Marcia Mae Jones (August 1, 1924 – September 2, 2007) was an American film and television actress whose prolific career spanned 57 years.

Early years

Jones was the youngest of four children born to actress Freda Jones. All three of her siblings, Margaret, Macon, and Marvin Jones, were also child actors. Their relationship was strained by their unequal status in the film world. "I constantly heard, 'You've got to be quiet; Marcia Mae has to learn her lines.' It was Marcia Mae this and Marcia Mae that. That's where the jealousy from my siblings came from. They blamed me for it, when it was my mother who was doing it."

Career

Jones made her film debut at the age of two in the 1926 film ''

Mannequin A mannequin (also called a dummy, lay figure, or dress form) is a doll, often articulated, used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, window dressers and others, especially to display or fit clothing and show off different fabrics and textiles. Pr ...

''. She appeared in films such as '' King of Jazz'' (1930), '' Street Scene'' (1931), and '' Night Nurse'' (1931) before rising to child stardom in the 1930s with roles in '' The Champ'' (1931) and, alongside

Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Black (born Shirley Jane Temple;While Temple occasionally used "Jane" as a middle name, her birth certificate reads "Shirley Temple". Her birth certificate was altered to prolong her babyhood shortly after she signed with Fox in ...

in ''

Heidi ''Heidi'' (; ) is a work of children's fiction published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri, originally published in two parts as ''Heidi: Her Years of Wandering and Learning'' (german: Heidis Lehr- und Wanderjahre) and ''Heidi: How She Used ...

'' (1937) and '' The Little Princess'' (1939). She also starred in films such as '' The Garden of Allah'' (1936), ''

These Three ''These Three'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by William Wyler and starring Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon, Joel McCrea, and Bonita Granville. The screenplay by Lillian Hellman is based on her 1934 play '' The Children's Hour''. A 1961 re ...

'' (1936), and ''

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' is an 1876 novel by Mark Twain about a boy growing up along the Mississippi River. It is set in the 1840s in the town of St. Petersburg, which is based on Hannibal, Missouri, where Twain lived as a boy. In the nov ...

'' (1938). In the 1937 film ''Mountain Justice'' she played Bettie Harkins as seen on TCM. Jones blossomed into a wide-eyed, blonde, wholesome-looking teenager, and worked steadily in motion pictures through her late teens. She appeared in ''

First Love First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

'' (1939), in support of

Deanna Durbin Edna Mae Durbin (December 4, 1921 – April 17, 2013), known professionally as Deanna Durbin, was a Canadian-born actress and singer, who moved to the USA with her family in infancy. She appeared in musical films in the 1930s and 1940s. With t ...

. In 1940,

Monogram Pictures Monogram Pictures Corporation was an American film studio that produced mostly low-budget films between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram was among the smaller studios i ...

signed her to co-star with

Jackie Moran Jackie Moran (January 26, 1923 – September 20, 1990) was an American movie actor who, between 1936 and 1946, appeared in over thirty films, primarily in teenage roles. Early life and Hollywood career A native of Mattoon, Illinois, Jo ...

in a few rustic romances; when this series lapsed, both Jones and Moran joined Monogram's popular action-comedy series starring

Frankie Darro Frankie Darro (born Frank Johnson, Jr.; December 22, 1917 – December 25, 1976) was an American actor and later in his career a stuntman. He began his career as a child actor in silent films, progressed to lead roles and co-starring roles ...

. As a young adult, she continued to work in motion pictures, notably in ''Nine Girls'' (1944) and ''

Arson, Inc. ''Arson, Inc.'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by William Berke. It is also known as ''Firebug Squad'' and ''Three Alarm Fire''. Plot Joe Martin is a fire fighter in Los Angeles who is assigned by his department chief to the Arson Detai ...

'' (1948). Like many familiar faces of the 1940s, she appeared on numerous television programs. In 1951 she appeared as comic foil to

Buster Keaton Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his silent film work, in which his trademark was physical comedy accompanied by a stoic, deadpan expression ...

in Keaton's filmed TV series. She went on to work in such top-rated shows as ''

The Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid is a fictional character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in '' Everybody's Magaz ...

'', ''

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'', ''

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show ''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'', sometimes called ''The Burns and Allen Show'', was a half-hour television situation comedy broadcast from 1950 to 1958 on CBS. It starred George Burns and Gracie Allen, one of the most enduring acts in ...

'', '' Peyton Place'', and ''

General Hospital ''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the list of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running American soap opera in pro ...

''. Her last major role was in the

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers List ...

film ''

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'' in 1973.

Personal life

Jones was married to Robert Chic and had two sons with him. Her second marriage was to television writer Bill Davenport.

Death

On September 2, 2007, Jones died in Woodland Hills, California, of complications of pneumonia. She was 83.

Partial filmography

* ''

'' (1926) - Joan Herrick as a baby (uncredited) * '' Smile, Brother, Smile'' (1927) * ''

The Bishop Murder Case ''The Bishop Murder Case'' (1928) is the fourth in a series of mystery novels by S. S. Van Dine about fictional detective Philo Vance. The detective solves a mystery built around a nursery rhyme. ''The Bishop Murder Case'' is believed to be the ...

'' (1929) - Hungry Child in Park (uncredited) * '' King of Jazz'' (1930) - Bridesmaid ('My Bridal Veil') (uncredited) * '' Night Nurse'' (1931) - Nanny Ritchey (uncredited) * '' Street Scene'' (1931) - Mary - Little Girl (uncredited) * '' The Champ'' (1931) - Mary Lou Carleton * ''

What Price Hollywood? ''What Price Hollywood?'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Cukor and starring Constance Bennett with Lowell Sherman. The screenplay by Gene Fowler, Rowland Brown, Jane Murfin and Ben Markson is based on a story by A ...

'' (1932) - Flower Girl at wedding (uncredited) * ''

Birthday Blues ''Birthday Blues'' is a 1932 '' Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 118th (31st talking episode) ''Our Gang'' short that was released. Plot When their pennypinching father refuses to buy a birthday gift for ...

'' (1932, Short) - Girl with Whistle * ''

Employees' Entrance ''Employees' Entrance'' is a 1933 pre-Code film about the devious manager of a New York department store (Warren William) and his romantic involvement with a reluctant new employee (Loretta Young). It was directed by Roy Del Ruth. In 2019, the f ...

'' (1933) - Flower Girl at Wedding (uncredited) * '' Mush and Milk'' (1933, Short) - Orphan (as Our Gang) * '' Doctor Bull'' (1933) - Ruth - School Girl (uncredited) * '' Imitation of Life'' (1934) - Peola's Frontrow Classmate (uncredited) * '' The County Chairman'' (1935) - Schoolgirl (uncredited) * '' A Dog of Flanders'' (1935) - Little Girl at Party (uncredited) * '' This Is the Life'' (1935) - Girl at Picnic (uncredited) * ''

'' (1936) - Rosalie * '' Gentle Julia'' (1936) - Patty Fairchild (uncredited) * '' The Garden of Allah'' (1936) - Convent Girl #1 (uncredited) * ''

Two Wise Maids ''Two Wise Maids'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Phil Rosen, written by Samuel Ornitz, and starring Alison Skipworth, Polly Moran, Irene Manning, Donald Cook, Jackie Searl, and Lila Lee. It was released on February 15, 1937, by Repub ...

'' (1937) - Geraldine 'Jerry ' Karns * '' Mountain Justice'' (1937) - Bethie Harkins * ''

The Life of Emile Zola ''The Life of Emile Zola'' is a 1937 American biographical film about the 19th-century French author Émile Zola starring Paul Muni and directed by William Dieterle. It premiered at the Los Angeles Carthay Circle Theatre to great critical and f ...

'' (1937) - Helen Richards * ''

'' (1937) - Klara Sesemann * ''

Lady Behave! ''Lady Behave!'' is a 1938 American film directed by Lloyd Corrigan. The sophisticated comedy was released by Republic Pictures. Plot Prior to leaving for Haiti, two sisters and their godfather/legal advisor are having a holiday in New Orl ...

'' (1937) - Patricia Cormack * ''

'' (1938) - Mary Sawyer * ''

Mad About Music ''Mad About Music'' is a 1938 American musical film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Deanna Durbin, Herbert Marshall, and Gail Patrick. Based on a story by Marcella Burke and Frederick Kohner, the film is about a girl at an exclusive boardin ...

'' (1938) - Olga * '' Barefoot Boy'' (1938) - Pige Blaine * '' The Little Princess'' (1939) - Lavinia * ''

The Flying Irishman ''The Flying Irishman'' (aka ''Born to Fly'') is a 1939 biographical drama film produced by RKO Pictures about Douglas Corrigan's unofficial transatlantic flight the previous year in a dilapidated Curtiss Robin light aircraft. The film was direc ...

'' (1939) - Teenager Posing For Photograph (uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) - Marcia Parker * ''

Meet Dr. Christian ''Meet Dr. Christian'' is a 1939 American film directed by Bernard Vorhaus, the first of six films in the ''Dr. Christian'' series. Cast *Jean Hersholt as Dr. Paul Christian *Dorothy Lovett as Nurse Judy Price *Robert Baldwin (actor), Robert Ba ...

'' (1939) - Marilee * ''

Tomboy A tomboy is a term for a girl or a young woman with masculine qualities. It can include wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and actively engage in physical sports or other activities and behaviors usually associated with boys or men. W ...

'' (1940) - Pat Kelly * ''

Anne of Windy Poplars Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

'' (1940) - Jen Pringle * ''

Haunted House A haunted house, spook house or ghost house in ghostlore is a house or other building often perceived as being inhabited by disembodied spirits of the deceased who may have been former residents or were otherwise connected with the prope ...

'' (1940) - Mildred 'Millie' Henshaw * '' The Old Swimmin' Hole'' (1940) - Betty Elliott * ''

Nice Girl? ''Nice Girl?'' is a 1941 American musical film directed by William A. Seiter, and starring Deanna Durbin, Franchot Tone, Walter Brennan, Robert Stack, and Robert Benchley. Based on the play ''Nice Girl?'' by Phyllis Duganne, the film is about a y ...

'' (1941) - Jane's Friend at Benefit * '' The Gang's All Here'' (1941) - Patsy Wallace * ''

Let's Go Collegiate ''Let's Go Collegiate'' is a 1941 American musical comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and produced by Monogram Pictures. It was released as ''Farewell to Fame'' in the United Kingdom. Plot summary Frankie (Frankie Darro) is the coxswain o ...

'' (1941) - Bess Martin * ''

Secrets of a Co-Ed ''Secrets of a Co-Ed'' is a 1942 American crime film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and written by George Wallace Sayre. The film stars Otto Kruger, Tina Thayer, Rick Vallin, Russell Hoyt, Marcia Mae Jones and Geraldine Spreckels. The film was rele ...

'' (1942) - Laura Wright * ''

The Youngest Profession ''The Youngest Profession'' is a 1943 film directed by Edward Buzzell, and starring Virginia Weidler, Edward Arnold, John Carroll, Scotty Beckett, and Agnes Moorehead. Based on a short story series and book written by Lillian Day, it contains c ...

'' (1943) - Vera Bailey * ''

Nobody's Darling ''Nobody's Darling'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by Anthony Mann and written by Olive Cooper. The film stars Mary Lee, Louis Calhern, Gladys George, Jackie Moran, Lee Patrick and Benny Bartlett. The film was released on August 2 ...

'' (1943) - Lois * '' Top Man'' (1943) - Erna Lane * ''

Nine Girls ''Nine Girls'' is a 1944 American mystery film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Ann Harding, Evelyn Keyes and Jinx Falkenburg.Blottner p.167 Karen DeWolf, Connie Lee, and Al Martin wrote the script, which was based on a play by Wilfred H. Peti ...

'' (1944) - Shirley Berke * ''

Lady in the Death House ''Lady in the Death House'' is a 1944 American film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Jean Parker and Lionel Atwill. Plot Mary Kirk Logan is led from her cell to the electric chair, to be "killed by the hand of the man I love." A psychol ...

'' (1944) - Suzy Kirk Logan * ''

Snafu SNAFU is an acronym that is widely used to stand for the sarcastic expression Situation normal: all fucked up. It is a well-known example of military acronym slang. It is sometimes bowdlerized to "all fouled up" or similar. It means that the ...

'' (1945) - Martha * '' Street Corner'' (1948) - Lois Marsh * ''

Trouble Preferred ''Trouble Preferred'' is a 1948 American thriller film directed by James Tinling, written by Arnold Belgard, and starring Peggy Knudsen, Lynne Roberts, Charles Russell, Paul Langton, Marcia Mae Jones and Mary Bear. It was released on December 3 ...

'' (1948) - Virginia Evans * ''

Tucson , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...

'' (1949) - Polly Johnson * ''

'' (1949) - Betty - Fender's Secretary * '' The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady'' (1950) - Katie O'Grady * ''

Hi-Jacked This is the list of episodes of the Gerry Anderson television series ''Joe 90'', filmed by Century 21 Productions for ITC Entertainment and first broadcast from 1968 to 1969 on Associated Television. Episodes are listed in the recommended broadcas ...

'' (1950) - Jean Harper * ''

Chicago Calling ''Chicago Calling'' is a 1951 drama film directed by John Reinhardt and starring Dan Duryea and Mary Anderson. The film centers on the unsuccessful drinking photographer Bill Cannon (Dan Duryea), whose wife abandons him, leaving with their dau ...

'' (1951) - Peggy * ''

The Star ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1952) - Waitress (uncredited) * ''

Live a Little, Love a Little ''Live a Little, Love a Little'' is a 1968 American musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley. It was directed by Norman Taurog, who had directed several previous Presley films. This was to be Taurog's final film, as he went blind shortly after p ...

'' (1968) - Woman #1 (uncredited) * ''

Rogue's Gallery A rogues' gallery (or rogues gallery) is a police collection of mug shots or other images of criminal suspects kept for identification purposes. History In 1855, Allan Pinkerton, founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, established a ...

'' (1968) - Mrs. Hassanover * ''

'' (1973) - Peggy Vanderbilt * ''The Spectre of Edgar Allan Poe'' (1974) - Sarah

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Marcia Mae 1924 births 2007 deaths American child actresses American film actresses American soap opera actresses American television actresses Actresses from Los Angeles Deaths from pneumonia in California Our Gang 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women