Posted on 09/02/2015 2:04:15 PM PDT by Borges
Actor Dean Jones, best known for his acting work in such Disney films as “The Love Bug” and “That Darn Cat,” died of Parkinson’s disease Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 84.
In addition to his appearances in films such as “Under the Yum-Yum Tree,” “The Shaggy D.A.,” “The Million Dollar Duck,” “Snowball Express,” “Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo” and “Beethoven,” Jones also had roles in five Broadway shows and appeared in numerous television series and specials. He appeared in 46 films over the course of his career.
The actor made his Broadway debut in “There Was a Little Girl” with Jane Fonda in 1960, and went on to star in Broadway’s “Under the Yum-Yum Tree” that same year, before starring in the 1963 film adaptation with Jack Lemmon.
Jones’ other Broadway credits include the original role of “Bobby” in Harold Prince/Stephen Sondheim’s “Company,” and Cap’n Andy in a national tour of “Showboat.”
MGM signed Jones to a contract, and he began with a small role in “Somebody Up There Likes Me.” He later played a DJ in 1957 Elvis Presley movie “Jailhouse Rock.”
Other film credits include “Any Wednesday,” “The New Interns,” “Never So Few,” “Other People’s Money,” “When Every Day Was the Fourth of July,” “A Brush With Time” and Tom Clancy’s “Clear and Present Danger.”
Jones was born in Decatur, Ala., and served in the Navy during the Korean War. He attended Kentucky’s Asbury University, which awarded him an honorary degree in 2002.
The actor was inducted into the Disney Legends Hall of Fame in 1995.
Jones is survived by his wife, writer Lory Basham Jones; three children, Caroline Jones, Deanna Demaree and Michael Pastick; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
That might be directly related to his role in Million Dollar Duck. The gold ban is a major plot point of that film.
Yep, remember the Love Bug in the theaters. Great fun in a bygone era.
Oh, too bad! Nice career especially in the 60s. Starred in the B’way play “Company” in the 70s.
Loved “That Darn Cat.”
Lovely to hear he found strength in Christ. He quit the B’way hit “Company” because of his bad nerves and stage fright - this was in the very early 70s.
LOL... I thought the very same thing
RIP Dean Jones.
RIP.
Ugly Dachsund-Dean Jones
“I have had it with those walking wieners”.
“Keep them out of my way, or they’re really gonna end up sausages!”
I bought this and a couple other dog movies for my dad and we watched this a lot.
Snowball express was another..
Dean Jones. Good actor. And apparently from what I learned today from an obit, a better man..
He was one of the good guys. So is his wife.
I was on YouTube looking for dean jones vids and there is one - St. John in exile..
It looks like him. Never watched it before.
Just checked, and the original is on YouTube!
I have to babysit the grandkids Saturday night ... I know what we will be doing :)
Some of my happiest memories were going to the drive-in to see Disney movies... especially the “Love Bug” series. RIP.
Enjoy!
Aww, Neat!
I understand It was Parkinson’s, in the end. Very sad ~
Indeed he was.
RIP
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