On Monday, Dean Jones, the Alabama-born actor and Korean War veteran is best known for his light-hearted roles in Disney films such as That Darn Cat! and The Love Bug, passed away at the age of 84.
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Jones’ publicist Richard Hoffman confirmed the sad news on Wednesday, adding that Jones died in Los Angeles of Parkinson’s disease.
Jones made his feature film debut in 1956’s Somebody Up There Likes Me, then spent nearly a decade bouncing around television and films playing supporting roles. His career dramatically improved when Walt Disney admired his work in Ensign O’Toole, a television show that aired before The Wonderful World of Disney. He cast Jones as his leading man in That Darn Cat! opposite Hayley Mills and from that point on Jones made 9 more films for Disney, including Monkeys, Go Home, Million Dollar Duck, The Shaggy D.A., Snowball Express and Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo.
“I see something in them that is pure form. Just entertainment. No preaching,” Jones told the Los Angeles Times. “We’re always looking for social significance but maybe people just like to be entertained.”
In 1995, Jones was was inducted into the Disney Legends Hall of Fame.
(via THR)
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Dean Jones.
