Jones, Shirley (1934–)
Jones, Shirley (1934–)
American actress and singer. Born Mar 31, 1934, in Smithton, PA; only child of Paul Jones (brewery owner) and Marjorie (Williams) Jones; studied drama at Pittsburgh Playhouse; m. Jack Cassidy (singer), Aug 5, 1956 (div.); m. Marty Ingels (comedian and actor-agent), 1978 (sep. 1995); children: Shaun Paul Cassidy (singer); stepson David Cassidy (actor-singer).
Made NY debut in chorus of South Pacific; cast in a small role in Me and Juliet, won starring role when show went on tour; rose to prominence in film versions of musicals Oklahoma! (1955) and Carousel (1956); also appeared as Marion, small-town librarian, in The Music Man (1962); starred on ABC-TV as matriarch of "The Partridge Family" (Sept 25, 1970–Aug 31, 1974); had short run in another tv series, "Shirley" and running role as Kitty Noland in comedy series "The 'Slap' Maxwell Story"; other films include April Love (1957), Never Steal Anything Small (1959), The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963), The Cheyenne Social Club (1970) and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979). Won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for performance in Elmer Gantry (1960) and Emmy nomination for tv movie Silent Night, Lonely Night (1969).
See also Women in World History.