Who did Tommy Lee Jones portray in the 2012 film "Lincoln"?

Tommy Lee Jones played the part of Congressman Thaddeus Stevens in the Steven Spielberg film "Lincoln". Thaddeus Stevens was the leader of the congressional Radical Republicans who were a political faction determined to eliminate slavery in the United States during the middle of the 19th century. The film centers on the efforts of Abraham Lincoln to get the Thirteenth Amendment passed through the House of Representatives in early 1865, while the American Civil War rages on and a peace delegation from the Confederate States is en route to discuss ending the war.

"Lincoln" was a commercial and critical success, earning over US$275 million at the box office and winning two Academy Awards. The film starred Daniel Day-Lewis as President Lincoln and Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln.

Tommy Lee Jones, born in 1946, is known for the films "The Fugitive", "No Country for Old Men" and "Men in Black" movies. He has been nominated several times for Academy Awards and as of 2020 has won the award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Deputy U.S. Marshall Gerard in "The Fugitive".

Thaddeus Stevens worked as a lawyer before entering politics. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1849, eventually becoming chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in 1861. His stance on slavery evolved over time becoming more radical in his views, becoming one of the staunchest anti-slavery politicians just prior to the Civil War. He died in 1868 at the age of 76.