# KeiLyn Durrel Jones
**KeiLyn Durrel Jones** is an American actor best known for playing Terrance in the 2024 Hulu comedy series *How to Die Alone* and [Michael Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-jackson)'s longtime head of security [Bill Bray](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-bray-bodyguard) in [Antoine Fuqua](https://www.edgepedia.org/antoine-fuqua)'s biopic *Michael* (2026).[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1990676-keilyn-durrel-jones) • [2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/michael-bill-bray-actor-keilyn-durrel-jones-1236585309/) Trained at UMBC and at New York University's Graduate Acting program, he built his career on stage and through guest and recurring television roles before a series in which he had been cast as a regular premiered in 2024 and he took his largest screen part to date in 2026.[3](https://www.abookof.us/openbook/keilyn-durell-jones) • [4](https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/36271/20260428/bill-bray-michael-biopic-keilyn-durrel-jones-who-plays-him-2026.htm)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Training | UMBC undergraduate preparation, then NYU Graduate Acting, class of 2015[3](https://www.abookof.us/openbook/keilyn-durell-jones) • [5](https://tisch.nyu.edu/grad-acting/news/grad-acting--keilyn-durrel-jones---15--set-as-series-regular-in-) |
| Stage foundation | Two River Theater, Shakespeare in the Park's *Troilus and Cressida*, and the LaBute New Theater Festival[4](https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/36271/20260428/bill-bray-michael-biopic-keilyn-durrel-jones-who-plays-him-2026.htm) |
| Recurring TV roles | Terrance in *How to Die Alone* (8 episodes, 2024), Remi in *Succession* (5 episodes, 2021), Clyde in *The I-Land* (4, 2019), Frank in *The Other Two* (4, 2022), Blingy in *Better Call Saul* (3, 2018)[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1990676-keilyn-durrel-jones) |
| Film breakthrough | Bill Bray in *Michael* (2026), described as the largest role of his career[2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/michael-bill-bray-actor-keilyn-durrel-jones-1236585309/) • [4](https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/36271/20260428/bill-bray-michael-biopic-keilyn-durrel-jones-who-plays-him-2026.htm) |
| Screen volume | More than 25 screen appearances, including Marvel's *Jessica Jones*[4](https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/36271/20260428/bill-bray-michael-biopic-keilyn-durrel-jones-who-plays-him-2026.htm) |
| Casting profile | "Active stillness": restrained men who understand pressure, proximity, and loyalty[3](https://www.abookof.us/openbook/keilyn-durell-jones) |
## Early life and training
Jones trained at UMBC (the [University of Maryland, Baltimore County](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-maryland-baltimore-county)) before entering the graduate acting program at New York University, from which he graduated in 2015.[3](https://www.abookof.us/openbook/keilyn-durell-jones) • [5](https://tisch.nyu.edu/grad-acting/news/grad-acting--keilyn-durrel-jones---15--set-as-series-regular-in-) Hulu's official press biography confirms he is a graduate of the acting program at NYU.[6](https://press.hulu.com/bios/keilyn-durrel-jones/) TMDB lists his birth date as 1985, though no official or journalistic source confirms the date.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1990676-keilyn-durrel-jones)
## Theatre career
His early professional work was on stage. Credits include Two River Theater, Shakespeare in the Park's production of *Troilus and Cressida*, and the LaBute New Theater Festival.[4](https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/36271/20260428/bill-bray-michael-biopic-keilyn-durrel-jones-who-plays-him-2026.htm) In an interview with *A Book of Magazine*, Jones described this theater background, with UMBC and NYU, as a major part of his training before screen work.[3](https://www.abookof.us/openbook/keilyn-durell-jones)
## Television career
**Guest and recurring arcs.** Jones accumulated television credits across network procedurals and prestige series. Hulu's press bio lists recurring guest roles on Netflix's *The I-Land*, Showtime's *City on a Hill*, and AMC's *Better Call Saul*, a recurring role on HBO's *Succession*, and guest appearances on *East New York*, *Chicago Fire*, *The Equalizer*, and *Blue Bloods*.[6](https://press.hulu.com/bios/keilyn-durrel-jones/) In *Better Call Saul* his character Blingy appears in scenes including driving [Saul Goodman](https://www.edgepedia.org/saul-goodman) to a meeting with [Lalo Salamanca](https://www.edgepedia.org/lalo-salamanca).[2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/michael-bill-bray-actor-keilyn-durrel-jones-1236585309/) TMDB counts his episodes as Remi in *Succession* (5, 2021), Clyde in *The I-Land* (4, 2019), Frank in *The Other Two* (4, 2022), and Blingy in *Better Call Saul* (3, 2018), plus single-episode guest roles on *East New York*, *Evil*, *The Equalizer*, *Chicago Fire*, and *Blue Bloods*.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1990676-keilyn-durrel-jones)
**Series regular.** In March 2023, NYU Tisch announced that Jones had been cast as a series regular in *How To Die Alone* on Hulu.[5](https://tisch.nyu.edu/grad-acting/news/grad-acting--keilyn-durrel-jones---15--set-as-series-regular-in-) The series, created by and starring Natasha Rothwell, casts him as Terrance, one of the protagonist Mel's two love interests alongside [Jocko Sims](https://www.edgepedia.org/jocko-sims)'s Alex; all three characters are coworkers.[7](https://collider.com/how-to-die-alone-jocko-sims-keilyn-durrel-jones/) TMDB credits him in 8 episodes.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1990676-keilyn-durrel-jones)
## Film and other screen work
Jones starred in the short film *Sparring Partner*, which screened at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival, and completed filming [Neil LaBute](https://www.edgepedia.org/neil-labute)'s feature *Out of the Blue* opposite [Diane Kruger](https://www.edgepedia.org/diane-kruger).[6](https://press.hulu.com/bios/keilyn-durrel-jones/) His screen credits also include Marvel's *Jessica Jones*.[4](https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/36271/20260428/bill-bray-michael-biopic-keilyn-durrel-jones-who-plays-him-2026.htm)
In *Michael*, Fuqua's biographical drama starring [Jaafar Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/jaafar-jackson) as Michael Jackson, with [Colman Domingo](https://www.edgepedia.org/colman-domingo), Nia Long, Miles Teller, and [Juliano Krue Valdi](https://www.edgepedia.org/juliano-valdi) in the cast, Jones plays Bill Bray, a former LAPD officer who served as Michael Jackson's head of security from 1971 to 1996.[2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/michael-bill-bray-actor-keilyn-durrel-jones-1236585309/) • [3](https://www.abookof.us/openbook/keilyn-durell-jones)
## The 2024 to 2026 breakthrough
The period since 2023 marks a clear inflection in Jones's career. In 2023 he was announced as a series regular in *How to Die Alone*.[5](https://tisch.nyu.edu/grad-acting/news/grad-acting--keilyn-durrel-jones---15--set-as-series-regular-in-) The following year the series premiered, and in 2026 *Michael* gave him what trade and specialist coverage describe as the largest role of his career to date, a substantial supporting part in a major studio biopic.[4](https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/36271/20260428/bill-bray-michael-biopic-keilyn-durrel-jones-who-plays-him-2026.htm)
The trajectory continues. In a July 13, 2026 interview, Jones said Lionsgate had confirmed a sequel to *Michael*, though he had not received official word about his own involvement, and that he has an already-shot independent film awaiting funding and distribution.[8](https://rollingout.com/2026/07/13/keilyn-durrel-jones-bill-bray-michael-2/) TMDB also lists 2026 projects including a voice role in *Harvest* and *Win or Die*.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1990676-keilyn-durrel-jones)
## Casting profile and cohort comparison
*A Book of Magazine* characterizes Jones's screen persona as built on "active stillness": men who understand pressure, proximity, and loyalty, a quality the magazine traces from *Succession* and *Better Call Saul* to *City on a Hill*, *The Other Two*, and *How to Die Alone*.[3](https://www.abookof.us/openbook/keilyn-durell-jones) Blex Media describes his Bill Bray as quietly essential, offering a grounded, paternal energy.[9](https://blexmedia.com/keilyn-durrel-jones-on-portraying-bill-bray-in-michael-interview/)
Collider situates him in a cohort of television character actors who moved from network procedurals into prestige comedy and drama, noting his appearances in *Blue Bloods* and *Chicago Fire* before multi-episode arcs in *The Other Two* and *Succession*, a path comparable to that of his *How to Die Alone* co-star Jocko Sims.[7](https://collider.com/how-to-die-alone-jocko-sims-keilyn-durrel-jones/)
## KeiLyn Durrel Jones by the numbers
- More than 25 screen appearances, including *Jessica Jones*, *Better Call Saul*, *Succession*, *Chicago Fire*, and *Blue Bloods*.[4](https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/36271/20260428/bill-bray-michael-biopic-keilyn-durrel-jones-who-plays-him-2026.htm)
- Recurring episode counts per TMDB: 8 episodes as Terrance in *How to Die Alone*, 5 as Remi in *Succession*, 4 as Clyde in *The I-Land*, 4 as Frank in *The Other Two*, and 3 as Blingy in *Better Call Saul*.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1990676-keilyn-durrel-jones)
- *Michael* was released on April 24, 2026, with its story timeline running through 1988.[2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/michael-bill-bray-actor-keilyn-durrel-jones-1236585309/)
## Reception and recognition
Critics largely praised the performances and song-and-dance numbers in *Michael* while criticizing the film as an overly sanitized and idealized portrayal of its subject.[2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/michael-bill-bray-actor-keilyn-durrel-jones-1236585309/) Jones reported strongly positive fan response to his Bill Bray, saying people reach out regularly to say how inspired they are and how much they love the character.[8](https://rollingout.com/2026/07/13/keilyn-durrel-jones-bill-bray-michael-2/) He described working with director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King on the film as a career highlight.[8](https://rollingout.com/2026/07/13/keilyn-durrel-jones-bill-bray-michael-2/)
On awards, TMDB lists one win and one nomination for Jones, with no further detail.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1990676-keilyn-durrel-jones)
## References
1. [KeiLyn Durrel Jones, The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1990676-keilyn-durrel-jones)
2. [Michael: Bill Bray Actor KeiLyn Durrel Jones Explains the New Ending, The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/michael-bill-bray-actor-keilyn-durrel-jones-1236585309/)
3. [KeiLyn Durrel Jones on Michael, Masculinity, and the Quiet Strength of Bill Bray, A Book of Magazine](https://www.abookof.us/openbook/keilyn-durell-jones)
4. [Bill Bray Is in the Michael Biopic: Here's Who Plays Him, JubileeCast](https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/36271/20260428/bill-bray-michael-biopic-keilyn-durrel-jones-who-plays-him-2026.htm)
5. [Grad Acting: KeiLyn Durrel Jones ('15) set as a main cast member in 'How To Die Alone' on Hulu, NYU Tisch](https://tisch.nyu.edu/grad-acting/news/grad-acting--keilyn-durrel-jones---15--set-as-series-regular-in-)
6. [KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Hulu Press Bio](https://press.hulu.com/bios/keilyn-durrel-jones/)
7. ['How to Die Alone's Leading Men Decide if They're Team Alex or Team Terrance, Collider](https://collider.com/how-to-die-alone-jocko-sims-keilyn-durrel-jones/)
8. [KeiLyn Durrel Jones on Bill Bray, the man behind Michael, Rolling Out](https://rollingout.com/2026/07/13/keilyn-durrel-jones-bill-bray-michael-2/)
9. [KeiLyn Durrel Jones on Portraying Bill Bray in 'Michael' [INTERVIEW], Blex Media](https://blexmedia.com/keilyn-durrel-jones-on-portraying-bill-bray-in-michael-interview/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Jo to Kl*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license