- She was pregnant with son, Patrick Cassidy, during the filming of The Music Man (1962) in 1961. Special outfits were used to cover her showing stomach on the set.
- Son Shaun Cassidy--standing in for her deceased father--gave her away at her wedding to Marty Ingels.
- According to her autobiography, "Shirley Jones: A Memoir", she lost her virginity at age 21 to her future husband Jack Cassidy during the Italian leg of their "Oklahoma!" tour in July 1955.
- Won the 1952 Miss Pittsburgh contest (the prize was $500 and a scholarship to drama school) and was first-runner-up in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant.
- When asked which of her musicals was her favorite, she has said it was The Music Man (1962). While she says she has special memories of Oklahoma! (1955) because it was her first movie, Carousel (1956) is her favorite Rodgers and Hammerstein score.
- The song, "I Think I Love You," reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart, making her the second person, after Frank Sinatra, and the first woman, to win an acting Oscar and also have a #1 hit on that chart.
- Filed a libel suit in 1985 against the National Enquirer after it wrote that she was "drinking vodka like it was water"; won a retraction and a settlement.
- In December 2001 she and husband Marty Ingels spent more than $100,000 to outbid two developers for a half-acre commercial lot in downtown Fawnskin, CA. They plan to turn it into a public park.
- Was very disappointed that her show The Partridge Family (1970), was canceled after the fourth season. Her stepson and series co-star, David Cassidy, was growing tired of playing the same role, plus, the show had sunk in the ratings.
- Turned down the role of Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch (1969).
- Her ex-The Partridge Family (1970), co-star and real-life stepson, David Cassidy, once admitted that he had a crush on her.
- Besides being the only The Partridge Family (1970) members who sang for themselves, she and David Cassidy were the only ones who did not lend their voices to Hanna-Barbera's animated version of the series.
- Began her career on Broadway at 18 in the original production of "South Pacific" in 1952.
- All three of her sons were delivered via Cesarean section.
- Originally, on The Partridge Family (1970), the only cast member who was supposed to sing was her. However, after the producers heard David Cassidy's demos of the songs, they decided to let him sing as well.
- Strongly considered for Roberta Hertzel in About Schmidt (2002), but lost to Kathy Bates. Shirley was very disappointed by the decision.
- Only child of Marjorie Williams, a strict strong-minded homemaker, and Paul Jones, owners of the Jones Brewing Company.
- Replaced Jane Wyman in the role of Aunt Polly in The Adventures of Pollyanna (1982), despite being under contract starring in Falcon Crest (1981).
- She recorded two or three shows at once, in a session, usually about 6 songs, every weekend and/or evenings for The Partridge Family (1970).
- She and Elizabeth Taylor are the only actresses to win Oscars for playing prostitutes in the same year: Jones for Elmer Gantry (1960) (Best Supporting Actress) and Taylor for BUtterfield 8 (1960) (Best Actress).
- Has ten grandchildren: Caitlin Cassidy (b. 1981), John Cassidy (b. 1985), Juliet (b. 1998), Caleb (b. 2005), Roan (b. 2006), Lila (b. 2008) and Mairin (2011) via her son Shaun Cassidy, and Cole (b. 1995) and Jack (b. 1998) via her son Patrick Cassidy. Meaghan (b. 2011) via her son Ryan.
- Had a dog named Shane, which was a Shetland sheepdog.
- Was just four years older than Susan Luckey, who played her daughter in Carousel (1956).
- Received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame on Valentine's Day, 1986.
- On March 1, 2002, she filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court from Marty Ingels, but later withdrew the petition. Conflict between Ingels and Jones' sons (his version) and his outrageous behavior (her version) had caused them to separate several times in recent years, the longest being for 10 months in 2000.
- Received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Point Park College (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Originally, her character on The Partridge Family (1970) was going to be named Connie, but the producers eventually changed it to "Shirley".
- Had wanted to become a veterinarian.
- Although in many ways she's like her wholesome public image, she does have another side to her personality, which shows in her liking books on true crime.
- Her grandparents owned and operated a hotel in Smithton, PA.
- Best known by the public for her starring role as Shirley Partridge on The Partridge Family (1970).
- Grew up in Smithton, PA.
- Was engaged to Lou Malone, who was a West Point cadet.
- Featured performer at the 1988 Republican National Convention.
- Ex-stepmother of actor David Cassidy.
- Is a supporter of PETA.
- Graduated from South Huntingdon High School in Ruffs Dale, Pennsylvania, in 1952.
- She, along with Marty Ingels, attended the "Hollywood Collectors Show", at Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn, in North Hollywood, California.
- Ex-mother-in-law of Ann Pennington.
- She has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Oklahoma! (1955) & The Music Man (1962).
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content