Dean Jones

Attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, in the early 1950s but did not graduate.

Known chiefly as one of Disneys two main stars in the 60s & 70s

A born-again Christian, Dean Jones has appeared successfully in the one-man show "Saint John in Exile," which he subsequently filmed as St. John in Exile .

Dean was considered for the role of Lex Luthor in Superman , but the role ultimately went to Gene Hackman.

He was introduced into the Disney Legends Hall of Fame in 1995. Dean was one of Disneys biggest stars in the 1960s and 70s. He appeared in 10 films for the company, including That Darn Cat! , Blackbeards Ghost and Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo .

Though primarily known for his work in films, especially Disney family comedies, Jones created the role of "Robert" (or "Bobbie") in Stephen Sondheim s 1970 musical, "Company", which explored modern relationships. However, Jones only played the role for a few weeks before he dropped out due to personal problems, so short a time that his replacement, Larry Kert , received the nomination for Best Actor in A Leading Role for the show, rather than Jones.

In 1970, Dean Jones was a star in Hollywood and also on Broadway in two very distinctly different genres. In films, Jones was the lead in hugely successful Disney movies, holding his own against scene-stealing co-stars that included a cat ("That Darn Cat!"), dog ("The Ugly Dachshund") and a Volkswagen ("The Love Bug.") But on the New York stage that year, he was the star of the Stephen Sondheim landmark musical "Company" -- that examined adult relationships amid the fevered pace of urban life -- performing the pivotal role of "Bobby". Despite his success, however, Jones personal life was a shambles. He left "Company" shortly after the opening and was drawn to self-destructive behavior. Later, he had a religious conversion -- that altered the course not only of his life but also his career choices. "I wont blaspheme God," he told Christianity Today in 2009. "That immediately eliminates most scripts." Jones is best known for his light comedies, often as the somewhat bumbling good guy, and that was OK with him. "I had no illusions that I would ever play Hamlet," Jones told USA Today in 1997. Dean Jones (84) died on a Tuesday, the 1st of September, 2015, in Los Angeles. His publicist, Richard Hoffman, reported the cause was Parkinsons disease.

With his depression growing and his marriage coming apart, Jones left his role as "Bobby" in Stephen Sondheims 1970 musical smash Broadway hit "Company." Returning to Los Angeles, he told interviewers that he had been ill, and he went back to making Disney feature films. But he remained on the same disturbing path until 1973, while in a touring production of the musical "1776," he underwent a personal conversion. He continued to work in films and television, though not as much. And he was sometimes critical of Hollywood. "Film and television have been partially responsible for the disconnect between our nation and our God, he told Christianity Today. Jones did appear in the Tom Clancy thriller "Clear and Present Danger" and in the drama/comedy "Other Peoples Money." Jones took on several religion-themed projects, including his touring one-man show "St. John in Exile" that was also filmed. Though Jones was serious about his religious messages, he enjoyed getting laughs. "Im remembering a time when I was on stage in a theater or in the back row of a movie house, and heard people laugh at some silliness I did, and how I felt humbled to be able to bring laughter to people," Jones told Christianity Today, "because, unless Im sadly mistaken, you cant laugh and remember your problems at the same time." Dean Jones is survived by his second wife, Lory Basham Jones; daughters Caroline Jones and Deanna Demure; son Michael Pastiche; eight grandchildren; and three great-grand-children.

He was born Dean Carroll Jones on January 25, 1931, in Decatur, Alabama. His father worked for a railroad company and the family moved often, living in Washington, D.C., Nashville and New Orleans. "It was in New Orleans I really learned how to sing," Jones told the Pittsburgh Press in 1969. Dropping out of school at 15, he worked for a short time singing in a club in that city, but when the club closed, he returned to Decatur and got his degree. But Dean Jones had gotten the show business bug. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, Jones got a job acting in a melodrama at Knotts Berry Farm. He was spotted by veteran composer Vernon Duke, who was planning a musical. The musical project fell through, but Duke enabled Jones an audition with Arthur Freed, the famous producer of MGM feature film musicals such as "Singin In the Rain." It did not go as planned. "Hes an actor, not singer!" Arthur Freed exclaimed as related by Jones in a 1966 L.A. Times interview. Still, the studio signed Jones, and in his first credited role, he found himself acting opposite James Cagney in the 1956 drama "These Wilder Years." The veteran actor helped him through their scene. "There I was, just out of the U.S. Navy without an acting lesson to my name," Jones told the Christianity Today. "In walks Cagney and says, Walk to your mark and remember your lines. Thats all Ive been doing for 50 years." Jones had mostly small roles of a far grittier nature than his later Disney fare. "I played drug addicts, pimps, hard-cased killers, ex-cons and angry young men," he told The Times in 1995. And he reveled in the movie life. In a 2007 interview with the Pantagraph newspaper in Bloomington, Illinois, he recalled being on the MGM Culver City studio back lot, with "Liz Taylor yelling, Hey Dean-O, lets go down to Stage 22 and watch Bing and Frank sing!" Jones even acted with Elvis Presley in 1957 in "Jail House Rock." He made his first appearance on Broadway in 1960 opposite Jane Fonda in the play "There Was a Little Girl." That stage play flopped, but Jones went on to the more successful play "Under the Yum-Yum Tree" that year. The job that led him into the Disney fold was the television series "Ensign OToole," a military comedy in which he had the title role. Debuting in 1962, the program played Sunday evenings on NBC. The show was followed by Walt Disneys anthology television show, so Disney caught the end of some episodes of Jones series liking what he saw. Beginning with 1965s "That Darn Cat!," Dean became closely identified with Disney family fare. In addition to the "Love Bug" and "The Ugly Dachshund," he was the leading man in "Monekys, Go Home," "The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit," "The Million Dollar Duck," "The Shaggy D.A.," "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" and other Disney feature films. But in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was leading an off-screen life contrary to his wholesome image. He had numerous affairs and was drinking heavily. "I had thought if I became a star Id be happy," he said in a 1976 L.A.Times interview. "I had thought if I had a fairly large amount of money Id be happy. I thought if I had a house on a hill Id be happy. I thought if I had a Ferrari Id be happy. One goal after another was accomplished. And with no fulfillment." Jones was able to keep his torment largely separated from his work life. Even the head of the studio was fooled. "I remember having lunch with Walt one day, and he told me, Dean, youre a perfect fit for these pictures. Youre such a good family man!" Jones told the Pantagraph. "I wasnt a good family man," Jones said. "I was showing up at home smelling of perfume that wasnt my wifes.".

Survived by his wife Lory, two daughters Caroline Jones, and Deanna Demaree from his first marriage and a son Michael Patrick, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Was friends with Michele Lee , and Angela Lansbury.