Who is Shirley Jones?
Shirley Jones is an American singer and actress best known for the musical films Oklahoma!, Carousel, The Music Man, and The Partridge Family. She has been in show business for six decades now. Shirley has starred as a wholesome character in a number of well-known musical films, such as Oklahoma!, Carousel, and The Music Man.
She became the first and only actor signed to a personal contract by Rogers and Hammerstein. Shirley was in the Broadway chorus of “South Pacific” and then was offered the part of “Laurey” in “Oklahoma!”. After that, she continued with the European traveling stage production. She came back to make Carousel in 1956. Originally cast with Frank Sinatra in the male lead but later recast with Gordon MacRae, her co-star in Oklahoma! in 1955.
Other film musicals quickly followed April Love in 1957 and The Music Man in 1962. She was often typecast as a wholesome, kind character. However, she won a 1960 Academy Award for her performance in Elmer Gantry. She was portraying a woman corrupted by the title character played by Burt Lancaster. Her character becomes a prostitute who encounters her seducer years later and avenges her. The director, Richard Brooks, had originally fought against her being in the movie. Later after seeing her first scene, she told her she would win an Oscar for her performance. She was reunited with Ron Howard who had played her brother in The Music Man in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father in 1963. She landed the role of a lady who fell in love with the professor in Fluffy in 1965.
How Old is Shirley Jones?
Shirley Mae Jones was born on March 31, 1934, in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, U.S. She is 89 years old as of 2023. She shares her birthday with other famous people such as Christopher Walken, Al Gore, Ewan McGregor, and Conrad Sewell, among others.
Shirley Jones Family
Jones was born to Methodist parents Marjorie (née Williams) a homemaker, and Paul Jones the owner of the Jones Brewing Company. She was named after child star Shirley Temple. Her family moved from Charleroi to the nearby small town of Smithton, Pennsylvania. Jones began singing at the tender age of six in the Methodist Church choir. She took voice lessons from Ralph Lewando. Jones attended South Huntingdon High School in Ruffs Dale, Pennsylvania where she participated in school plays.
Shirley Jones Husband
On November 13, 1977, Jones got married to actor and comedian Marty Ingels. Despite several separations where she filed and then withdrew a divorce petition in 2002, they remained married until Ingel died in 2005.
Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy
In 1956, Shirley married Jack Cassidy and became stepmother to 6-year-old David Cassidy. David was Jack’s only child from his first marriage to Evelyn Ward. Shirley and Cassidy have three sons together. Jones later divorced Cassidy in 1974. On the evening of 11 December 1976, after she had refused an offer of reconciliation from Jack Cassidy, Jones received news that her ex-husband’s penthouse apartment was on fire.
The fire started from his lit cigarette when he fell asleep on the couch; the following morning, firefighters found his body inside the gutted apartment. He “wanted to come back (to me) right up to the day he died”, Jones said in a 1983 newspaper interview. “And as I realized later, I wanted him. That’s the terrible part. Much as I love Marty and have a wonderful relationship—I’d say this with Marty sitting here—I’m not sure if Jack were alive I’d be married to Marty.”
Jones refers to Cassidy as the most influential person in and the love of her life.
Shirley Jones Children
Jones has three sons from her marriage to Jack Cassidy. Shaun Cassidy who is the eldest son was born in 1958. He was followed by Patrick Cassidy in 1960 and Ryan Cassidy in 1966.
Shirley Jones Grandchildren
Shirley is a grandmother of ten, Caitlin, Jake, Juliet, Caleb, Roan, Lila, and Meaghan who are Shaun Cassidy’s children. Cole and Jack, by his son Patrick, and Meaghan by son Ryan Cassidy. Her grandson Jack was a contestant on The Voice in 2017, a singing competition television show.
Shirley Jones David Cassidy
On November 21, 2017, David Cassidy died at the age of 67. The cause of his death was reported as organ failure complicated by early-onset dementia. Jones stated: “Long before he played my son on The Partridge Family, he was my stepson in real life. As a little boy, his sweet sensitivity, and wicked sense of humor were already on display, and I will treasure the years we spent working and growing together. I will also find solace knowing that David is now with his dad”.
Shirley Jones Partridge Family
The Partridge Family is an American musical sitcom starring Jones and featuring her stepson David Cassidy. Jones played a widowed mother, and Cassidy played the oldest of her five children who began a music career. It premiered September 25, 1970, until March 23, 1974. It was on the ABC network as part of a Friday-night lineup and had subsequent runs in syndication. The family was slightly based on the real-life musical family The Cowsills, which was a popular band in the late 1960s and early 1970.
Shirley Jones Carousel
Carousel stars Gordon MacRae as Billy Bigelow, a smooth-talking carny man who falls in love with a millworker (Shirley Jones). Tragedy strikes these star-crossed lovers, and their journey is not easy. It shows how Billy makes his way to Heaven and back again. He then provides love and solace to his wife and daughter, and redemption for himself. It is a story of one of the most unique and powerfully uplifting musicals ever written. With a score that includes “If I Loved You” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.
Shirley Jones’s Net Worth
During her career, Jones has appeared in over 100 films, plays, and television shows. She has always had a big name in the film industry. Shirley holds an estimated net worth of $25 million.
Shirley Jones Movies
- 1955 – Oklahoma!
- 1956 – Carousel
- 1957 – April Love
- 1959 – Never Steal Anything Small
Bobbikins - 1960 – Elmer Gantry
Pepe - 1961 – Two Rode Together
- 1962 – The Music Man
- 1963 – The Courtship of Eddie’s Father
A Ticklish Affair - 1964 – Dark Purpose
Bedtime Story - 1965 – Fluffy
The Secret of My Success - 1969 – The Happy Ending
El Golfo - 1970 – The Cheyenne Social Club
- 1979 – Beyond the Poseidon Adventure
- 1984 – Tank
- 1999 – Gideon
- 2000 – The Adventures of Cinderella’s Daughter
Ping! Ethel Jeffries
Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth - 2002 – Manna from Heaven
- 2004 – The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park
Raising Genius - 2006 – Grandma’s Boy
- 2007 – Christmas Is Here Again
- 2013 – Family Weekend
A Strange Brand of Happy
Zombie Night - 2014 – Waiting in the Wings: The Musical
- 2015 – On the Wing
- 2016 – The Irresistible Blueberry Farm
