RIP, Dean Jones

Dean Jones: Career Highlights (Cricket)

The celebrated actor from countless Disney films in the 60s died today at age 84, from Parkinsons. You may know him best from this:

But his life was far more interesting and complicated, according to Christianity Today:

For years he had deceived himself into believing that the Hollywood lifestyle would satisfy him, but it had only left him depressed and suicidal. He addictively sought the comforting roar of audience approval, but such pursuits had only shattered his first marriage (which ended in divorce) and alienated him from his children. He began to see life as a pointless exercise in futility, to be managed by copious amounts of alcohol and a parade of affairs.

According to his autobiography,Under Running Laughter, Jones heard a voice in his spirit one evening, saying his lifestyle will never satisfy you. He started thinking:Could I continue to deceive myself into believing that whatever vacuum existed within me would be filled in the future by more and bigger portions of that Id consumed in the past?

Later, after a drunk-driving accident almost claimed his life, Jones reached his breaking point. Though hed grown up in a religious home and even briefly attended Asbury, a Christian college in Kentucky, Jones had rejected the faith of his family. After his near-death accident, he was ready to stop running from G*d, crying out, Ive done everything in this world I thought would make me happy and it doesnt work. I have everything and I have nothing. I have no choice but to believe. If you dont exist, then Im a dead man.

After his conversion, Jones felt a peace hed never known before, and he felt whole for the first time. He righted his blighted relationships, remarried (he and Lory have been together 36 years), and began seeking out projects on and off screen that he could do for the glory of G*d.

Latein his career, he took on stage roles with a religious bent:

In 1986, Jonesstarred inInto the Light, a musical about scientists and theShroud of Turin, which closed four days after it opened. He had far more success touring in the one-man showSt. John in Exileas the last surviving Apostle ofJesus Christ, reminiscing about his life while imprisoned on the Greek island ofPatmos.

But one of his most famous rolesand something of a legend in theater circleswas the character of Bobby in the Stephen Sondheim musical Company in 1970. Company isa cynicalmusical comedy about the challenges and pitfalls of modern day marriage in New York City. Jones played the musicals centerpiece, the storys sole bachelor, dealing with his married friends and neighbors. He created the role at a time he was undergoing a painful divorce; shortly after its first performance, he asked that he be let out of his contract. The producer and director, Harold Prince, agreed, on one condition: Jones would have to record the cast album.

He did, and the arduous process was captured by acclaimed documentary filmmaker D.J. Pennebaker.

Here is Dean Jones recording the definitive rendition ofBeing Alive 45 years ago, in what some would argue was the performance of his life. I wouldnt disagree.

Eternal rest, Mr. Jones.

Source: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2015/09/rip-dean-jones/