Background
Jones was born in New Jersey, and was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Helen (née Burk) and John Francis Xavier Jones. He was the grandson of Pennsylvania Representative Henry Burk, a Prussian immigrant.
Jones was born in New Jersey, and was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Helen (née Burk) and John Francis Xavier Jones. He was the grandson of Pennsylvania Representative Henry Burk, a Prussian immigrant.
AB, St. Joseph's College, Philadelphia, 1935.
Jones is remembered for his role as handyman Leroy Jessup in the movie The Bad Seed (1956), a role he originated on Broadway. Jones appeared in more than 180 movies and television shows. His screen credits included The Girl Can"t Help lieutenant, 3:10 to Yuma, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, Vertigo, Cash McCall, The Bramble Bush, Rascal, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Dirty Dingus Magee, Support Your Local Gunfighter, 9 to 5 and Arachnophobia.
On television, Jones" best remembered role was as the title character"s father-in-law in the 1970s Columbia Broadcasting System sitcom Phyllis.
Jones portrayed Jed McCoy on a 1961 episode of the American Broadcasting Company sitcom, The Real McCoys, starring Walter Brennan, with fellow guest stars Pat Buttram and Jane Darwell as Cousin Carl and "Grandma McCoy", respectively. In the story line, the California McCoys return to West Virginia for Grandmother McCoy"s 100th birthday.
He had a regular role on the American Broadcasting Company drama Channing, with Jason Evers. Jones also appeared on Appointment with Adventure, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Eleventh Hour, Bewitched, Night Gallery, Emergency!, The Mod Squad, Daniel Boone, Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, Thriller, Adam-12, The Doris Day Show, Father Knows Best, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Untouchables, MacGyver and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.
He played Doctor Smith"s cousin in a 1966 episode of Columbia Broadcasting System"s Lost In Space, "Curse Of Cousin Smith", and alongside R.J. Hoferkamp in the 1968 made-for-television western movie Something for a Lonely Manitoba
In 1967 he guest starred in the episode "A Time to Die" of the Sciences-Fi television show Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"s 4th season. Starting in 1974, he guest starred three times on The Six Million Dollar Manitoba as Doctor Jeffrey/Chester Dolenz. This character was a brilliant scientist who built lifelike robots, but although every plot was foiled he still managed to escape to fight another day.
Jones died in Los Angeles, California, at age 86, from complications from injuries suffered in a fall at his home in Santa Monica.
Served with Army of the United States, 1942-1945. Member National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, American Federation of television and Radio Artists, Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity Association, Players Club (New York City), Dramatists Guild.
Married Yvonne Bergere, January 14, 1942 (deceased October 1942). Married Judy Briggs, June 1946 (divorced 1961). Children: David, Jocelyn.