Biography for
Shirley Jones (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

31 March 1934, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, USA

Birth Name

Shirley Mae Jones

Height

5' 5½" (1.66 m)

Mini Biography

Named after child star Shirley Temple, Shirley Jones started singing at the age of six. She started formal training at the age of 12 and would dream of singing with her idol, Gordon MacRae. Upon graduating from high school, Shirley went to New York to audition for the casting director of Rodgers & Hammerstein. Taken by Shirley's beautifully trained voice, Shirley was signed as a nurse in the Broadway production of "South Pacific". Within a year, she would be in Hollywood to appear in her first film _Oklahoma!(1955)_ as Laurie, the farm girl in love with cowboy Gordon MacRae. Oklahoma! (1955) would be filmed in CinemaScope and Todd-AO wide screen and would take a year to shoot. After that, Shirley returned to Broadway for the stage production of "Oklahoma!" before returning to Hollywood for Carousel (1956). But by this time, musicals were a dying art and she would have a few lean years. She would work on television in programs like "Playhouse 90" (1956). With a screen image comparable to peaches-n-cream, Shirley wanted a darker role to change her image. In 1960, she would be cast as the vengeful prostitute in the Richard Brooks dramatic film Elmer Gantry (1960). With a brilliant performance against an equally brilliant Burt Lancaster, Shirley would win the Oscar for Supporting Actress. But the public wanted the good Shirley so she was cast as Marion, the librarian, in the successful musical The Music Man (1962). Robert Preston had played the role on Broadway and his performance along with Shirley was magic. Shirley would again work with little Ronny Howard in The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963).

But the movies changed in the 60's and Shirley's image did not fit so she would see her movie career stop in 1965. There were always nightclubs, but Shirley would be remembered by another generation as Shirley Partridge in the television series "The Partridge Family" (1970). While the success of the show would do more for her stepson, teen idol David Cassidy, it would keep her name and face in the public view for the four years that the series ran. The show still plays in reruns.

After the show ended, Shirley would spend the rest of the 70's in the land of television movies. The television movie The Lives of Jenny Dolan (1975) (TV) would be made as a pilot for a series that was not picked up. In 1979, Shirley appeared in a comedy show called "Shirley" (1979), but the show lasted only one season. Shirley would appear infrequently in the 80's and in video's extolling fitness and beauty at the end of the decade.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Tony Fontana

Mini Biography

Shirley Mae Jones was born 31 March, 1934 in Smithton, Pennsylvania. She was named after Shirley Temple. Her father owned the local brewery. When she was 20, she went to New York with her parents and within a week became the first and only actor signed to a personal contract by Rogers and Hammerstein. She was in the Broadway chorus of "South Pacific" and then was offered the part of Laurie in "Oklahoma!" After that, she continued with the European traveling stage production with Jack Cassidy and they fell in love. She came back to make Carousel (1956), originally cast with Frank Sinatra in the male lead but later recast with Gordon McRae, her costar in Oklahoma! (1955).

In 1956 Shirley married Jack Cassidy and became step-mother to 6-year-old David Cassidy. In 1958, she gave birth to son 'Shaun Cassidy (I)' followed in 1960 by Patrick Cassidy and Ryan Cassidy in 1966. In 1960, she won an Oscar for her role in Elmer Gantry (1960). In 1970, she won the part of Shirley Partridge in the TV show "The Partridge Family" (1970). Little did she know that her 20-year-old step-son was going to be the oldest Partridge child, Keith. From then on she would always be considered David Cassidy's mother. In 1974 the Partridge Family went off the air.

Jack's mental illness worsened and manic depression deepened. In 1974, after years of abuse, Shirley divorced Jack. Jack died in an apartment fire in December of 1976. In 1977, Shirley married comedian Marty Ingels. In 1990, Marty and Shirley wrote a book about their life and their romance and marriage. The book is called Shirley and Marty: An Unlikely Romance. Shirley continued to act and was recently on "The Drew Carey Show" (1995). In 1999, after almost 25 years of marriage, Shirley and Marty separated for six months due to tensions with her sons. Fortunately, Marty and Shirley reconciled and are still one of Hollywood's happiest married, if not odd couple, around.

IMDb Mini Biography By: CRR

Spouse

Marty Ingels	(13 November 1977 - present)
Jack Cassidy	(5 August 1956 - 26 May 1975) (divorced) 3 children

Trade Mark

Blonde hair.

Trivia

Mother of Shaun Cassidy, Patrick Cassidy and Ryan Cassidy

Step-mother of actor David Cassidy

Winner of the 1952 Miss Pittsburgh Pageant

Miss Pennsylvania 1952 first runner-up; her prize was a two year scholarship to the drama school at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

Graduated from South Huntingdon High in 1952

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.

She, along with Marty Ingels, attended the "Hollywood Collectors Show", at Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn, in North Hollywood, California.

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.

Received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Point Park College (Pittsburgh, PA)

Only child of Marjorie Williams, a strict strong-minded homemaker, and Paul Jones, owners of the Jones Brewing Company.

Featured performer at the 1988 Republican National Convention.

Received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame on Valentine's Day, 1986.

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.

Son Shaun Cassidy - standing in for Shirley's deceased father - gave her away at her wedding to Marty Ingels.

Born at 5:30 AM EST.

Began her career on Broadway at 18 in the original production of "South Pacific" in 1952.

Jones and 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. [December 2001]

She and Hugh Jackman sang "People Will Say We're in Love" from Oklahoma! as Laurie and Curly respectively at the opening of Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia.

All 3 of her sons were delivered via Cesarean section.

Filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court from Marty Ingels, but later withdrew the petition. Conflict between Ingels and Jones's sons (his version) and his outrageous behavior (her version) have caused them to separate several times in recent years, the longest being for 10 months in 2000. [1 March 2002]

Had her first date with Jack Cassidy in Paris while both were touring in a European stage production of "Oklahoma!"

Had wanted to become a veterinarian.

Measurements: 34-21-35 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

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.

Strongly considered for Roberta Hertzel in About Schmidt (2002), but lost to Kathy Bates. Shirley was very disappointed by the decision.

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.

Played by Dey Young in The David Cassidy Story (2000) (TV) and Eve Gordon in Come On, Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story (1999) (TV).

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).

Best known by the public for her starring role as Shirley Partridge on "The Partridge Family" (1970).

Admitted during the Oklahoma commentary that at one low point in her career when she wasn't getting as many movies and Jack Cassidy's Broadway career was faltering; she was seriously thinking of going back to school to become a veterinarian.

Her ex-"The Partridge Family" (1970), co-star and real-life stepson, David Cassidy, once admitted that he had a crush on her.

Is a vegetarian.

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.

Remained good friends with David Cassidy before, during and after "The Partridge Family" (1970).

Was/is best friends with: Eddie Albert, Florence Henderson, Ron Howard, Gordon MacRae and his wife Sheila MacRae, Jean Simmons, Rod Steiger and Oscar Hammerstein.

Turned down the role of Carol Brady on "The Brady Bunch" (1969).

Personal Quotes

After I won the Oscar, my salary doubled, my friends tripled, my children became more popular at school, my butcher made a pass at me, and my maid hit me up for a raise.

"The show killed my movie career" - on "The Partridge Family" (1970).

"Jack had a breakdown. A real mental breakdown. He was manic depressive. But he was the one that wanted the divorce. He thought it was better for me and the kids. I never did. I would have hung in there. I felt in many ways he was acting strangely and doing strange things and he felt perhaps it was better for all of us." - on the end of her marriage to Jack Cassidy

"You don't throw away 27 years. You just don't." - on why she withdrew her divorce petition against Marty Ingels

It's astonishing to see how many of these Hollywood big-wigs are trying to undermine President Bush.

"Some people pooh-pooh the Oscar. My career had been over because they weren't making musicals anymore. At the time, it was thought that if you were a singer you couldn't act." (on how winning an Oscar changed her life.)

My policy is just one step at a time.

He was a very, very strong force in my life. As a matter of fact, I never fell out of love with a man. - on the death of Jack Cassidy

I was very worried about David, because as I said, he'd showed up on a Monday with no sleep, becoming terrified with the fans, becoming terrified with the press, wanting to hide his trailer, every minute. - on the cancellation of "The Partridge Family" (1970).

He came to respect me, he loved me, and vice-versa. We had our moments, because David had some disciplinary problems. He would show up late for work on Mondays, and keep the whole crew waiting, you know, for hours, and not to my liking or anybody else's. So, that had to be addressed and it was, until we got to know each other. - on her on- and off-screen chemistry with David Cassidy who played Keith Partridge.

At this time in my life, it is fun to play the opposite of me. I just played an alcoholic nightclub singer on 'The Cleaner.' So, as much as I enjoyed 'The Partridge Family,' these days I want to go totally against type. That is what acting is all about. - on playing a guest character on "Ruby & the Rockits" (2009) that is not Shirley Partridge in 2009.

I have been coming every Friday night to watch the taping. I have never done that in my life. It is so exciting for me because the whole family is involved. - when she watched "Ruby & the Rockits" (2009), a short-lived sitcom that co-starred her stepson, David Cassidy and son, Patrick Cassidy.

Where Are They Now

(1990) Release of her book, "Shirley & Marty: An Unlikely Love Story" by Shirley and Marty Ingels with Mickey Herskowitz.

(October 2009) Singing in concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony in a concert of music from the "Music Man".

Browse biographies section by name

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z