Posted on 09/02/2015 5:28:09 PM PDT by massmike
Dean Jones, the go-to Disney actor whose films included "The Love Bug," "The Million Dollar Duck," "That Darn Cat!" and "The Shaggy D.A.," died Tuesday, according to his publicist. Jones was 84.
The cause of death was Parkinson's disease, according to publicist Richard Hoffman.
Jones made his film debut in 1956's "Somebody Up There Likes Me," which starred Paul Newman as boxer Rocky Graziano. The next year he appeared in the Elvis Presley movie "Jailhouse Rock."
He also starred on Broadway in such works as "There Was a Little Girl," with Jane Fonda, and the hit "Under the Yum-Yum Tree," also starring in the 1963 Jack Lemmon film.
Jones originated the performance of Bobby in the 1970 production of Stephen Sondheim's "Company."
Jones was born in Decatur, Alabama, in 1931. He served in the Navy during the Korean War. Later in life, the actor -- who had become a devout Christian after a drunken driving accident almost killed him -- founded Christian Rescue Committee, now known as Christian Rescue Fund. The organization works to "rescue persecuted Christians and Jews," according to its website.
Jones is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lory Basham Jones, three children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
How sad, he was a great guy and actor.
Condolences to family and friends of Dean Jones.
He seemed like a real decent guy. RIP Dean Jones.
Just damn....
Wonder what he’d think of Disney now.
Rest in peace.
I definitely remember him from the Disney movies...even a tiny role in “Clear and Present Danger” just popped into my mind...good actor and a fine man...RIP.
Greatly underrated as an actor. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.
Big fan of Mr. Jones and his movies. Perhaps my favorite role he played was the physician Luke in the Visual Bible portrayal of The Book of Acts.
R.I.P
Loved the Disney movies he made, especially Blackbeard’s Ghost. Susan Pleshette co-starred, and Peter Ustinov was Blackbeard. Also enjoyed him in his brief TV series Ensign O’Toole. RIP Mr. Dean...thanks for the great movie memories.
Memory Eternal!
RIP
My sentiments exactly. My favourite with him was the 1972 “Snowball Express” with Nancy Olson and Keenan Wynn and Harry Morgan and a bunch of other familiar faces and names.
RIP Dean, you made my boyhood Sunday evenings so fun and enjoyable with the above title and others that you starred in.
RIP Dean.
An era is passing.
A really excellent person. He made the world a better place.
I particularly liked him in Rebel Without a Cause. I liked his sausages too. A true American icon.
Sigh. Remembering when Disney meant clean, wholesome family fun.
Does anyone remember his brief Sat. night variety show on ABC, “What’s It All About, World?”
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