Carolyn Jones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carolyn Jones
Jones and John Astin as Gomez Addams and Morticia Addams in The Addams Family (1964 TV series) 1964.
Born	Carolyn Sue Jones (1930-04-28)April 28, 1930 Amarillo, Texas, United States
Died	August 3, 1983(1983-08-03) (aged 53) West Hollywood, California, United States
Cause of death	Colon cancer
Resting place	Melrose Abbey Memorial Park Cemetery, Anaheim, California
Education	Amarillo High School
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	1952–1983
Spouse(s)	Don Donaldson (unknown dates; divorced) Aaron Spelling ​ ​ (m. 1953; div. 1964)​ Herbert Greene ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1977)​ Peter Bailey-Britton ​ (m. 1982⁠–⁠invalid year)​

Carolyn Sue Jones (born April 28, 1930 – died August 3, 1983) was a talented American actress. She starred in many movies and TV shows. Carolyn became famous in the 1960s for playing Morticia Addams in the TV series The Addams Family. She also played Morticia's sister, Ophelia.

Carolyn started her acting career in the early 1950s. By the end of that decade, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This was for her role in the movie The Bachelor Party (1957). She also won a Golden Globe Award as a promising new actress in 1959. Her career continued for over 20 years.

Early Life and Childhood

Carolyn Jones was born in Amarillo, Texas. Her mother, Cloe Jeanette Southern, was a housewife. Her father, Julius Alfred Jones, was a barber. In 1934, her father left the family. Carolyn's mother moved with her two daughters to her parents' home.

Carolyn had severe asthma as a child. This often stopped her from playing outside. She loved to read and enjoyed Hollywood magazines. When she felt well enough, she loved going to the movies. At age 15, she joined the Pasadena Playhouse in California. Her grandfather paid for her acting lessons.

Acting Career Highlights

Guest stars for the 1961 premiere episode of The Dick Powell Show. From left: Ronald Reagan, Nick Adams, Lloyd Bridges, Mickey Rooney, Edgar Bergen, Jack Carson, Ralph Bellamy, Kay Thompson, Dean Jones. Seated: Carolyn Jones and Dick Powell.

A talent scout discovered Carolyn at the Pasadena Playhouse. She signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. Her first movie was The Turning Point in 1952. In 1953, she married filmmaker Aaron Spelling.

Early Film and TV Roles

Carolyn appeared in several episodes of the TV show Dragnet. She also had a small part in The Big Heat. She played a woman turned into a statue in House of Wax. In 1953, she was supposed to be in the movie From Here to Eternity. However, she got pneumonia and had to leave the role.

She made her TV debut on the show Gruen Playhouse in 1952. She also appeared in shows like City Detective and State Trooper. In 1955, she was in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Becoming a Star

In 1956, Carolyn appeared in the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers. She was also in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much. In 1957, she starred in "The Girl in the Grass" on Schlitz Playhouse.

She guest-starred three times on the TV series Wagon Train. In 1958, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Bachelor Party. She also won a Golden Globe Award for "Most Promising Newcomer." That same year, she acted with Elvis Presley in King Creole.

In 1959, she worked with famous actors like Frank Sinatra in A Hole in the Head. She also appeared with Dean Martin in Career. She acted with Anthony Quinn and Kirk Douglas in Last Train from Gun Hill.

The Addams Family and Later Work

In 1964, Carolyn Jones took on her most famous role. She played Morticia Addams in The Addams Family. She wore a long black wig for the part. This role made her a successful comedian. She also received another Golden Globe Award nomination.

After The Addams Family ended in 1966, her acting career slowed down. In the 1970s, she had roles in shows like the miniseries Roots. She also played Queen Hippolyta in the Wonder Woman TV series.

Her last role was Myrna Clegg in the soap opera Capitol. She started this role in March 1982. She continued acting even though she was battling cancer.

Personal Life and Marriages

Carolyn Jones was married four times. Her first marriage was to Don Donaldson, a fellow student. They later divorced.

Her second marriage was to TV producer Aaron Spelling. They were married from 1953 to 1964. Carolyn became Jewish when she married Aaron.

In 1968, she married Herbert Greene, a Broadway musical director. They separated in 1977.

In September 1982, Carolyn married her boyfriend, actor Peter Bailey-Britton. She knew she was very ill at the time. She wore a special cap to hide her hair loss from medical treatments.

Later Years and Passing

Carolyn Jones was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 1981. She kept working and told friends she was being treated for ulcers. After some time, the cancer returned in 1982. In July 1983, she became very ill at her home. Carolyn Jones passed away on August 3, 1983.

Filmography

Films

Television

Images for kids

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  Jones and John Astin as Gomez and Morticia Addams in The Addams Family (1964)

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  Carolyn Jones and John Church in the Broadway production of The Homecoming by Harold Pinter in 1967

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  Jones and Aaron Spelling in 1960

See also

In Spanish: Carolyn Jones para niños