{{Short description|American actor (1960–2024)}} {{similar names|Ronald Simons (disambiguation)|Ron Simmons (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Ron Simons | image = Publicity_Photo_of_Ron_Simons.jpg | caption = Publicity photo of Ron Simons | birth_date = {{birth date|1960|11|30}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|6|12|1960|11|30}} | death_place = | education = Columbia University (BA, MBA)<br>University of Washington (MFA) | occupation = Actor, producer | years_active = 1996–2024 | awards = Tony Awards (2013) }}
'''Ronald Keith Simons'''<ref name=tran/> (November 30, 1960 – June 12, 2024) was an American actor and producer. He was a four-time Tony Award winner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/interview/why-formal-acting-training-helps-when-youre-uninspired/|title=Why Formal Acting Training Helps When You're Uninspired|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wamc.org/post/ron-simons-producer-mtcs-jitney|title=Ron Simons Producer of MTC's Jitney|first=Joe|last=Donahue|publisher=}}</ref>
==Career== Simons had degrees in theater and computer science from Columbia University, and did not go to drama school until he was 39.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2017/03/14/tony-winner-ron-simons-seeks-a-diversity-more-than-skin-deep/#77b6ebad2145|title=Tony Winner Ron Simons Seeks A Diversity More Than Skin Deep|first=Lee|last=Seymour|website=Forbes |publisher=}}</ref> He also received a degree from Columbia Business School.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=December 15, 2017|title=RON SIMONS CC'82, BUS'89|url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/alumni/content/ron-simons-cc82-bus89|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=Columbia College Alumni Association}}</ref> He had wanted to go into acting since high school, but was unable to due to his living circumstances. "[A]s the only member of my family to have graduated college with retired grandparents and a mom who had me at a slightly older age, I felt the need to become the family breadwinner."<ref name="Simons">{{cite web|url=https://ndigo.com/2017/06/05/16624/|title=Q&A With Ron Simons – Actor And Tony Award-Winning Producer|website=N'Digo|last=Armour|first=TJ|date=June 5, 2017|accessdate=October 26, 2018}}</ref> He finally quit corporate business to enter film business at the age of 41. He further expanded into producing despite not being fully aware of what that position entailed. He would end up producing films such as ''Gun Hill Road'' and ''Blue Caprice'', but continue to act in projects along the way.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://magazine.washington.edu/feature/actor-and-producer-ron-simons-01-followed-his-dream-to-second-career/|title=Actor and producer Ron Simons, '01, followed his dream to second career|website=Washington|last=Volk|first=David|accessdate=October 26, 2018}}</ref>
In 2009 he founded SimonSays Entertainment; a production company that works to create film, television and stage productions that revolve around various minority focused subjects from race, LGBT, disabled, women and elder people.<ref name="Simons" />
In April 2022, he was named the commencement speaker for the University of Washington.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tony Award-winning producer and actor Ron Simons to deliver 2022 Commencement address |url=https://www.washington.edu/news/2022/04/13/tony-award-winning-producer-and-actor-ron-simons-to-deliver-2022-commencement-address/ |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=UW News |language=en}}</ref> He was a 2018 recipient of Columbia College's John Jay Award.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-15 |title=Ron Simons CC'82, BUS'89 |url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/alumni/content/ron-simons-cc82-bus89 |access-date=2022-04-18 |website=Columbia College Alumni Association |language=en}}</ref>
==Death== Simons died on June 12, 2024, at the age of 63.<ref name=tran>{{cite web|first=Diep|last=Tran|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/four-time-tony-award-winning-producer-ron-simons-dies-at-age-63|title=Four-Time Tony Award-Winning Producer Ron Simons Dies at Age 63|work=Playbill|date=June 13, 2024}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class = "wikitable sortable" |+ Television roles ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |1996 |''Nowhere Man'' |Attendant |Episode: "Forever Jung" |- |2005 |''Jonny Zero'' |Reporter |Episode: "I Did It All for the Nooky" |- |2005 |''Law & Order'' |Fire Marshal |Episode: "Dining Out" |- |2007 |rowspan=2|''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' |Sgt. Rapp |Episode: "Brother's Keeper" |- |2007 |Detective Willis |Episode: "Self-made" |- |2009 |''Law & Order'' |Warden Derek Kleban |Episode: "Boy Gone Astray" |- |2015 |''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' |Principal Al Pompeo |Episode: "Transgender Bridge" |- |2017 |''Marvel's The Defenders'' |Strieber |Miniseries; Recurring |- |2018 |''Succession'' |Photographer #1 |Episode: "Celebration" |- |2018 |''Marvel's Daredevil'' |Strieber |Episode: "Reunion" |- |2019 |''The Resident (TV series)'' |Otto |Episode: "Stupid Things in the Name of Sex" |}
{| class = "wikitable sortable" |+ Film roles ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |2007 |''The Assassin'' |Task Force Det. | |- |2008 |''27 Dresses'' |Boathouse Chef | |- |2008 |''Phoebe in Wonderland'' |Colleague #1 | |- |2009 |''Mystery Team'' |Mr. Rogers | |- |2010 |''Night Catches Us'' |Carey Ford |Also producer |- |2011 |''Gun Hill Road'' |Office Manager |Also producer and executive producer |- |2013 |''Blue Caprice'' |Supermarket Manager |Also producer and executive producer |- |2016 |''Wolves'' |Edward | |- |2016 |''The Ticket'' |Pastor Jennings | |- |2016 |''King Cobra'' |Hardy |Also producer and executive producer |- |2016 |''Ordinary World'' |Drew | |- |2017 |''Ambition's Debt'' |Popilius Lena | |- |2018 |''Then Came You'' |Dr. Collins | |- |2019 |''After the Wedding'' |Richard | |- | 2024 | ''Viva Verdi!'' | {{N/A}} | Producer |- |}
{| class = "wikitable sortable" |+ Video game roles ! Year ! Title ! Role |- |1998 |''Police Quest: SWAT 2'' |Chief |- |2005 |''The Warriors'' |Dealer |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1839399}} *{{IBDB name|491701|Ron Simons}} *{{Official website|https://www.ronsimons.com/}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Simons, Ron}} Category:1960 births Category:2024 deaths Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:American theatre managers and producers Category:Broadway theatre producers Category:Columbia College, Columbia University alumni Category:Columbia Business School alumni Category:Tony Award winners Category:University of Washington alumni Category:Male actors from Detroit
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