- In 1952, he became the first African-American graduate of UCLA's film school.
- His marriage to actress Inger Stevens was kept a secret for fear that Ms. Stevens' career would be harmed due to the public's disapproval of marriages between blacks and whites at that time. This perception was prompted by the decline of actress May Britt's career after her marriage to Sammy Davis Jr. Ike and Inger married in 1961 but were estranged at the time of Ms. Stevens' suicide in 1970.
- A bit actor in the 1950s, Jones worked for and traveled with Nat 'King' Cole until the singer's death.
- An able athlete, he pursued a football career while at UCLA.
- Was Merrill S. Brody's roommate, while the two were film students at UCLA.
- Jones was knocked unconscious on the set of The Jungle Book (1955), when an over-enthusiastic "Tarzan", Gordon Scott, threw him against a hut (Jet magazine, Sept. 9, 1954).
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