Henry Jones
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
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
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
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"