Henry Jones

Actor

About

Also Known As

Henry Burk Jones

Birth Place

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Born

August 01, 1912

Died

May 17, 1999

Cause of Death

Injuries Sustained In A Fall

Biography

Filmography

Breathing Lessons (1994)

Mastergate (1992)

Dick Tracy (1990)

Enid Is Sleeping (1990)

Old Man

Guess Who's Coming For Christmas? (1990)

The Grifters (1990)

Photos & Videos

View All

Champagne Murders, The (1967) -- (Movie Clip) Why Should People Have To Answer Bells?

Cash McCall (1960) -- (Movie Clip) I'm A Thoroughly Vulgar Character

Family & Companions

Yvonne Bergere

Wife

Actor. Married from January 14, 1942 until her death in October 1942.

Judy Briggs

Wife

Married in June 1946; divorced in March 1961.

Biography

After graduating from Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in his native Philadelphia, Henry Jones ventured into Broadway, making his acting debut in a 1938 production of "Hamlet." His theatrical career was halted during World War II, when he fought for the U.S. Army. Upon his return, he found a highly successful stage role as slain worker Leroy Jessup in the play "The Bad Seed" (He later reprised the role for the 1956 film version). In the 1950s, Jones ventured into television, finding recurring and one-off roles on a variety of live drama programs, including "The Web"--from 1951 to 1953--and "The Revlon Mirror Theatre" in 1953. The Glenn Ford-starring 1957 action-drama, "3:10 to Yuma" brought Jones a memorable role as town drunk Alex Potter, and he popped up for a brief-but-memorable spot as a coroner in Hitchock's 1958 mystery classic, "Vertigo." As long as there were parts to be claimed, Jones was there to fill the void, often bringing a slightly disturbing magnetism to the screen with him. He kept working throughout the following decades--and well into the '90s--and his remaining well-remembered parts include a spot as a bike salesman in George Roy Hill's 1969 western classic, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and a night clerk in Warren Beatty's 1990 crime re-vamp, "Dick Tracy."

Filmography

Life Events

1935

Began acting career under Jasper Deeter at the famed Hedgerow Theatre in Moylan, Pennsylvania

1938

Broadway acting debut as Reynaldo and the second gravedigger in "Hamlet", starring Maurice Evans

1939

Had featured role in "The Time of Your Life" on Broadway

1942

Appeared in the stage show "This Is the Army"

1942

Served as a private in the US Army

1943

Film debut, "This Is the Army"

1946

Early TV credit as guest performer on "Light's Out", an NBC live series of mysteries and tales of the supernatural

1946

Portrayed the Dauphin opposite Ingrid Berman's "Joan of Lorraine" on Broadway

1951

Returned to features in "Lady Says No"

1954

Portrayed the suspicious handyman Leroy in "The Bad Seed" on Broadway

1956

Reprised role in film version of "The Bad Seed"

1958

Returned to Broadway to portray aide Louis Howe in the biographical play "Sunrise at Campobello"; received Tony Award

1958

Offered memorable turn as the coroner in Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo"

1960

Final Broadway appearance in "Advise and Consent"

1969

Portrayed the bicycle salesman in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

1977

Returned to the stage in an L.A. production of "Comedians"

1984

Appeared opposite Virginia Mayo in a Los Angeles production of "Dear Jennie"

1990

Made last film appearances in small roles in "The Grifters", "Dick Tracy", "Enid Is Sleeping" and "Aracnophobia"

1995

Last screen appearance in the Joe Dante-directed segment "Lightning" of the Showtime anthology "Picture Windows"

Photo Collections

The Bad Seed - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from The Bad Seed (1956), directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

Dirty Dingus Mcgee - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from Dirty Dingus Mcgee (1970), starring Frank Sinatra. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.