series
2001

My Wife and KidsStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

Love Her Madly

Actor
Handy-Woman
Movie
2000

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

The Naked Truth

Guest Star
Series
1995
64%

Under Lock and Key

Actor
Dot
Movie
1995

The Courtyard

Actor
Lady Mover
Movie
1995

Chicago Hope

Guest Star
Series
1994

California Dreams

Guest Star
Series
1992

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

RoseanneStream

Guest Star
Black Widdow
Series
1988
76%

Full HouseStream

Guest Star
Muscular Woman
Series
1987

Married ... With ChildrenStream

Guest Star
Lola
Series
1987

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