Norman Reedus talks about Jay J. Armes’ action figure on Jimmy Kimmel Live
A Hollywood actor expressed his fascination with El Paso icon Jay J. Armes on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, saying he had the private investigator’s action figure as a child.
Norman Reedus, best known for his role in “The Walking Dead,” voiced the famous detective to Kimmel in a show that aired on June 18, 2024.
“He was missing both hands,” Reedus said. “So his hands could be replaced with hooks, guns and knives.”
Reedus recalls the accident Armes had as a boy when the El Paso native lost both hands while playing with railroad torpedoes.
Armes came up in the conversation after Reedus recalled that his sister had a Cher doll, while the actor remembered playing with a doll of the private investigator.
“He was a real person,” Reedus said. “He lived in an enclosure with cheetahs, rhinos and things like that.”
As Reedus continued to tell Armes’ infamous story, including how the detective helped find Marlon Brando’s missing son, Kimmel seemed impressed.
“So he made something great out of this misfortune that happened to him,” Kimmel said. “We have to find him.”
Where can Kimmel find JJ Armes?
According to his son Jay J. Armes III, Armes is healthy and well at age 91.
“He’s retired now,” the son said. “If you ask him, he’ll never admit he’s retired. He’s just relaxing now, but he’s fine.”
Armes still lives in El Paso, his son said.
Not the first time Reedus mentioned JJ Armes
The actor has mentioned the El Paso legend before. In April 2018, Reedus spoke briefly with late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon about his Jay J. Armes action figure.
Fallon, like Kimmel, had never heard of the world-famous private detective.
“Is he a real guy?” Fallon asked. “Jay J. Armes? I don’t know Jay J. Armes.”
A year later, in 2019, Reedus also shared a photo of his beloved action figure on his official Facebook page. “My mom found it,” the post said.
Production about Armes’ life in the works?
On Kimmel, Reedus mentioned that he had been trying to acquire the rights to Armes’ life in order to make a film about the El Pasoan, Armes’ son said.
“I think Nic Cage has it,” Reedus said.
Armes’ son said that was not true. However, some depictions of Armes’ life may be in the works. For legal reasons, he could not provide any further details.
“Let’s just say it’s bearing fruit,” his son said. “But it’s nice that my dad is still getting recognition for the work he’s done.”
More about Jay J. Armes
- Jay J. Armes was born Julian Armas; he officially changed his name in 1977.
- Armes’ hands were mutilated when two railway torpedoes he was playing with exploded in May 1946.
- After attending Ysleta High School, Armes went to Hollywood and appeared in 39 films and 28 television shows.
- In 1972, actor Marlon Brando hired Armes to search for his son, who had been abducted to Mexico. Armes reportedly found him within three days.
- In 2021, Armes’ infamous home was put up for sale for $1.6 million and was recently demolished to make way for commercial and retail use.
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