Photo
- Caption: Henry Jones (1912 - 1999)
- Description:
There are few more familiar character actors than Henry Jones. He was an average looking man with a slight smile, thinning hair and that familiar twangy voice with a Midwestern type drawl. He played quite a variety of roles in his career illustrating his diversity of talent. He was born August 1, 1912 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the son of a surgeon and raised there. He attended St. Joseph's College where he earned a BA but he eventually chose acting over a career in law. His first acting job came in 1935 at the Hedgerow Theater in Moylan, Pa. By 1938 he had made his debut on Broadway in Maurice Evan's "Hamlet" and later won a Tony Award for his role as Louie Howe in "Sunrise at Campobello." His film debut came in an uncredited part in Irving Berlin's "This is the Army" (1943) beginning a long and distinguished career. Among his other film credits were: "The Lady Says No" (1952) as Potsy; the role that brought him fame, "The Bad Seed" (1956) with Patty McCormack, as the dimwitted handyman Leroy; "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" (1957) as Rufus; "3:10 to Yuma" (1957) as Alex Potter; "Vertigo" (1958) in one his most acclaimed roles, as the Coroner; "Cash McCall" (1959) as Gil Clark; "Angel Baby" (1961) as Ben Hays; "Angel in My Pocket" (1969) as Will Sinclair; "Support Your Local Sheriff!" (1969) as Henry Jackson; "Dirty Dingus Magee" (1970) as Rev. Green; "Pete 'n' Tillie" (1972) as Mr. Tucker; "Nine to Five" (1980) as Hinkle; "Nowhere to Run" (1989) as Judge Culbert; "Dick Tracy" (1990) as the Night Clerk and "Arachnophobia" (1990) as Dr. Sam Metcalf, his last theatrical film. He was probably best known as Judge Jonathan Dexter on the "Phyllis" (1975-77) TV series, but he was a regular on other TV series: "Channing" (1963-64) as Dean Fred Baker; "The Girl With Something Extra" (1973-74) as Owen Metcalf; "Kate Loves a Mystery" (1979) as Josh Alden; "Gun Shy" (1983) as Homer McCoy; "Codename: Foxfire" (1985) as Phillips; "Falcon Crest" (1985-86) as B. Riley Wicker and "I Married Dora" (1987) as Hughes Whitney Lennox. He also appeared in many made for TV movies including "Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang" (1982) and "Breathing Lessons" (1994) his last work. He also guest starred on many TV series including: "Suspense"; "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"; "The Untouchables"; "Wagon Train"; "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"; "MacGyver" and "Empty Nest." He died on May 17, 1999 in Los Angeles, California the result of a fall.
- Actor/Actress/Director: Henry Jones
- Movie:
- Id: 10092794
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