Sam J. Jones (born August 12, 1954) is an American actor, often credited as Sam Jones. Often cast as a hero in action films, he has also played several villains since the early 1990s. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. Jones made his first film appearance opposite Bo Derek in the 1979 romance comedy film "10". Today he is largely remembered for his portrayal of the comic book hero Flash Gordon in the 1980 film of the same name.