Cathy Jones

Early career and CODCO

Cathy Jones was born in St. John's, Newfoundland on April 6, 1955, and began her professional journey in theatre at the age of seventeen. Her older brother, comedian Andy Jones, helped secure her a position with the Newfoundland Traveling Theatre Company for a summer tour. Following this experience, Jones moved to Toronto in the fall of 1973 alongside Tommy Sexton, Greg Malone, Mary Walsh, and Dyan Olsen to pursue further theatrical opportunities. This group formally established the comedy troupe CODCO that same year, with Andy Jones and actor Robert Joy joining the ensemble in early 1974. CODCO quickly gained a reputation for its bold, satirical sketches that often tackled social and political issues with a uniquely Newfoundland sensibility. The experience of developing and performing with CODCO provided the foundational training and collaborative relationships that would define Jones's subsequent career in television comedy.

This Hour Has 22 Minutes and memorable characters

In 1992, Jones co-created the seminal news satire program This Hour Has 22 Minutes with Rick Mercer, Mary Walsh, and Greg Thomey, all of whom were veterans of CODCO. Jones remained a central cast member and writer for the show for an extraordinary 28 years, becoming its longest-serving original performer after Greg Thomey's departure in 2005. She was renowned for her chameleonic ability to portray a wide range of characters, often playing roles at the extreme edges of gender identity. Her performances were characterized by sharp wit and a deep understanding of Canadian culture and politics. Jones finally left the series in 2021, marking the end of an era for the program. The show's format, which parodied nightly news broadcasts, allowed Jones to create recurring segments and characters that became weekly fixtures for Canadian audiences, blending current events with absurd humour.

Throughout her tenure, Jones created and portrayed numerous memorable characters that became staples of Canadian comedy. Her character Mrs. Enid, a sharp-tongued, opinionated commentator often seen delivering monologues from her living room, became one of her most recognized roles. The character Babe Bennett was a brash and often misguided television reporter, while Joe Crow illustrated her range in playing male characters. A personal favourite of Jones's was Love Murphy, featured in the short film Outport Lesbian as a love interest for another of her female characters. In 2020, she revived her beloved Mrs. Enid character for the CBC Gem web series Broad Appeal: Living with E's, demonstrating the enduring appeal of her creations. The longevity of these characters speaks to her skill in crafting personas that resonated with viewers across generations.

Other television, film, and stage work

Beyond her defining work on 22 Minutes, Cathy Jones has maintained a diverse career across multiple performance mediums. She has toured Canada extensively with her acclaimed one-woman shows, including Wedding in Texas and Me, Dad and The Hundred Boyfriends, which blend personal storytelling with her signature comedic style. These theatrical productions allowed her to explore longer narrative forms and connect with live audiences in an intimate setting. In film, she took the lead role in her brother Mike Jones's 1992 feature Secret Nation, which aired on CBC Television. A significant biographical television project, Keeping up with Cathy Jones, was produced for CBC's Life and Times series in 2006. The documentary, produced by Lynne Wilson and directed by Barbara Doran, featured interviews with many of her collaborators from both CODCO and 22 Minutes, including Greg Thomey, Rick Mercer, Greg Malone, and Andy Jones. This documentary provided a comprehensive look at her career trajectory and creative process, highlighting her evolution from stage performer to television star.

Awards and recognition

Cathy Jones's prolific writing and performing career has been recognized with a remarkable number of industry awards, primarily for her work on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. She has won a total of 18 Gemini Awards, which honour excellence in Canadian English-language television. Her skill as a writer has been specifically acknowledged with three Canadian Comedy Awards for Best Writing in a Comedy Series, accolades that cover her contributions to both 22 Minutes and the earlier CODCO. This consistent recognition highlights her role as a driving creative force behind some of Canada's most successful and enduring comedy programming. The volume of these awards, accumulated over decades, reflects both the consistency and the high quality of her contributions to the genre, cementing her reputation among her peers and within the industry.

Personal life and public commentary

Jones has two daughters: her first, Mara, was born in Newfoundland in 1981. She married American-born painter Paul Hannon in 1996, and they had a daughter, Eleanor, before divorcing in 2000. For several years after 2004, Jones was in a relationship with musician and artist Tom Wilson, though they have since separated. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Jones attracted public attention for her critical views on government-mandated health measures. She expressed skepticism about mask wearing, restrictions, and vaccines, stating that she believed "people's health should be really in their own hands and not in the hands of the government." These comments placed her at odds with mainstream public health advisories and sparked discussion among her audience. Her stance on this issue represented one of the few times her personal views became a significant point of public discourse separate from her comedic persona.

Career timeline and key works

Cathy Jones is a Canadian actress, comedian and writer known for her 28 year work on the television series This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Her career began in 1973 when she helped form the seminal comedy troupe CODCO in Toronto with Tommy Sexton, Greg Malone, Mary Walsh, and Dyan Olsen. This led to her co-creating the long-running television success This Hour Has 22 Minutes in 1992 with Rick Mercer, Mary Walsh, and Greg Thomey. Her later projects include touring one-woman shows and film roles such as in Secret Nation and Weirdos.

Notable characters and performances

Jones's repertoire of characters developed over decades represents a significant contribution to Canadian comedic performance. Her ability to inhabit diverse personas, from crotchety commentators to hapless reporters, allowed 22 Minutes to satirize a wide spectrum of Canadian life. The characters often served as vehicles for pointed social commentary, delivered with a distinctive Newfoundland inflection and timing. Many of these roles were developed in collaboration with the show's writing team, of which she was a central part. The following list details some of her most significant and recurring character creations, which became familiar faces to viewers over many years.

• Mrs. Enid: A sharp-tongued, opinionated commentator delivering monologues from her living room, revived in 2020 for the web series Broad Appeal: Living with E's.
• Babe Bennett: A brash, often misguided television reporter character.
• Joe Crow: One of her notable male characters, illustrating her range in gender performance.
• Love Murphy: A personal favourite role, featured as a love interest in the short film Outport Lesbian.
• Various political and social archetypes: Throughout her 22 Minutes tenure, she portrayed countless politicians, pundits, and everyday Canadians, often using wigs, costumes, and prosthetics to complete the transformations.

Questions about Cathy Jones

How long was Cathy Jones on This Hour Has 22 Minutes?

Cathy Jones was a core cast member and writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes for 28 years, from its creation in 1992 until her departure in 2021. She was the last remaining original cast member from the show's launch for many years after Greg Thomey left in 2005. Her long tenure made her one of the most recognizable and enduring faces of the program. She created countless characters and contributed to its writing throughout her time on the show.

What are Cathy Jones's most famous characters?

Among her many creations, several characters became particularly well-known. Mrs. Enid, the opinionated commentator, is one of her most recognized and long-running roles. Babe Bennett is remembered as a brash and often clueless television reporter. Jones also frequently played male characters, such as Joe Crow. A personal favourite of hers was Love Murphy, a character featured in the short film Outport Lesbian.

What one-woman shows has Cathy Jones performed?

Cathy Jones has toured Canada with several successful one-woman shows. Two of her notable productions are Wedding in Texas and Me, Dad and The Hundred Boyfriends. These shows typically combine autobiographical elements with her sharp observational comedy. They have allowed her to connect with audiences in a more personal, theatrical setting outside of her television work.

Was Cathy Jones part of CODCO?

Yes, Cathy Jones was a founding member of the comedy troupe CODCO. She helped form the group in Toronto in the fall of 1973 alongside Tommy Sexton, Greg Malone, Mary Walsh, and Dyan Olsen. Her older brother, comedian Andy Jones, and actor Robert Joy joined the company in early 1974. This troupe was a foundational part of her early career in theatre and comedy. Her work with CODCO contributed to her later success on television.

How many Gemini Awards has Cathy Jones won?

Cathy Jones has won 18 Gemini Awards. These awards were for her work on the television series This Hour Has 22 Minutes and with the comedy troupe CODCO. In addition to these Gemini Awards, she has also won three Canadian comedy awards for Best Writing in a Comedy Series. Her award winning work spans both writing and performing. This recognition highlights her significant contributions to Canadian comedy over several decades.

What did Cathy Jones say about COVID-19 measures?

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Cathy Jones was critical of mask wearing, restrictions and vaccines. She specifically commented that people's health should be really in their own hands and not in the hands of the government. This statement reflected her personal views on public health mandates during that time. These comments were part of her public persona during the pandemic. They were noted as part of her personal life details in biographical sources.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-02.