Gladys Jones

Gladys Jones is a guest starring character on The CW's Riverdale. She is portrayed by Gina Gershon.

She is the mother of Jughead and Jellybean Jones, as well as the estranged wife of FP Jones. She is also a highly respected member of the Toledo Serpents.

Character Description
''A "businesswoman" who runs the salvage yard that doubles as a Serpent compound, and the Serpents all snap to attention when she gives them an order. A Serpent with a GED, she acts as Fagin to a crew of teenaged car parts thieves.''

Early Life
Gladys grew up in Riverdale alongside FP Jones, though unlike him, she never graduated from high school. The two later got married and had two children, whom they nicknamed Jughead and Jellybean. Before their family fell apart, she and FP would take the kids to the Twilight Drive-In. However, they couldn't always afford tickets for everyone, so Jughead and Jellybean would hide in the trunk until they parked.

After FP was fired from Andrews Construction, their marriage fell apart as he became a raging alcoholic. Fed up with his ways, she moved to Toledo with Jellybean and Jughead's grandparents shortly thereafter.

Season 1
According to Jughead, Mrs. Jones moved out to Toledo with Jellybean, where she got a job at a call center to pay for her online GED classes.

When his father was arrested for the murder of Jason Blossom, Jughead attempted to leave Riverdale on a bus bound for Toledo. When he called his Mom to tell her, she told him it was not a good time, leaving Jughead in tears.

Season 3
Gladys is pleasantly surprised by the unexpected arrival of her son Jughead. With him, his best friend Archie. She gives Jughead a hug, remarking that he feels like a bag of tire irons, then sarcastically asking if he’s been eating and if he’s now a vegetarian. She then looks over to Archie, almost immediately recognizing him, giving him a hug as well. Under the impression that Archie and Jughead are romantically involved, she comments that she always knew there was something going on between the two of them. Jughead and Archie quickly corrects her, adding that they’re simply on the road together. Gladys then asks what brought them by. She’s asks Jughead why he didn’t call to tell her he was coming, but the last time he called, she told him not to come. Gladys states that was a different time. Now, she has her GED and has has since started a salvage yard of her own, claiming that she is now a legit business woman. However, this alleged legitimate business woman appears to be nothing more than a fictitious claim as Lugnut approaches with stolen tailpipes, asking Gladys where she would like them. She quickly dismisses him, but not before telling him to get the crew together as they celebrate Jughead and Archie’s arrival.

Gladys and Jellybean discover the reason why Jughead and Archie left Riverdale; they’re running from Hiram Lodge. Gladys always knew he was trouble, but she questions what his vendetta is with Archie. They reveal that Archie was the only one who stood up to him. Not to mention that Archie also dated his daughter. Jellybean is pleased to hear that Archie is no longer dating and single. When Jughead tells Jellybean to relax with her excitement, she reminds him that she now goes by JB. Gladys asks if Archie’s spoken with his dad during any of this, which he hasn’t. Archie wishes he could, but it’s too risky. Archie and Jellybean then take off to eat.

Once Gladys and Jughead are alone, Gladys inquires further about Gryphons and Gargoyles and just how far invested Jughead and Archie are. Jughead explains that it’s more than just a game. It’s got large implications for all of Riverdale. He’s just trying to figure out who is behind it all. From the sounds of it, Hiram is behind it all, Gladys believes. She then asks about the scar on Jughead’s arm, though it’s not from Hiram. Jughead reveals it’s from Penny Peabody, who Gladys is very familiar with. She recalls Penny always having a beef with her and FP. Gladys never wanted any of this for Jughead. She never wanted him to become a Serpent, let alone a Serpent King. Jughead tells her not to act all high and mighty. She claims to have left Riverdale to get away from criminal life, yet she’s chopping cars and lifting their parts. Gladys admits this is true. But she’s doing so in order to feed all the kids around the junkyard who have no place to go. She couldn’t just leave them high and dry. However, as Jughead recalls, that’s precisely what she did to him.

After Jellybean thwarts Penny's plan to claim the bounty on Archie, they tie her to a chair and begin interrogating her. Gladys isn’t at all surprised that Penny is working with Hiram since she always had unfixed allegiances. She is however surprised that Penny isn't ratting Hiram out yet, leading Gladys to suspect that Hiram must have something on her. While Penny isn’t a snitch, she will say this; Hiram won’t stop until he gets Archie. And there’s nothing anyone can do. Gladys then addresses the fact that Penny carved off Jughead’s Southside Serpents tattoo. Penny states that was business between her and Jughead. Gladys retorts that she’s Jughead’s mother, also making it her business. Gladys grabs a large hunting knife and tells everyone to go inside. Before doing so, Jughead tells Gladys to ask Penny about Gryphons and Gargoyles and how Hiram fits into it all.

Shortly after dealing with Penny, Gladys is approached by Jughead and Archie as she cleans her hands of Penny’s blood. Jughead asks what she gathered from Penny, but Gladys needs a moment to think. Jughead continues to push nonetheless, asking if Penny talked about the game. They know she was tracking Archie for Hiram, but what they don’t know is if it was a quest from her master. Is Hiram more then just the Man in Black. Maybe he is the Gargoyle King. Jughead is so caught up in the game that he can’t see three feet ahead of himself, Gladys says. The big prize isn’t Archie’s head. It’s Riverdale. Hiram chased Jughead out of town just to get him out the way, so that Jughead would be far away when he made his play. It’s not about ascending to the Kingdom, it’s about claiming it. And if Hiram is the Gargoyle King, then he’s responsible for introducing G&G to Riverdale. Archie looks to Gladys for their next move, but not even she has the answer to that. However, at least for the time being, Archie is safe there.

Gladys awakens Jughead from his sleep to speak with him alone. As it turns out, Penny had a lot to say. The bounty on Archie is also on anyone who is with him or helping him, meaning there’s now a target on Jughead. It’s the same for Archie if returns to Riverdale. He’d be putting his dad and all friends in danger, which is why Gladys wants Jughead to cut Archie loose, for his own safety. Jughead refuses, though little do they know, Archie is listening from the doorway. Surprisingly, he is in agreement with Gladys. Archie doesn’t want Jughead or anyone else getting hurt because of him. Jughead has already done more for him than anyone else. Still, he refuses to abandon Archie. However, given that they were almost captured at the farm and how close Penny came to claiming the bounty, Archie can’t put anyone else at risk, so wherever he goes next, he goes alone. Jughead reluctantly accepts this. Gladys offers to get Archie to the border as she knows a guy who can help. Jughead she says can stay as long as he wants. However, he plans on returning to Riverdale as he has to stop Hiram.

Gladys packs lunch for Archie and Jughead as they both prepare to leave, but to different destinations; Archie to the border and Jughead to Riverdale. There’s a knock at the door. It’s Fred Andrews. He gives Archie a hug. Just outside stands FP, waiting to take Jughead home. He is greeted by Gladys and Jellybean. FP is shocked at how big Jellybean has gotten since he’s last seen her. He asks for a hug. In response, she sarcastically asks for a dad and walks off, a response that FP admits was warranted. Gladys insists that Jellybean misses him, but that she would rather fight it than admit it. Like mother, like daughter, FP replies. When Jughead comes out, FP hands him his Serpent jacket and the two share a hug. FP heard Penny was around causing trouble, but Gladys assures him that Penny was dealt with. She then hugs Jughead goodbye. FP sends Jughead to warm up the bikes, allowing him and Gladys to speak alone. He thanks Gladys for the call. She then hugs FP and kisses him on the cheek.

Gladys turns out to be the mysterious buyer of Hermione Lodge's Fizzle Rocks. She meets with Veronica and Reggie for the exchange. They throw the bag of money at her feet. Inside is only some of her money, all of which is covered in blue dye. Gladys correctly identifies Veronica as Hermione’s daughter. Gladys then introduces herself to them as Jughead's mother. Both Veronica and Reggie are shocked, though they take this opportunity to ask for more time to recover the rest of the money. Gladys admires the fact that the two of them came out there knowing they were short. It shows responsibility. Not to mention that they sort of remind Gladys of herself and FP back in the day. Gladys makes them a deal. Since she’ll be sticking around Riverdale for a while, she’ll take their dyed money, but she’s going to have to charge a fee because she’s going to have to get it laundered. And then they’ll figure out a payment plan for the rest of the money they owe. But in exchange, Gladys wants Reggie’s car. Lastly, she asks that they don’t tell Jughead about their business dealings. If they do, then she’s going to have to tell Hiram about Hermione going behind his back for a cut.

Gladys and Jellybean surprises Jughead an FP at the trailer. Gladys gives Jughead, who wonders what they’re doing in town, a hug. Gladys informs the boys that she and Jellybean aren’t just there to visit. They intend to stay awhile.

Gladys and Jellybean hangout at the trailer, and as it seems, they are there for much more nefarious reasons than they’ve lead on. Jellybean remarks that she has FP wrapped around her finger. Gladys adds that Jellybean is FP’s weakness. Which means, they have the whole town. FP is the Sheriff. The mayor owes them a ton of money, and she even has Veronica working for her.