---
name: "Shirley Jones"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/shirley-jones"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "31 March 1934"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-20T03:58:39.091123+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Shirley Jones

Actor. Born 31 March 1934 in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 31 March 1934, Charleroi, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Active:** 1960–2014
- **Also known as:** Shirley Mae Jones
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 78 (2), 2010s 86 (1)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Family 2, Animation 1, Drama 1, Music 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $25m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Jones, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230218, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0429250/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/60158

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*The Music Man*](https://film.one/film/the-music-man.md) (78)
- **Pluto TV:** [*Elmer Gantry*](https://film.one/film/elmer-gantry.md) (78)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Shirley Jones

> A soprano hired to sing who turned out to be better at watching. Shirley Jones does her best work when the film is about someone else and she is the one person on screen who has noticed what is going on.

The scene we keep going back to in *The Music Man* (1962) is not one of hers. Ron Howard's Winthrop, a small boy who barely speaks, gets a song and cannot stop singing it, and Morton DaCosta's camera finds Shirley Jones watching him. She does nothing. Her face does the rest, and it told us more about Marian Paroo than any of the librarian's own numbers. That is her habit, if it is a habit: she is at her best when the film has its attention on someone else, and Robert Preston's Harold Hill takes most of the attention in that one.

She was hired to sing. A small part in the Broadway *South Pacific* in 1953 won her a Rodgers and Hammerstein contract, and her screen debut came in 1955, as Laurey, opposite Gordon MacRae, with *Carousel* (1956) following. The studios saw a clean voice and a kind face and cast her as wholesome, again and again. She has put the problem plainly herself: "I was a singer, and when you were a singer you weren't thought of as an actress."

*Elmer Gantry* (1960) is the exception, and it is a real one. Richard Brooks's film belongs to Burt Lancaster's grin, and for long stretches it says everything twice. Then Jones arrives as Lulu Bains, a woman with a claim on Gantry's past, and the film hardens around her. We had expected the girl from *Carousel* and got someone who had been hurt and had decided what to do about it; she is better than anything else in that part of the picture. It is the performance that proves the face in *The Music Man* was not luck.

Two years later she was back in a library, singing "Till There Was You" straight while everyone around her winked, and after that the film work thinned. *The Partridge Family* (1970–1974) made her Shirley Partridge to a generation that had never seen *Carousel*, with David Cassidy alongside her, and her agents had warned her what a hit series does to a film career. They were right. What she left on film is small and mostly good: the ballads in *The Music Man*, and a stretch of *Elmer Gantry* that suggests a different career was available. Watch the two back to back. The gap between them is the interesting part, and nobody in Hollywood at the time seems to have looked at it.

## Biography

Shirley Jones is an American actress and singer. Born on 31 March 1934 in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, she studied drama at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and performed with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera before auditioning successfully for Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

She made her film debut in *Oklahoma!* (1955) and appeared in other musicals including *Carousel* (1956) and *The Music Man* (1962). In 1960 she played Lulu Bains in *Elmer Gantry*, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Jones starred as Shirley Partridge in the television series *The Partridge Family* (1970–1974), which also featured her stepson David Cassidy.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, britannica.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Over the Garden Wall* (2014), Fi1m 86, as Beatrice's Mother (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/over-the-garden-wall.md)
- *The Music Man* (1962), Fi1m 78, as Marian Paroo — [page](https://film.one/film/the-music-man.md)
- *Elmer Gantry* (1960), Fi1m 78, as Lulu Bains — [page](https://film.one/film/elmer-gantry.md)

## Complete filmography (92)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Irresistible Blueberry Farm* (2016), as Ruth
- *Looking for Mabel Normand* (2015), as Narrator (voice)
- *Eco Teens Save The World* (2015), as Mrs. Ryburn
- *Over the Garden Wall* (2014), series, as Beatrice's Mother / Additional Voices (voice), Beatrice's Mother (voice) — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/over-the-garden-wall.md)
- *Waiting in the Wings: The Musical* (2014), as Broadway Diva
- *Miracle at Gate 213* (2013), as Rita Goodrich
- *Zombie Night* (2013), as Nana
- *A Strange Brand of Happy* (2013), as Mildred
- *Family Weekend* (2013), as GG
- *The Real Love* (2012), Actor
- *Raising Hope* (2010), series, as Burt's Mom, Christine
- *Hot in Cleveland* (2010), series, as Sophie
- *Good Luck Charlie* (2010), series, as Linda Duncan
- *Victorious* (2010), series, as Mona Patterson
- *Cougar Town* (2009), series, as Anne
- *Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1980s, 1990s and 2000s* (2009), as Host
- *Ruby & The Rockits* (2009), series, as Shirley Gallagher
- *Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1970's* (2009), as Host
- *Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical* (2009), as Host
- *Childrens Hospital* (2008), series, as Grandma Shirley
- *The Cleaner* (2008), series, Actor
- *Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1920s: The Dawn of the Hollywood Musical* (2008), as Host
- *Christmas Is Here Again* (2007), as Victoria Claus (voice)
- *Monarch Cove* (2006), series, as Grace Foster
- *Grandma's Boy* (2006), as Grace
- *Hidden Places* (2006), as Aunt Batty
- *Raising Genius* (2004), as Aunt Sis
- *The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park* (2003), as Charlotte
- *Manna from Heaven* (2002), as Bunny
- *Ping!* (2001), as Ethel Jeffries
- *Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th* (2000), as Nurse Kervorkian
- *The Adventures of Cinderella's Daughter* (2000), as Fairy Godmother
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Felicity Bradshaw
- *Gideon* (1998), as Elly Morton
- *That '70s Show* (1998), series, as Shirley Jones
- *Dog's Best Friend* (1997), as Ethel
- *Sabrina, the Teenage Witch* (1996), series, as Lydia
- *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor
- *Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Sound of Movies* (1996), as Host
- *The Drew Carey Show* (1995), series, as Celia
- *Deadly Games* (1995), series, as Shirley Ashborne/Evil Shirley
- *Burke's Law* (1994), series, as Barbara Manchester, Barbara Mansfield
- *Melrose Place* (1992), series, Actor
- *There Were Times, Dear* (1987), as Susanne Millard
- *Betsy* (1984), Actor
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Kathleen Lane, Ann Owens Arden
- *Tank* (1984), as LaDonna
- *Hotel* (1982), series, as Claire Langley
- *The Adventures of Pollyanna* (1982), as Aunt Polly Harrington
- *Inmates: A Love Story* (1981), as E.F. Crown
- *The Children of An Lac* (1980), as Betty Tisdale
- *Visions of Christmas Past* (1979), as Shirley Miller
- *Shirley* (1979), series, as Shirley Miller
- *Beyond the Poseidon Adventure* (1979), as Nurse Gina Rowe
- *A Last Cry for Help* (1979), as Joan Muir
- *Who'll Save Our Children?* (1978), as Sarah Laver
- *A Thanksgiving Reunion with the Partridge Family and My Three Sons* (1977), Actor
- *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Priscilla
- *Yesterday's Child* (1977), as Laura Talbot
- *The Lives of Jenny Dolan* (1975), as Jenny Dolan
- *Winner Take All* (1975), as Eleanor Anderson
- *The Family Nobody Wanted* (1975), as Helen Doss
- *The Girls of Huntington House* (1973), as Anne Baldwin
- *McMillan & Wife* (1971), series, as Ellyn Mandrake
- *But I Don't Want to Get Married!* (1970), as Evelyn Harris
- *The Partridge Family* (1970), series, as Shirley Renfrew Partridge
- *The Cheyenne Social Club* (1970), as Jenny
- *The Happy Ending* (1969), as Flo Harrigan
- *Silent Night, Lonely Night* (1969), as Katherine Johnson
- *El golfo* (1969), as María O'Hara
- *The Jim Nabors Hour* (1969), series, Actor
- *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Jackie Harding
- *The Danny Thomas Hour* (1967), series, as Peggy Ruby
- *The Secret of My Success* (1965), as Marigold Marado
- *Fluffy* (1965), as Janice
- *Bedtime Story* (1964), as Janet Walker
- *Dark Purpose* (1964), as Karen Williams
- *A Ticklish Affair* (1963), as Amy Martin
- *The Courtship of Eddie's Father* (1963), as Elizabeth Marten
- *The Music Man* (1962), as Marian Paroo — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-music-man.md)
- *Two Rode Together* (1961), as Marty Purcell
- *Pepe* (1960), as Suzie Murphy
- *Elmer Gantry* (1960), as Lulu Bains — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/elmer-gantry.md)
- *Bobbikins* (1959), as Betty Barnaby
- *Never Steal Anything Small* (1959), as Linda Cabot
- *April Love* (1957), as Liz Templeton
- *DuPont Show of the Month* (1957), series, as Gretchen Van Damm
- *The Big Slide* (1956), as May Marley
- *Carousel* (1956), as Julie Jordan
- *Oklahoma!* (1955), as Laurey Williams
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Aunt Polly Harrington
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Judith Traherne

## Gallery

- ![Shirley Jones](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-9acba369e80e.jpg) Shirley Jones — ABC Television Network., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/The_Partridge_Family_Shirley_Jones_1972.jpg/1280px-The_Partridge_Family_Shirley_Jones_1972.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Shirley Jones talks about loneliness, the theme of "Silent Night, Lonely Night," a film for the NBC Television Network's "World Premiere," Tuesday, Dec. 16. The (1969)](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-9db88218beea.jpg) Shirley Jones talks about loneliness, the theme of "Silent Night, Lonely Night," a film for the NBC Television Network's "World Premiere," Tuesday, Dec. 16. The (1969) — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Shirley_Jones_%22Silent_Night%2C_Lonely_Night%22_%281969_NBC_press_photo%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Shirley Jones at the Chiller Theatre Expo in 2014](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-9cc8584c5319.jpg) Shirley Jones at the Chiller Theatre Expo in 2014 — Rob DiCaterino from Clifton, NJ, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Shirley_Jones_%2814017278546%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Shirley Jones at the Beverly Hilton 13th Annual Movieguide® Awards, <a href="http://www.movieguide.org" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.movieguide.org</a (2005)](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-37980616cce0.jpg) Shirley Jones at the Beverly Hilton 13th Annual Movieguide® Awards, <a href="http://www.movieguide.org" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.movieguide.org</a (2005) — Movieguide®, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Shirley_Jones_%2850094661327%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Shirley Jones](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-4819daacc43a.jpg) Shirley Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![Shirley Jones](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-18af0c5c526e.jpg) Shirley Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![Shirley Jones](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-19201a0f2160.jpg) Shirley Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![Actress Shirley Jones. (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-962bc281d07f.jpg) Actress Shirley Jones. (2010) — Greg Hernandez, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Shirley_Jones_2010.jpg/1280px-Shirley_Jones_2010.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Shirley Jones in 2013](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-c2f4be47a8b9.jpg) Shirley Jones in 2013 — Louise Palanker, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Shirley_Jones_2013.jpg/1280px-Shirley_Jones_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Shirley Jones](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-79f50d0c6fdd.jpg) Shirley Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![Shirley Jones](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-90fbefd3cbed.jpg) Shirley Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![Shirley Jones](https://film.one/media/person/983100/gallery-a9df894936dd.jpg) Shirley Jones — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won

- 1961: Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Elmer Gantry*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/shirley-jones