Shirley Mae Jones was born on 31 March 1934, in Charleroi, Pennsylvania USA, to parents Marjorie and Paul Jones. She is a singer and actress, probably still best known for her roles in the musical films “Oklahoma!”, “Carousel” and “The Music Man’, and the musical comedy TV series “The Partridge Family”.
So just how wealthy is Shirley Jones? Sources state that Jones has acquired a net worth of over $25 million, as of mid-2016. She has earned her fortune during her long career in the entertainment industry.
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Shirley Jones Net Worth $25 Million
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Jones grew up in Smithton, Pennsylvania and became a member of the Methodist Church choir when she was six years old, while also taking voice lessons. She attended South Huntingdon High School in Ruffs Dale, Pennsylvania where she was involved in various school plays. She later studied drama at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, and performed with the Civic Light Opera Company. In 1952 she won the Miss Pittsburgh contest and her path to show business started.
While visiting New York with her parents in 1953, Jones went to an audition for an open casting call of songwriters Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, who offered her a minor role in their Broadway production of “Me and Juliet”. Being impressed by the young singer, they later chose her to play the lead on tour. A year later, they cast her to star in their film version of the musical “Oklahoma!”, released in 1955. The film became a massive success at the box office and Jones won rave reviews for her performance of farm girl Laurey. Her net worth started to rise.
In 1956 she was cast in a feature adaptation of “Carousel”, and the following year in “April Love”. In 1960 she appeared as a jilted girlfriend turned prostitute in the dramatic movie “Elmer Gantry”, which earned her high praise including an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Jones went on to appear in several films of the 60s, such as the musical “The Music Man”, and the comedies “The Courtship Of Eddie’s Father” and “Fluffy”. All contributed to her wealth.
In 1970 she was cast in the ABC’s musical sitcom “The Partridge Family”, along with her real-life stepson David Cassidy. Jones played Shirley Partridge, the recently widowed mother of a singing family, and Cassidy was one of her five children. The series became an instant hit, subsequently adding a considerable sum to Jones’ net worth. It made pop culture icons of its actors and actresses, who eventually recorded a few albums, including songs like “Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted” and “I Think I Love You”, which earned them a NARM award for the best-selling single of the year in 1970. They also earned a Grammy nomination for the Best New Artist. After four seasons of “The Partridge Family”, the series’ popularity went down, and it was canceled in 1974.
In 1979 Jones starred in the NBC television series “Shirley” which, just like “The Partridge Family”, portrayed a musical family led by a widowed mother. The series, however, didn’t find a wide audience and was soon canceled. The same happened with her 1979 film “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure”, but she then got a recurring role in “The Drew Carey Show”, and in 1985 took the lead role in the TV movie “There Were Times, Dear” as a devoted wife of a dying man. Her performance won over audiences, and earned her an Emmy nomination. The following year she earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2004 Jones came back to Broadway with the revival of “42nd Street”, and revisited the musical “Carousel” the following year. 2006 saw her in a television film – “Hidden Places” – which earned her another Emmy nomination as well as a Screen Actors Guide nomination. She took part in Adam Sandler’s 2006 movie “Grandma’s Boy” and appeared as a guest star in several series, such as “Ruby and the Rockits” and “General Hospital”. Her recent movies include “Family Weekend”, “Zombie Night” and “On the Wind” which intensified her fortune. In 2008 her collection of songs was released, containing both old and new recordings.
In addition to music and acting, Jones also wrote a book in 1990 along with her late husband Marty Ingles. The book portrays their life together, and is called “Shirley and Marty: An Unlikely Romance”.
In her private life, Jones married Jack Cassidy in 1956. She became a step-mother to his son and she also has three sons with Cassidy. The couple divorced in 1974 and two years later Cassidy died. In 1977 she married comedian Marty Ingels who died in 2015. Jones has been a PETA supporter and is involved in several charities.
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