Here is the biography of Shirley Jones:
Born with a passion for singing, Shirley Jones began her musical journey at the tender age of six. Formal training began at twelve, with the idolization of Gordon MacRae. Upon graduating from high school, Shirley took a bold step by moving to New York to audition for the esteemed casting director of Rodgers & Hammerstein. Her beautifully trained voice captivated the director, leading to her signing as a nurse in the Broadway production of "South Pacific". Within a year, she made her Hollywood debut in the film "Oklahoma!" (1955) as Laurey, the farm girl smitten with cowboy Gordon MacRae.
This initial foray into Hollywood was followed by a return to Broadway for the stage production of "Oklahoma!" before Shirley returned to Hollywood for "Carousel" (1956). However, as the popularity of musicals began to wane, Shirley faced a few lean years, which she countered by working in television programs such as "Playhouse 90" (1956). With her wholesome on-screen image, Shirley sought a darker role to revamp her persona. In 1960, she landed the part of the vengeful prostitute in Richard Brooks' dramatic film "Elmer Gantry" (1960),opposite the brilliant Burt Lancaster, earning her an Oscar for Supporting Actress.
As the public continued to crave the 'good' Shirley, she was cast as "Marion", the librarian, in the successful musical "The Music Man" (1962),alongside Robert Preston. Shirley's collaboration with young Ron Howard in "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" (1963) was another notable highlight. However, as the 1960s progressed, Shirley's movie career began to slow down, with her last film appearance in 1965.
Shirley's name and face remained in the public eye when she took on the role of "Shirley Partridge" in the television series "The Partridge Family" (1970),alongside her stepson, teen idol David Cassidy. Although the show's success did more for David's career, it kept Shirley's name and face in the public view for four years, with reruns still airing today. Post-show, Shirley spent the remainder of the 1970s working on television movies, including "The Lives of Jenny Dolan" (1975),which served as a pilot for a series that ultimately wasn't picked up. In 1979, she starred in a comedy show called "Shirley" (1979),although it only lasted one season. Shirley's appearances in the 1980s were infrequent, with occasional video appearances promoting fitness and beauty at the end of the decade.
