Dean Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dean Jones
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Dean Jones in 1966
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| Born |
Dean Carroll Jones
January 25, 1931 |
| Died | September 1, 2015 (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Parkinson's disease |
| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1956–2009 |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Andrew Guy and Nolia Elizabeth Wilhite Jones |
Dean Carroll Jones (born January 25, 1931 – died September 1, 2015) was a well-known American actor. He was born in Decatur, Alabama.
Dean Jones was most famous for his fun and friendly main roles in many Walt Disney movies. These films were made between 1965 and 1977. He was especially loved for his parts in The Love Bug and Beethoven.
He passed away in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 84. His death was due to Parkinson's disease.
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Dean Jones' Acting Career
Dean Jones had a long and successful career in acting. He appeared in many movies and television shows. He was known for playing characters who were often charming and a bit clumsy.
Early Roles in Film
Dean Jones started his film career in the mid-1950s. He appeared in several movies, often in smaller roles. Some of his early films included Somebody Up There Likes Me and Jailhouse Rock. These roles helped him gain experience.
Becoming a Disney Star
Dean Jones became a big star thanks to his work with Walt Disney Pictures. He was perfect for Disney's family-friendly movies. His ability to play likeable characters made him a favorite.
- That Darn Cat! (1965): He played an FBI agent trying to solve a kidnapping with the help of a clever cat.
- The Ugly Dachshund (1966): He starred as a man whose dachshund dog acts like a Great Dane.
- Blackbeard's Ghost (1968): He played a coach who gets help from the ghost of Blackbeard the pirate.
- The Love Bug (1968): This was one of his most famous roles. He played Jim Douglas, a race car driver whose car, Herbie, has a mind of its own. This movie was a huge hit!
- The $1,000,000 Duck (1971): He played a professor with a duck that lays golden eggs.
- Snowball Express (1972): He starred as a family man who moves to the mountains to run a ski lodge.
- The Shaggy D.A. (1976): He played a lawyer who sometimes turns into a dog.
- Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977): He returned as Jim Douglas in another adventure with Herbie.
Later Film Roles
After his time with Disney, Dean Jones continued to act. He took on different types of roles. One notable film was Beethoven (1992). In this movie, he played a mean veterinarian named Dr. Herman Varnick. This was a very different role from his usual friendly characters. He also appeared in Clear and Present Danger (1994). His final film role was in God Provides (2009).
Television Appearances
Dean Jones also had a busy career in television. He appeared in many TV shows and movies made for television.
TV Series and Guest Roles
He made guest appearances on popular shows like Bonanza and Murder, She Wrote. From 1962 to 1963, he had a main role in the comedy series Ensign O'Toole. He played Ensign O'Toole for 32 episodes.
Voice Acting and TV Movies
Dean Jones also lent his voice to animated characters. He voiced George Newton in the Beethoven animated series (1994). He also voiced characters in Superman: The Animated Series. He starred in several TV movies, including The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1995). He even returned as Jim Douglas in The Love Bug TV movie in 1997.
Broadway Stage Work
Besides movies and TV, Dean Jones also performed on Broadway. Broadway is famous for its live theater shows in New York City.
He appeared in several plays and musicals. One of his notable Broadway roles was playing Robert in the musical Company. He performed in this show in 1970 and again in 1993. Performing live on stage is very different from acting in front of a camera. It shows how talented Dean Jones was as an actor.
