Tyler Patrick Jones

Tyler Patrick Jones (born March 12, 1994) is an American former child actor and film producer best known for portraying Ned Banks, the son of Delia Banks, in the first two seasons of the CBS supernatural drama series Ghost Whisperer (2005–2008).^[1] Jones began his acting career at age five after being discovered at a birthday party in Northridge, California, leading to representation by a talent manager.^[1][2] His early breakthrough came with small but notable roles in high-profile films, including Josh Graham in the psychological thriller Red Dragon (2002), directed by Brett Ratner, and Older Sean in Steven Spielberg's science fiction film Minority Report (2002). He continued with supporting parts as Michael Beardsley in the comedy Yours, Mine & Ours (2005), a remake starring Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo, and as Timmy Lupus in the sports comedy Bad News Bears (2005), directed by Richard Linklater. Additional film appearances include the spy comedy G-Force (2009), in which he played Connor.^[3] By his mid-teens, around age 16, Jones stepped away from on-screen acting amid a decline in child roles and a burgeoning interest in the technical aspects of filmmaking.^[1] He pursued education at Chapman University, earning degrees in creative producing and sociology, and transitioned to behind-the-scenes positions. He has since produced short films including Classroom 216 (2011) and Last Saturday Night (2011), starting as a production assistant and becoming a full-time producer.^[1][3] As of 2025, he is involved in projects such as the "The Author" series while maintaining connections with former co-stars.^[4]

Early life and education

Childhood and discovery

Tyler Patrick Jones was born on March 12, 1994, in California, USA.^[5][3] Growing up in Northridge, Jones enjoyed a childhood filled with various activities, including swimming, soccer, basketball, and writing short stories, which reflected a nurturing environment that fostered both physical and creative interests.^[6] At the age of five, he was discovered by a talent scout during a birthday party in Northridge, an encounter that sparked his entry into the world of acting.^[5][1] Following this discovery, Jones began attending acting classes to develop his skills as a child performer.^[5] He soon progressed to his first audition, marking the initial steps toward a professional career in acting before any formal debut.^[5] This early training period laid the foundation for his involvement in the industry, supported by the creative outlets encouraged in his upbringing.^[6]

Education

After concluding his acting pursuits around age 16, Tyler Patrick Jones graduated from Chaminade High School in West Hills, California, before enrolling at Chapman University in Orange, California, where he pursued dual studies in Creative Producing within the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and Sociology in the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.^[1] His attendance began shortly after high school graduation in approximately 2012, marking a deliberate shift toward formal education in the entertainment industry following a period of professional acting that started in his childhood.^[1] The Creative Producing program proved instrumental in equipping Jones with practical skills for behind-the-scenes roles, including project management, team coordination, and narrative development, which he described as "unreal" and a primary reason for choosing Chapman.^[1] During his senior year, Jones demonstrated these competencies through a hands-on project abroad, producing and serving as first assistant director on a short film in collaboration with students from the Taiwanese National University of the Arts in Taiwan.^[1] Complementing this, his Sociology coursework provided insights into group dynamics and social structures on film sets, enhancing his ability to foster collaborative environments as a producer and production assistant.^[1] Jones's involvement extended to campus initiatives that reinforced his growing interest in production, inspired by the program's emphasis on innovative storytelling and real-world application, ultimately guiding his transition from on-screen performance to off-screen leadership in filmmaking.^[1]

Acting career

Early roles (2000–2005)

Tyler Patrick Jones began his acting career in 2000 at age six, debuting in a guest role as Tommy Pierce in the episode "Going Home" of the CBS legal drama Family Law. This appearance introduced him to professional television work, following his discovery at a local casting call and initial training in commercials.^[2] In 2002, Jones secured additional television guest spots, portraying Kevin Weston in the Judging Amy episode "People of the Lie," earning a nomination for Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Guest Starring Young Actor at the Young Artist Awards.^[7] That year, he also played Young Larry in "The New Guy," an episode of the Fox Family Channel sitcom So Little Time starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.^[8] In 2004, Jones appeared as Young Dennis Patterson in the UPN TV movie Silver Lake, a supernatural drama, and took a recurring role as the mischievous neighbor Chris in three episodes of the WB teen drama Summerland.^[9][10] Jones transitioned to film in 2002 with prominent supporting roles in high-profile productions. He depicted Older Sean, the grown son of Tom Cruise's character John Anderton, in Steven Spielberg's dystopian thriller Minority Report, filming flashback sequences that required improvisation and on-set scuba training for a key scene.^[11][2] Shortly after, in the same year, he portrayed Josh Graham, the young son of FBI profiler Will Graham (Edward Norton), in Brett Ratner's adaptation of Red Dragon, which included intense scenes opposite Ralph Fiennes as the serial killer Hannibal Lecter.^[12] These opportunities, obtained just days after his seventh birthday, showcased his ability to handle complex emotional material alongside major stars.^[2] In 2005, Jones played Nick (age 10–12) in the Showtime TV movie Fathers and Sons, exploring family dynamics, and Cody, a young boy in peril, in the horror film Feast. He also appeared as Michael Beardsley in the comedy Yours, Mine & Ours, a remake starring Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo, and as Timmy Lupus in the sports comedy Bad News Bears, directed by Richard Linklater.^{[13][14][15][16]} Throughout this period, Jones navigated the demands of child acting, including long hours on set and balancing education with shoots, supported by his parents who prioritized school and limited his exposure to Hollywood's competitive environment.^[2] His experiences working with directors like Spielberg involved adapting to large-scale productions, from practical effects in Minority Report to psychological depth in Red Dragon.^[11][12] By 2005, Jones rounded out his early television work with a guest appearance as Young Brian Heeley in the Crossing Jordan episode "Total Recall," contributing to the show's forensic mystery narrative.^[17] These initial roles in episodic TV and feature films laid the foundation for his development as a child performer, emphasizing versatility in dramatic and genre contexts.^[2]

Breakthrough and recurring roles (2006–2012)

Jones's breakthrough came with his recurring role as Ned Banks, the son of Delia Banks on the CBS supernatural drama Ghost Whisperer, where he appeared in 8 episodes during season 2 from 2006 to 2007.^[18] This performance earned him a nomination for the Young Artist Award in the category of Best Performance in a TV Series - Recurring Young Actor.^[19] His portrayal of the inquisitive and supportive Ned, often involved in supernatural investigations alongside his mother (played by Camryn Manheim) and Melinda Gordon (Jennifer Love Hewitt), marked a significant step up from guest spots and helped establish him as a reliable young talent in television. Building on this visibility, Jones took on supporting roles in major films. In 2007, he played Cash Murray, the antagonistic bully in the live-action TV movie Ben 10: Race Against Time, a Cartoon Network adaptation that showcased his ability to handle action-oriented conflict. The following year, he appeared as an additional performer in the fantasy adventure The Spiderwick Chronicles, contributing to the ensemble of young characters discovering a hidden magical world. In 2009, Jones portrayed Connor in the family action-comedy G-Force, a Disney film about genetically enhanced guinea pigs on a spy mission, where his role involved interactions with the animal protagonists and added to his portfolio of high-profile blockbusters.^[20][21][22] On television, Jones guest-starred as Dean Miller in the 2008 episode "A Family Thing" of ABC's Private Practice, depicting a young patient grappling with a serious health revelation.^[23] As his acting career progressed into the early 2010s, he shifted toward smaller projects, including the short film The Brute (2010), where he played Steve in a dark comedy about teenage vigilantes. His final on-screen acting credit came in 2012 with the short Blackout, in which he starred as Sam.^[24] Around this time, facing increasing competition in the industry, Jones began transitioning away from acting to focus on production and directing.^[1]

Later career in production and directing

Transition and training

Following the slowdown in his acting opportunities after the end of his recurring role on Ghost Whisperer following season 2 in 2007, Tyler Patrick Jones shifted his focus toward production work, motivated by a burgeoning interest in creating and managing film projects rather than performing in them.^[1] This transition was gradual, beginning during his late teenage years when fewer child roles were available, prompting him to explore the technical and creative sides of filmmaking.^[1] Jones's enrollment at Chapman University played a pivotal role in formalizing this career pivot, as he pursued degrees in Creative Producing and sociology, which equipped him with essential skills in project development and team coordination.^[1] The program's emphasis on real-world set operations and the sociological dynamics of production teams directly informed his practical approach, allowing him to apply academic insights to professional environments without the uncertainties of auditioning.^[1] By 2018, Jones had secured entry-level positions as a production assistant in Hollywood, contributing to television series such as Dirty John on Bravo, Life in Pieces on CBS, and Chance on Hulu.^[1] These hands-on roles provided foundational experience in logistics and collaboration, while his early independent efforts—including producing a documentary and short films—began bridging his production knowledge toward directing opportunities.^[1]

Notable projects

Jones's behind-the-scenes work included producing the 2020 music video "11 . 20" for rapper BG Heedo under his production entity @twotakes, a stylish piece inspired by classic crime films that marked the start of their creative partnership.^[25] In the same year, he took on cinematography duties for the student short film Don't Fear the Dead, demonstrating his growing technical skills behind the camera.^[3] Jones transitioned into directing with the dark comedy short The Author around 2021, which follows a struggling writer's chaotic bid for acting fame to boost his book's visibility, blending satire with personal ambition. He also served as producer for episodes of The Author Show, a YouTube documentary series chronicling a writer's journey through creative blocks and social media growth.^[26] His production entity, branded as @twotakes, has supported multiple collaborations, including ongoing work with Heedo on narrative-driven content.^[4] A key recent project is the 2024 short film Thru The Late Night, which Jones wrote and directed; it depicts a rap producer's chaotic late-night session amid the grind of Los Angeles' underground music scene, raising $13,700 through crowdfunding.^[27]

Filmography and commercials

Film roles

• Red Dragon (2002): Played Josh Graham in this psychological thriller prequel to The Silence of the Lambs.^[28]
• Minority Report (2002): Portrayed Older Sean in Steven Spielberg's sci-fi thriller about pre-crime prevention.^[29]
• Yours, Mine & Ours (2005): Acted as Michael Beardsley in the family comedy remake about a blended family of 18 children.^[30]
• Bad News Bears (2005): Depicted Timmy Lupus in the sports comedy remake featuring a ragtag Little League team.
• Feast (2005): Portrayed Cody in the horror comedy film.^[31]
• The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008): Served as an additional performer in the fantasy adventure film based on the children's book series.
• G-Force (2009): Played Connor in the family action comedy about a team of trained guinea pigs.^[32]
• The Brute (2010, short): Portrayed Steve in this dark comedy short film.^[33]
• Blackout (2012, short): Acted as Sam in this short film.^[34]

Television roles

Jones began his television career with a guest appearance on the legal drama Family Law in 2000, playing the role of Tommy Pierce in the episode "Going Home."^[35] In 2002, he appeared in two series: as Young Larry in the episode "The New Guy" of the family sitcom So Little Time, and as Kevin Weston in the episode "People of the Lie" of the courtroom drama Judging Amy.^[8] His next role came in 2004 on the teen drama Summerland, where he portrayed Chris across three episodes.^[3]

• Silver Lake (2004, TV movie): Portrayed Young Dennis Patterson.^[36]

In 2005, Jones guest-starred as Young Brian Heeley in the episode "Total Recall" of the forensic series Crossing Jordan.^[17]

• Fathers and Sons (2005, TV movie): Portrayed Nick (10–12 years old).^[37]
• Ben 10: Race Against Time (2007, TV movie): Performed as Cash in the live-action adaptation of the animated series.^[20]

From 2006 to 2007, he had a recurring role as Ned Banks, the son of Delia Banks, on the supernatural drama Ghost Whisperer, appearing in eight episodes; this role marked a significant breakthrough in his early career by providing consistent exposure on a popular CBS series. Jones's final notable television appearance to date was in 2008, playing Dean Miller in the episode "A Family Thing" of the medical drama Private Practice.

Commercials

Tyler Patrick Jones began his professional acting career as a child with appearances in television commercials, which played a key role in building his early resume and gaining visibility in the entertainment industry. His documented commercial credits include:

• Hallmark (2001): Portrayed the character Daniel in an advertisement for the greeting card company.^[38]
• Macy's Super Saturday Sale (2002): Featured in a promotional spot for the retailer's event.
• Home Depot (2003): Appeared in a television commercial for the home improvement retailer.^[39]
• Walt Disney World: Magical Gatherings (2003): Starred in an ad campaign highlighting family vacations at the theme park.^[39]
• Yahoo (2006): Participated in a commercial for the internet company's services.^[39]
• Dairy Queen (2008): Featured in a spot for the fast-food chain.^[38]

These early commercial roles, spanning 2001 to 2008, showcased Jones's versatility in short-form advertising and contributed to his development as a young actor.