Dean Jones
Image is public domain.
Bonanza fans know Dean Jones from the season 3 episode "The Friendship." In that episode, Dean plays Danny Kidd, a convict who saves Little Joe's life. In gratitude, Joe has Danny freed and tries to help him adjust to life outside of prison. It's an emotional episode, calling for tremendous acting skills from both Michael Landon and Dean Jones.
Picture courtesy of Rika
Dean Jones's work on Bonanza, though, is only the tip of the iceberg. Dean had a long career in performance beginning at a young age. When he was fifteen and his family was living in New Orleans, Dean left school and started singing in a club. However, the club closed, and Dean went back to school and then went into the Navy during the Korean War.
After the war, Dean decided to go back into show business. At first he tried to become a singer in movie musicals, but the producer at MGM at the time---Arthur Freed---gave him an audition and told him he was an actor, not a singer. So Dean started acting for MGM. His first movie was Somebody Up There Likes Me in 1956, in which he played a small part as a soldier. Not long after that, Dean began to get bigger roles. He was in Jailhouse Rock with Elvis and Never So Few with Frank Sinatra. He also appeared on an episodes of the TV shows Stagecoach West and Bonanza and starred in the sitcom Ensign O'Toole.
Dean's role in Ensign O'Toole brought him to the attention of Walt Disney. In 1965, Dean starred in his first Disney movie, That Darn Cat, in which he played a bumbling, lovable FBI agent with a cat allergy.
After the war, Dean decided to go back into show business. At first he tried to become a singer in movie musicals, but the producer at MGM at the time---Arthur Freed---gave him an audition and told him he was an actor, not a singer. So Dean started acting for MGM. His first movie was Somebody Up There Likes Me in 1956, in which he played a small part as a soldier. Not long after that, Dean began to get bigger roles. He was in Jailhouse Rock with Elvis and Never So Few with Frank Sinatra. He also appeared on an episodes of the TV shows Stagecoach West and Bonanza and starred in the sitcom Ensign O'Toole.
Dean's role in Ensign O'Toole brought him to the attention of Walt Disney. In 1965, Dean starred in his first Disney movie, That Darn Cat, in which he played a bumbling, lovable FBI agent with a cat allergy.
Picture from imdb.
He went on to star in 10 Disney films altogether during the 60's and 70's. The characters he played were mostly bumbling good guys. For instance, in Blackbeard's Ghost, Dean played a track coach who is haunted by the ghost of the ancient pirate Blackbeard. Since he's the only one who can see the ghost, everyone else thinks he's crazy!
Blackbeard's Ghost cap by me
Another well-known Disney film of his is The Love Bug.
Picture from imdb
After his work with Disney, Dean continued to appear in movies and TV shows until 2001. He played the villain in the family film Beethoven in 1992. He appeared on more than one episode of Murder, She Wrote with Angela Lansbury.
Dean was married to Mae Inez Entwhisle in 1954 and divorced her in 1971. They had two children, Caroline and Deanna. In 1973, Dean married Lory Patrick and became stepfather to her son, Michael.
Around the time of his second marriage, Dean became a born-again Christian. From then on, he was devoted to Christianity and appeared in several Christian films.
Dean died in 2015 from Parkinson's disease at the age of 84. He lives on in the hearts of those who continue to see and enjoy his works.
Dean was married to Mae Inez Entwhisle in 1954 and divorced her in 1971. They had two children, Caroline and Deanna. In 1973, Dean married Lory Patrick and became stepfather to her son, Michael.
Around the time of his second marriage, Dean became a born-again Christian. From then on, he was devoted to Christianity and appeared in several Christian films.
Dean died in 2015 from Parkinson's disease at the age of 84. He lives on in the hearts of those who continue to see and enjoy his works.
Picture is public domain.
Research from this bio is from imdb and Wikipedia.
