Dot-Marie Jones
Jones atSan Diego Comic-Con in July 2011.
Born	Dorothy-Marie Jones (1964-01-04)January 4, 1964 (age 61) Turlock, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Fresno State
Occupations	Athlete actress
Years active	1992–present
Height	6 ft 3.25 in (1.91 m)
Spouse	Bridgett Casteen ​ (m. 2013)​

Dorothy-Marie Jones (born January 4, 1964) is an American actress and retired athlete who has had multiple roles intelevision. She attendedCalifornia State University, Fresno, where she set records forshot put.^[1] Jones is also a 15-time worldarm wrestling champion.^[2] She was a recurring guest star starting in the second season of the musical television seriesGlee asCoach Beiste, and appeared through the show's sixth and final season, when she was promoted to starring status. She was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award forOutstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011, 2012, and 2013 for her portrayal of Coach Beiste.^[3] She is also known for her roles as Coach Kelly inLizzie McGuire and as Butch Brenda inMaterial Girls.

Jones was born January 4, 1964, inTurlock, California,^[4] and was raised inHilmar, California. She first got involved in strength competitions at a fairly young age. She started track in middle school. While Jones attendedHilmar High School, she was a championweight lifter and named female athlete of the year. She started arm wrestling on a whim, and won her first arm wrestling world championship at 19 years old and went on to win 14 more.^[2][5][6]

After graduating from Hilmar High School,^[7] Jones attendedModesto Junior College andFresno State, where she continued her involvement with sports. She earned a scholarship intrack which paid her way through junior college and university.^[5] Jones playedsoftball and competed inshot put andpowerlifting.^[2] She wonAll-America honors in shot put both at junior college and university, was state champion in 1983 and 1984 and set the national record at the junior college level from 1983 to 1990.^[1][5][8] Jones qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1988 for shot put with a 56 ft6+1⁄4 in (17.23 m) throw, surpassing the qualifying mark of 55 ft (17 m).^[9] She finished sixth.^[5] During her sporting career, she suffered 11 knee injuries, bringing her height of 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) down to 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m).^[10] After college, Jones worked as a youth counselor at the Fresno County Juvenile Probation center while continuing her involvement with sports.^[5]

Jones, who originally had no acting aspirations,^[2] was discovered at abodybuilding competition byShirley Eson ofAmerican Gladiators fame.^[6] Eson urged Jones to audition for the Gladiators-likeKnights and Warriors, and Jones got the part, becoming one of the few female warriors. Jones was also offered a position inprofessional wrestling, but turned it down because, she said it was "too fakey."^[8]

AfterKnights and Warriors finished after one season, she became abit actor. She played small roles in several television series throughout the1990s and2000s and breaking into feature films in the late 1990s, including the cult filmThe Boondock Saints. While acting, Jones kept up her involvement with arm wrestling. In 1995, herbiceps measured17+1⁄2 in (44.45 cm).^[11]

Jones' first recurring role afterKnights was as a character named "Dot" on the popular showMarried... with Children in the mid-90s. She appeared in five episodes over two seasons. Jones' next break was on the kids showLizzie McGuire as Coach Kelly. Since then, she has appeared in popular showsNip/Tuck,Desperate Housewives, andPrison Break. Dot Jones co-starred withHilary Duff inLizzie McGuire. They were later reunited forMaterial Girls.

Jones, being a fan ofGlee and having worked with series co-creatorRyan Murphy onNip/Tuck andPretty/Handsome, asked co-executive producerBrad Falchuk during an encounter at a supermarket if she could be on the show.^[2] Soon after, the character of coachShannon Beiste inGlee was created for her. She guest starred in seasons two, three, four, and five, and was a main cast member for the sixth and final season. The show allowed her to showcase her singing abilities. Her first song was "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" withMatthew Morrison's characterWill Schuester. It was featured onGlee: The Music, The Complete Season Two. She also recorded versions ofTaylor Swift's "Mean" andDolly Parton's "Jolene". These were included on the albumGlee: The Music, The Complete Season Three.

She also appeared inJane the Virgin andModern Family.

Jones appeared on Logo TV'sRuPaul's Drag U as a visiting professor in July 2011, during the second season.^[12]

Jones married Bridgett Casteen on December 21, 2013.^[13] The two first met in December 2010 and Jones proposed on October 4, 2013, duringGay Days Anaheim.^[14]

• Dot-Marie Jones atIMDb
• Dot Marie Jones' Official Website

• 1964 births
• 20th-century American actresses
• 21st-century American actresses
• Actresses from California
• American arm wrestlers
• American film actresses
• American female shot putters
• American television actresses
• American lesbian actresses
• American lesbian sportswomen
• LGBTQ people from California
• Living people
• People from Merced County, California
• Sportspeople from Turlock, California
• Sportspeople from California
• Track and field athletes from California
• LGBTQ track and field athletes
• LGBTQ arm wrestlers
• 21st-century American LGBTQ people
• 20th-century American sportswomen

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