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.
A very successful career and life. RIP.
Sad to hear, Dean Jones (to my knowledge) is among those in Hollywood never touched by scandal, he was AFAIK, a clean living Christian man.
Rest in Peace.
I met him many years ago. He was a very nice man and I enjoyed his movies. RIP.
I remember watching him back in my kid days. Good clean fun movies.
Thanks for the memories Dean. R.I.P.
Seemed like a real decent guy, RIP. I was a kid when That Darned Cat came out, liked that movie alot.
Sad, a man who made Disney movies when Disney was...well, you know.
RIP Sir, thanks for the fond memories.
Fun clean movies all.
RIP Dean
RIP
One of the old Disney staples.
I enjoyed many of his movies as a child. He always seemed very friendly and down to earth, just like another big actor of that time, Dick Van Dyke.
Dean Jones became a devout born-again Christian in 1973–1974, before his father’s death in 1979. He had a history of suffering from depression. His wife Lory said, “One night he got down on his knees and prayed that God would free him from the miserable moods that he had always suffered. He told me that in an instant it was gone and he felt peace and joy flood into his heart.”[7] Jones has appeared in several Christian films.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Jones_%28actor%29
Blackbeard’s Ghost. Still love it today.
Good wholesome image, untarnished by corruption. I think the only “villain” role I ever saw him in was “Other Peoples’ Money.” He played a backstabbing financial officer in a struggling company who sells out his boss and long-time friend for a share of a raider’s profit.
He was on Broadway in 1970 in Company. He sings Being Alive,which in on You Tube. It’s worth a look.
Trivia Fact: He was the first American citizen to line up at the window and buy some gold after FDR’s ban on Americans owning gold was repealed in 1974.
RIP.
I loved Dean Jones. His kind has been drummed out of Hollywood for a long time now. May he reap his reward!
Amen to that FRiend.
RIP
Good, clean, American movies made by Disney for the whole family to enjoy.
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