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1 | All though Oklahoma was her very first film, Shirley still regards legendary Austrian filmmaker Fred Zinnemann as the greatest director she ever had worked with. |
2 | Married Jack Cassidy at the Protestant Church of New Jerusalem in Cambridge, MA, at 2:00 pm on August 6, 1956. Four hours later they performed the evening show of John Gay's "The Beggar's Opera" at the Sanders Theatre on the Harvard campus. |
3 | Became pregnant by her husband Jack Cassidy soon after they married, but her agent persuaded her to have an abortion as her career had just taken off. Jones calls the termination the "biggest regret of my life". |
4 | Was just four years older than Susan Luckey, who played her daughter in Carousel (1956). |
5 | Knew David Cassidy when he was only 6. |
6 | When her The Partridge Family (1970) and Florence Henderson's The Brady Bunch (1969) were ruling the prime time airwaves, the tabloids were hungry for any hint of a feud between the two stars. Howerver, since the two had been good friends since 1954, there was never any "feud" to be reported about. |
7 | Her second husband, Marty Ingels, died on October 21, 2015. He lived to be 79. |
8 | She was so heartbroken when she lost Suzanne Crough, on April 27, 2015. On- and off-camera, Jones had a very good relationship with her, while working on The Partridge Family (1970). |
9 | Had screen-tested for the role of Kathy Selden in Singin' in the Rain (1952), but lost to Debbie Reynolds. |
10 | For her role on The Partridge Family (1970) she had to drive the family "bus", which had a standard ("stick")-shift transmission with the gearshift on the floor; she only knew how to drive a car with an automatic transmission, so she had to learn how to drive a stick-shift, which she never really got the hang of. That made for a nerve-wracking experience for cast members who had to be in the bus when she was driving. |
11 | Despite not being a lead vocalist, Jones was involved in every song of The Partridge Family (1970). |
12 | She recorded two or three shows at once, in a session, usually about 6 songs, every weekend and/or evenings for The Partridge Family (1970). |
13 | Had admitted that she had a crush on Gordon MacRae and was starstruck when she worked opposite him on Oklahoma! (1955). She said that she was the one who convinced him to take the part of Billy Bigelow in Carousel (1956). Frank Sinatra, who had originally been cast, suddenly dropped out during the first days of filming because each scene had to be shot twice, once in CinemaScope 55 (a wider-than-usual, 55mm, six-track stereo system) and once in 35mm CinemaScope. Sinatra felt that he should have been paid twice because technically he was shooting two films. Three weeks after he left, the producers found a way to film the scene once on 55mm, then transfer it onto 35mm. |
14 | The song, "I Think I Love You," reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart, making her the second person, after Frank Sinatra, and the first woman, to win an acting Oscar and also have a #1 hit on that chart. |
15 | Member of the Alzheimer's Foundation. |
16 | Friends with: Angela Lansbury, Bea Arthur, Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Doris Roberts, Della Reese, Marla Gibbs, Charlotte Rae, Florence Henderson, Marty Ingels, Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Harry Morgan, Alan Alda, Barbara Bel Geddes, Dick Van Dyke, Larry Hagman, Wink Martindale, Dick Van Patten, Mary Tyler Moore, James Garner, Bill Bixby, Ernest Borgnine, Andy Griffith, Rance Howard, Danny Thomas, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Robert Conrad, Larry Manetti, Karl Malden, Pat Boone, Betsy Palmer, Abby Dalton, Ruta Lee, Julie Adams, Piper Laurie, Anne Jeffreys, Katherine Helmond, Richard Mulligan, Shelley Morrison, Elizabeth Montgomery, Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, Eddie Albert, Robert Wagner, Tony Randall, Peter Marshall, Dave Madden, Angie Dickinson, Michele Lee, James Stewart, Paul Junger Witt, Bob Claver, Drew Carey, Gordon Jump, Joanne Woodward, Jean Simmons, Shirley Knight, Mickey Rooney, Beverly Garland, Doris Day, Patti Page and Gordon MacRae. |
17 | Alongside Norman Lloyd, William Daniels, Dick Van Dyke, Ernest Borgnine, Mickey Rooney, Christopher Lee, Betty White, Angela Lansbury, Edward Asner, Marla Gibbs, Adam West, William Shatner, Larry Hagman, Florence Henderson and Alan Alda, Jones is one of the few actors in Hollywood who lived into their 80s and/or 90s without ever either retiring from acting or having stopped getting work. |
18 | From 1961-2000 she resided in a mansion in Beverly Hills, CA. |
19 | As of 2001 she was residing in Encino, CA. |
20 | While filming Fluffy (1965) she developed a special relationship with Hollywood's famous animal trainer Ralph Helfer's legendary African Lion Zamba. |
21 | Was engaged to Lou Malone, who was a West Point cadet. |
22 | Her favorite city is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. |
23 | Beat out Piper Laurie for the co-starring role in Elmer Gantry (1960). |
24 | An only child. |
25 | Her birthplace, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, is 30 miles, south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. |
26 | Her hobbies are singing, dancing, politics, philanthropy, spending time with her family, swimming and traveling. |
27 | A movie buff. |
28 | Other than herself, her former The Partridge Family (1970) co-star, David Cassidy, is the other singer of the band. |
29 | She traveled every summer to Pittsburgh where she took summer courses in college. |
30 | An animal lover. |
31 | Every summer her parents would take her to New York for her summer vacation. |
32 | Was going to attend Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ, to become a veterinarian. |
33 | Met Bernard Slade on a cruise, before she did The Partridge Family (1970). |
34 | Met Ken Welch at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, who asked her to do the musicals, at every audition. |
35 | On The Partridge Family (1970), her co-stars played musical instruments, as did her own family in real life. |
36 | When she was in school, the only subject she hated was math. |
37 | Before becoming a professional actress, she had been "Queen of the Children's Theater"' at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in Pittsburgh, PA. |
38 | Had a dog named Shane, which was a Shetland sheep dog. |
39 | Her grandparents owned and operated a hotel in Smithton, PA. |
40 | In 1946 she attended a summer camp in Lake Erie (NY) for girls. |
41 | A member of the National Honor Society. |
42 | Her favorite TV movie to date was Silent Night, Lonely Night (1969). |
43 | Former mother-in-law of Ann Pennington and Janice Pennington. |
44 | Originally, her character on The Partridge Family (1970) was going to be named Connie, but the producers eventually changed it to "Shirley". |
45 | Originally, on The Partridge Family (1970), the only cast member who was supposed to sing was her. However, after the producers heard David Cassidy's demos of the songs, they decided to let him sing as well. |
46 | Shirley and her sons are descendants of John of Gaunt and Katherine De Roet Swynford. |
47 | Is a supporter of PETA. |
48 | Of Welsh descent by her paternal grandfather. |
49 | Her ex-The Partridge Family (1970) co-star Dave Madden said in his memoirs that he did not get along with Jones' second husband Marty Ingels, and therefore had a limited relationship with her. |
50 | Met Eddie Albert on the set of Oklahoma! (1955), which was also her first movie. Their friendship would last for 50 years, until Albert's death on May 26, 2005. |
51 | Played a grandmother in two movies: Grandma's Boy (2006) and Family Weekend (2013). |
52 | Worked with Ron Howard twice: The Music Man (1962) and The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963). |
53 | Her first husband Jack Cassidy suffered from bipolar disorder. |
54 | Her mentor was Richard Brooks. |
55 | Met Florence Henderson when she and Jones were both in Richard Rodgers' and Oscar Hammerstein II's "Oklahoma"' in 1954. |
56 | The reason she turned down the lead role in The Brady Bunch (1969) is she didn't want to be seen as the mother at home, taking the roast out of the oven. |
57 | Her favorite television series to date was The Partridge Family (1970). She once said she liked that show, a lot, because it had music in it and Jones felt it had a chance to succeed because it was different. |
58 | The reason she took on the starring role on The Partridge Family (1970) was so she could play the first working mother ever to be portrayed on television. |
59 | Her favorite The Partridge Family (1970) episodes were the one with the skunk, and the show with Richard Pryor and Louis Gossett Jr.. |
60 | She is most widely known to be a very private lady. |
61 | She was born in Charleroi, PA, but her family moved to Smithton, PA, in 1937, when Shirley was three. |
62 | Was the 52nd actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Elmer Gantry (1960) at The 33rd Annual Academy Awards (1961) on April 17, 1961. |
63 | According to her autobiography, "Shirley Jones: A Memoir", she lost her virginity at age 21 to her future husband Jack Cassidy during the Italian leg of their "Oklahoma!" tour in July 1955. |
64 | Gave birth to her second child at age 27, son Patrick Cassidy on January 4, 1962. |
65 | Gave birth to her first child at age 24, son Shaun Cassidy, on September 27, 1958. |
66 | Gave birth to her third child at age 31, son Ryan Cassidy, on February 23, 1966. |
67 | Was named after Shirley Temple. |
68 | Acting ran in her family. |
69 | Besides being the only The Partridge Family (1970) members who sang for themselves, she and David Cassidy were the only ones who did not lend their voices to Hanna-Barbera's animated version of the series. |
70 | When she was 6, she began singing with the church choir. |
71 | Was a spokesperson for the popular California-based Ralphs Supermarkets in the 1980s. |
72 | Acting mentor and friend of ex-stepson David Cassidy, Danny Bonaduce and Ron Howard. |
73 | Was the producers' first and only choice for the lead role of The Partridge Family (1970). |
74 | Met David Cassidy's father, Jack Cassidy, during the stage production of "Oklahoma!" while in Paris, France. before she eventually married him. At that time David was only six years old. When he was 20 he auditioned and won the co-starring role in the popular comedy The Partridge Family (1970), opposite Jones as her eldest son. |
75 | Before she was a successful television actress, she worked with Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II on stage. |
76 | Had said in an interview that she wanted Jack Cassidy back, when it was too late, because of his death. |
77 | Had starred in a pilot with Jack Cassidy, before The Partridge Family (1970) aired a year later. |
78 | After she had refused an offer of reconciliation from Jack Cassidy, she received word that her ex-husband's penthouse apartment was on fire. Apparently, the fire started from his lit cigarette when he fell asleep on the couch; the following morning, firefighters found her ex-husband's body inside the gutted apartment. [12 December 1976]. |
79 | Was invited by Michael Landon to an art exhibit, where she met her second husband Marty Ingels. |
80 | Replaced Jane Wyman in the role of Aunt Polly in The Adventures of Pollyanna (1982), despite being under contract starring in Falcon Crest (1981). |
81 | Has nine grandchildren: Caitlin Cassidy (b. 1981), John Cassidy (b. 1985), Juliet (b. 1998), Caleb (b. 2005), Roan (b. 2006), Lila (b. 2008) and Mairin (2011) via her son Shaun Cassidy, and Cole (b. 1995) and Jack (b. 1998) via her son Patrick Cassidy. |
82 | Turned down the role of Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch (1969). Jones wasn't ready to do a television series, hence, the role was given to her best friend Florence Henderson. |
83 | Remained good friends with David Cassidy before, during and after The Partridge Family (1970). |
84 | Was very disappointed that her show The Partridge Family (1970), was canceled after the fourth season. Her stepson and series co-star, David Cassidy, was growing tired of playing the same role, plus, the show had sunk in the ratings. |
85 | Is a vegetarian. |
86 | Her ex-The Partridge Family (1970), co-star and real-life stepson, David Cassidy, once admitted that he had a crush on her. |
87 | Best known by the public for her starring role as Shirley Partridge on The Partridge Family (1970). |
88 | She and Elizabeth Taylor are the only actresses to win Oscars for playing prostitutes in the same year: Jones for Elmer Gantry (1960) (Best Supporting Actress) and Taylor for BUtterfield 8 (1960) (Best Actress). |
89 | Played by Dey Young in The David Cassidy Story (2000) and Eve Gordon in Come On, Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story (1999). |
90 | When asked which of her musicals was her favorite, she has said it was The Music Man (1962). While she says she has special memories of Oklahoma! (1955) because it was her first movie, Carousel (1956) is her favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein score. |
91 | Strongly considered for Roberta Hertzel in About Schmidt (2002), but lost to Kathy Bates. Shirley was very disappointed by the decision. |
92 | Although in many ways she's like her wholesome public image, she does have another side to her personality, which shows in her liking books on true crime. |
93 | Had wanted to become a veterinarian. |
94 | On March 1, 2002, she filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court from Marty Ingels, but later withdrew the petition. Conflict between Ingels and Jones' sons (his version) and his outrageous behavior (her version) had caused them to separate several times in recent years, the longest being for 10 months in 2000. |
95 | All three of her sons were delivered via Cesarean section. |
96 | In December 2001 she and husband Marty Ingels spent more than $100,000 to outbid two developers for a half-acre commercial lot in downtown Fawnskin, CA. They plan to turn it into a public park. |
97 | Began her career on Broadway at 18 in the original production of "South Pacific" in 1952. |
98 | Born at 5:30 AM EST. |
99 | Son Shaun Cassidy--standing in for her deceased father--gave her away at her wedding to Marty Ingels. |
100 | Filed a libel suit in 1985 against the National Enquirer after it wrote that she was "drinking vodka like it was water"; won a retraction and a settlement. |
101 | Received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame on Valentine's Day, 1986. |
102 | Featured performer at the 1988 Republican National Convention. |
103 | Only child of Marjorie Williams, a strict strong-minded homemaker, and Paul Jones, owners of the Jones Brewing Company. |
104 | Received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Point Park College (Pittsburgh, PA) |
105 | Won the 1952 Miss Pittsburgh contest (the prize was $500 and a scholarship to drama school) and was first-runner-up in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant. |
106 | She, along with Marty Ingels, attended the "Hollywood Collectors Show", at Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn, in North Hollywood, California. |
107 | She was pregnant with son, Patrick Cassidy, during the filming of The Music Man (1962) in 1961. Special outfits were used to cover her showing stomach on the set. |
108 | Graduated from South Huntingdon High School in Ruffs Dale, Pennsylvania, in 1952. |
109 | Step-mother of actor David Cassidy |
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