Angus T. Jones

Jones may have been the "half" of a top-rated sitcom, what he lacked in stature at the time, he more than made up with his natural talent and comedic abilities. Before he hit his teen years, Jones possessed an acting resume that rivaled what many actors twice his age had accomplished. After appearing alongside seasoned stars such as David Arquette in the comedy "See Spot Run" (2001), Dennis Quaid in the drama "The Rookie" (2002), and Steve Martin in "Bringing Down the House" (2003), it was the unique family sitcom, "Two and a Half Men" (CBS, 2003- ) that made Jones one of the most recognized and highest paid child actors on television. Though a showcase for already established stars Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men" presented Jones with the perfect star-making vehicle. He impressed critics with an innate ability to portray characters and express emotions well beyond his years. The success of the sitcom and Jones consistent scene-stealing established him as one of the most inspiring and successful young actors of his generation.

Angus Turner Jones was born on Oct. 8, 1993 in Austin, TX. The future star began acting at the young age of four, appearing in various commercials. At five, Jones landed a minor role in the crime drama "Simpatico" (1999) starring Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges and Sharon Stone. He made his feature film debut in the comedy "See Spot Run" opposite David Arquette and Michael Clarke Duncan. In spite of his age, Jones held his own against funny man Arquette, who played a goofy mailman charged with babysitting Jones' character and saving a drug-sniffing FBI dog from being assassinated. "See Spot Run" was a box office disappointment, but it showcased Jones' growing skills to a wider audience as well as Hollywood executives in search of the next child superstar. Next, Jones guest starred on the award-winning medical drama "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009), and appeared in the made-for-cable dramas "Audrey's Rain" (The Hallmark Channel, 2003) and the heartwarming "The Christmas Blessing" (CBS, 2005), in which he starred as a young boy with a heart defect who saves the life of his teacher (Rebecca Gayheart). Jones also starred in many family-friendly films like "The Rookie," "Bringing Down the House," and the Disney adventure "George of the Jungle 2" (2003), in which he appeared as a young George.

The CBS sitcom "Two and a Half Men" finally made Jones a household name. The series centered on Charlie Harper (Sheen), an affluent, womanizing bachelor whose laid-back lifestyle is interrupted when his tightly wound and recently divorced brother Alan (Cryer) and his nephew Jake (Jones) move into Charlie's beach house. The brothers' polar opposite lifestyles, different approaches to parenting, and rapid-fire barbs quickly made "Two and a Half Men" one of the network's highest rated shows. But Jones also offered up plenty of laughs as Alan's underachieving and food-obsessed son who often became the butt of jokes for his penchant for passing gas. Jones' pitch-perfect portrayal of the surly but lovable Jake earned him numerous acting accolades, including two Young Artist Awards and made him the highest-paid child actor, beginning in 2008, earning $250,000 per episode.

"Two and a Half Men" enjoyed tremendous ratings for seven seasons, but its success was marred by controversy and its future became uncertain due to legal problems that surrounded Sheen. The show's executives halted production in March 2010 because the oft-troubled actor chose to enter a rehab facility after an allegedly violent fight broke out with his wife, Brooke Mueller, on Christmas day, 2009. The actor was charged with a felony menacing charge at the time, with many tabloid headlines to follow. In April 2010, People.com reported that Sheen did not want to return to set after an April 9th taping, fueling rumors that the actor's decision to leave the show was related to his rejecting CBS' offer of $1 million per episode, which he allegedly considered too low. How Sheen's issues would affect the program's future - including Jones' own career direction - remained to be seen.