Jennifer Jones, the actress who won an Academy Award for her performance in the 1943 film "The Song of Bernadette" and who was married to 2 legendary men, producer David O. Selznick and industrialist and art collector Norton Simon, died today. She was 90. Jones died of natural causes at her home in Malibu. In all, she starred in more than 2 dozen films, playing opposite such A-list actors as William Holden, Joseph Cotten and Gregory Peck. In addition to her best-actress win for "Bernadette," Jones was nominated for an Academy Award for leading roles in 3 other films: "Love Letters" (1945), a soaper in which an amnesiac is cured through the love of a man, played by Cotten; the western epic "Duel in the Sun" (1946), with Peck; and "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" (1955), in which she played Dr. Han Suyin opposite Holden. She also was nominated as best supporting actress for "Since You Went Away" (1944), in which she starred with her first husband, Robert Walker. Among Jones' other major roles were "Portrait of Jennie" (1948) and, in the 1950s, "Carrie," "Beat the Devil," "Ruby Gentry," "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit," "Good Morning, Miss Dove," "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" and "A Farewell to Arms." She played Nicole Diver in 1962's "Tender Is the Night." Jones' final film role was a supporting role as Fred Astaire's love interest in the 1974 film "The Towering Inferno." Jones is survived by her son, and extended family. Besides her husbands, 1 son and 1 daughter pre-deceased her. Services will be private.
Jennifer Jones was truly a great actress. One of the movies I re-watch every once in a while is "Portrait of Jenny." She gave a terrific performance in it, along with the rest of the cast. It's one of the few sentimental movies I can stand to watch.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. She left behind an impressive body of work, yet so many say "Who?" when you mention her name.
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