Angus T. Jones rose to fame as Jake Harper on Two and a Half Men, winning audiences over with his humor and natural charm. At the height of his success, he earned up to $300,000 per episode, making him the highest-paid child actor of his time.

Before the show, Jones appeared in commercials and films like See Spot Run, The Rookie, and George of the Jungle 2. His early roles paved the way for his decade-long run on the sitcom.

But as Jones grew older, his relationship with the show changed. He struggled with marijuana use during his teen years and later found faith in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Influenced by his beliefs, he publicly criticized the sitcom, calling himself a “paid hypocrite” and urging fans not to watch. Though he later apologized to producer Chuck Lorre, he stood by his convictions and left Hollywood.

Jones went on to study religion and embraced a quieter life. Now 28, he looks vastly different—sporting long hair and a beard—and rarely appears in public. He occasionally reflects on his acting past, calling the show a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Today, he maintains a low profile and works behind the scenes at Tonite, a media and event production company.