A fey, wistful brunette leading lady, Oklahoma-born Jennifer Jones became the protege of producer David O. Selznick in the early 1940s and married him in 1949 after her divorce from actor Robert Walker. Selznick took control of her career and ensured her appearances in prestige productions by leading directors. Although she had appeared in a pair of Republic Pictures programmers under her birth name of Phylis Isley in the 1930s, the actress was re-invented by Selznick and given the new moniker. She achieved stardom as the visionary title character in "The Song of Bernadette" (1943), for which she won an Oscar as Best Actress. She continued in John Cromwell's WWII homefront epic "Since You Went Away" (1944), King Vidor operatic color western "Duel in the Sun" (1947) and as the enigmatic, inspirational subject of William Dieterle's "Portrait of Jennie" (1948), the latter possibly her finest film.
Some of Jones' later films include Vincente Minnelli's interesting adaptation of "Madame Bovary" (1949), the fascinating Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger film, "Gone to Earth" (1950) and the popular soap opera "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" (1955). Whether sympathetic or not, genteel or lusty, she was most typically cast as restless heroines adrift amid a sea of turbulent passion. She enjoyed starring roles through the late 50s and later returned for very occasional supporting roles and guest spots, the last time as Fred Astaire's love interest in the all-star "The Towering Inferno" (1974).
- Also Credited As:
Jennifer Jones Simon, Phylis Isley, Phylis Lee Isley, Phylis Walker
- Born:
March 2, 1919 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
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Job Titles:
Actor, Art collector, Hat model
Family
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Daughter: Mary Jennifer Selznick. born on August 12, 1954; committed suicide on May 11, 1976
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Father: Phil R Isley. with wife ran the Isley Stock Company; after 1929, bought several movie theaters
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Mother: Flora Mae Isley. with husband operated the Isley Stock Company
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Son: Michael Ross Walker. born on March 13, 1941
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Son: Robert Walker Jr. born on April 15, 1940; father Robert Walker
Education
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Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
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American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York, New York
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Group Theater, New York, New York
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Monte Cassino Junior College, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Milestones
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1937 Moved to NYC to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
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1938 Hosted own local radio program in Tulsa, Oklahoma, The Phylis Isley Radio Theater ; ran for 13 weeks
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1939 After marriage to Robert Walker, moved to California
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1939 Film acting debut alongside John Wayne in New Frontier ; made second film Dick Tracy s G-Men ; billed as Phylis Isley
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1939 Signed contract with Republic Pictures
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1940 With Walker, moved to NYC
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1941 Acted on stage in Santa Barbara in Hello Out There ; billed as Phylis Walker
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1942 Changed name to Jennifer Jones in January
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1943 Achieved star status with her performance in the title role of The Song of Bernadette , a film biography of the young woman who claimed to see a vision of the Virgin Mary; received Best Actress Oscar
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1944 First film produced personally by David O. Selznick, Since You Went Away ; starred opposite Robert Walker; received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination
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1944 Reportedly offered title role in Laura ; Selznick declined it
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1945 Earned second Best Actress Academy Award nomination as an amnesiac in Love Letters , co-starring Joseph Cotten
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1946 Starred in Duel in the Sun ; garnered third Best Actress Oscar nomination
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1948 Reteamed with Joseph Cotton in the romantic Portrait of Jennie
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1949 Played Madame Bovary
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1952 Played title role of Carrie , based on Theodore Dreiser s novel
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1955 Earned fifth Academy Award nomination for leading role in Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
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1957 Cast as Elizabeth Barrett Browning in The Barretts of Wimpole Street
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1957 Last film for five years, A Farewell to Arms , produced by David O. Selznick
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1962 Returned to films after a five-year absence to play the leading role in Tender Is the Night
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1966 After Selznick s death, returned to filmmaking following a four-year absence in The Idol
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1969 Last film for five years, the dreadful Angel, Angel Down We Go
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1974 Played a supporting role as Fred Astaire s love interest in the all-star The Towering Inferno ; final film role
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As a child, assisted parents at their theater company, selling tickets and refreshments
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Autioned for the film version of Claudia , to be produced by David O Selznick; offered personal seven-year contract
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Had purchased the screen rights to Larry McMurtry s Terms of Endearment ; relinquished them when she was told she was too old for the role of Aurora Greenway
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Made a number of films abroad during the 1950s: Gone to Earth (1950) in England with the filmmaking team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger; Indiscretion of an American Wife (1953) with director Vittorio de Sica; Beat the Devil (1953; various locales) with director John Huston
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Raised in Oklahoma
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Took an accidental overdose of sleeping pills following the 1967 death of Charles Bickford
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While in college, wrote letter to actress Katharine Cornell soliciting her advice; Cornell suggested broadening her background