Wednesday 29 July 2009

all the king's women #5 - carolyn jones


Carolyn Jones made her first film, The Turning Point in 1952. in 1953, she married then aspiring filmmaker Aaron Spelling, and her film career began to gain momentum. in 1953, she was cast in From Here to Eternity, but was forced to withdraw due to illness. it was Donna Reed who was eventually cast in her role, winning an Oscar for her performance. in 1957 Jones gave the shortest film performance ever nominated for an Academy Award, a six-minute role in Bachelor Party (1957). she has performed opposite Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Anthony Quinn and even Marilyn Monroe.




in Elvis' third, and arguably best film, King Creole (1958) [directed by Michael Curtiz of Casablanca fame], Jones played Ronnie, girlfriend of gangster Maxie Fields, played by Walter Matthau. this was Elvis' favourite of all his films and marked his second colaboration with the afore mentioned Dolores Hart.





in 1964, covering her naturally blonde hair with a long black wig, Jones began her most famous role as Morticia in TV's The Addams Family, a role which brought her a Golden Globe Award nomination.


in 1983, at just 53 years old, Carolyn died of cancer in her home in West Hollywood, California, a month after her third marriage to long-time boyfriend, actor Peter Bailey-Britton. Jones told her sister, Bette Moriarty, that she wished her epitaph to read "She gave joy to the world."

6 comments:

AlicePleasance said...

I loved her as Morticia.

Fabulous Finds Gal said...

I only knew her as Morticia. I am intriqued. She sure was a looker. Great post!

Come on over to my place to pick up an award I have for you!
xo,
Christina

la cuisine bourgeois said...

whoa. love this post and all the photos. i should have been born in a different era.

oh and hey, what were you doing in india for 8 months? that sounds incredible!!!

Anonymous said...

My you do have a beautiful blog. I enjoyed this post a lot - stunning photos

I V Y said...

love your blog header!

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

Who ever would have thought that gorgeous woman was Morticia? She looked great with the long black hair but so ingenue with the bob.