Shirley Jones

Shirley Jones
Los Angeles Times

Stars

Shirley Jones
Film: West side of the 1500 block of Vine Street
Actress
Born Shirley Mae Jones on March 31, 1934 in Charleroi, Pa.

Shirley Jones played the loving mom Shirley Partridge in the 1970-74 TV musical sitcom “The Partridge Family” and the lovable girl next door in such movie musicals as “Oklahoma!” and “Carousel.”

But there's another side to her career: an actress of strong dramatic mettle willing to take risky roles. She got glowing reviews as a boozer in a 1956 “Playhouse 90” drama “The Big Slide,” and she won a supporting actress Academy Award for her role as prostitute Lulu Bains in 1960's “Elmer Gantry” with Burt Lancaster.

"Those were great roles," Jones said. “The problem with 'Partridge' — though it was great for me and gave me an opportunity to stay home and raise my kids — when my agents came to me and presented it to me, they said if you do a series and it becomes a hit show, you will be that character for the rest of your life and your movie career will go into the toilet, which is what happened. But I have no regrets.”

Jones’ first husband was Jack Cassidy, with whom she raised four sons: TV producer-writer Shaun, actor Patrick, art director Ryan and stepson David (who also starred in “The Partridge Family”). In 1977, she married her second husband, comic actor Marty Ingels.

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    Academy Awards

    Year Category Work
    1960 Best Supporting Actress Elmer Gantry Win

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