Actor Cedric "Beastie" Jones Dead at 46

Emancipation actor Cedric "Beastie" Jones has died at age 46, his company Beastie Boxing shared. He is survived by his wife Barbie Jones and young kids Brooklyn, Braxton and Bryston.

By Lindsay Weinberg Oct 24, 2023 10:11 PMTags
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The fitness world is mourning the loss of Cedric "Beastie" Jones.

The actor and boxer died on Oct. 16, his company Beastie Boxing shared on Instagram. He was 46.

"Cedric was a loving father, devoted husband, caring son, brother, community leader, and incredible friend who inspired others," the gym wrote Oct. 20. "He genuinely wanted everyone to become the best version of themselves. He was a gift."

The company added, "Cedric had dedicated his life to helping people in and out of the gym. As founder of both Beastie Boxing and the BMoved Foundation, he inspired and helped people achieve what they previously thought impossible."

His cause of death has not been shared.

Cedric—who appeared alongside friend Chris Pratt in The Terminal List and The Magnificent Seven, according to the Daily Mail—was honored in a memorial run in Manhattan Beach, Calif., on Oct 22. Beastie Boxing organized the event to honor his legacy and send condolences to his family, with one post noting, "He leaves behind a loving wife and three lovely minor children."

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His wife, fashion stylist Barbie Jones, reposted a flier for the memorial, writing, "Run with Us…As we Celebrate my Husband's Legacy!!!"

The personal trainer grew up in Macon, Ga., and called himself a "theatre kid" since age 7, he told Pulse Magazine for the Winter 2023 issue. After attending a performing arts academy in Atlanta and getting his associate degree in dance, Cedric moved to Los Angeles with just $5,000. He lived on the streets for a year before finding success in boxing and Hollywood, including a role in the 2022 movie Emancipation starring Will Smith

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"My story is not over," he told the outlet. "I want to leave a mark. When people speak my name, I want them to relate it to hope, inspiration, being able to thrive and go get it."

In recent months, Cedric also touched on his love for his family—including an important lesson he learned in marriage.

"Be careful when you hashtag relationship goals," he wrote on Instagram in July while tagging Barbie. "The internet does not show you the hard times, it doesn't show when you both aren't feeling each other but still want to be in the same room together. they always show the family photos and vacations. What we should show you is that if work together and learn to listen to each other without being ready to defend or attack. You will really learn each other. Love is an action and anything worth your action should be worth it."

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And as for his life as a dad, Cedric couldn't be prouder of his kids BrooklynBraxton and Bryston.

"He is so much cooler than I was," Cedric gushed of Braxton, now 10, in 2019. "He keeps me on my toes. I love this dude so much that it feels my heart to be able hear him call me daddy." 

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