Dean Jones, who was the face of live action Disney comedies during the 1960s, has died. He was 84.
Variety confirmed that Jones died following a battle with Parkinson’s disease Tuesday in Los Angeles. His publicist, Richard Hoffman, also confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.
Jones, who was born in Alabama, was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the Navy. He attended Asbury University in Kentucky and got his start in showbusiness on Alabama radio. He headed to Broadway in 1960, starring in There Was A Little Girl with Jane Fonda. He also starred in Under The Yum-Yum Tree on Broadway and in the 1963 film.
On the movie side, Jones was first signed to MGM, making early appearances in Jailhouse Rock and Somebody Up There Likes Me. But it wasn’t until he landed at Disney that his career really took off.
Jones arrived at Disney at the perfect time, as the studio began focusing more on live action family comedies than animated features. His most famous role came in The Love Bug, but he also starred in That Darn Cat!, The Shaggy D.A., The Million dollar Duck and Snowball Express. He also appeared in the Love Bug sequel Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo.
He continued acting into the ‘90s, starring in Universal's Beethoven and Disney’s 1997 That Darn Cat remake.
The actor is survived by his wife Lory Basham Jones, three children and eight grandchildren.
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