[Deathwatch] Marcia Mae Jones, actress, 83

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Marcia Mae Jones, 83; TV, film actress
By Dennis McLellan

September 7, 2007

Marcia Mae Jones, who launched her career in Hollywood as a child
actress and appeared in films of the 1930s such as "The Champ," "Heidi"
and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," has died. She was 83.

Jones died of complications of pneumonia Sunday at the Motion Picture
and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, said her
son, Tim Chic.

Born Aug. 1, 1924, in Los Angeles, Jones grew up in the movies. Her
mother, Freda Jones, became an extra and actress. Her two brothers,
Macon and Marvin, got into the business as stuntmen and actors when
they were teenagers.

None, however, were as successful as the wholesome, auburn-haired
Marcia Mae, who made her screen debut as an infant in the 1926 silent
melodrama "Mannequin" and appeared in nearly 50 movies over the next
two decades.

Throughout the '30s, she worked with child stars such as Jackie Cooper
("The Champ"), Jane Withers ("Gentle Julia"), Bonita Granville ("These
Three" and "The Garden of Allah") and Tommy Kelly and Jackie Moran
("The Adventures of Tom Sawyer").

With Shirley Temple, Jones played the disabled girl Klara in "Heidi"
and Lavinia in "The Little Princess."

"There's a scene in 'The Little Princess' where Shirley Temple dumps a
load of ashes over her head," Tim Chic said. "She hated that because
Shirley wanted to do it again -- and did."

Jones reportedly was originally cast to play Becky Thatcher in "The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer," the 1938 film starring Kelly as Tom and
Moran as Huckleberry Finn.

But after a growth spurt, the studio deemed her too tall to play Tom's
love interest and recast her as Tom's cousin, Mary.

After moving to television in the 1950s, Jones appeared in episodes of
shows such as "Life With Buster Keaton," "I Married Joan," "The Cisco
Kid," "My Three Sons," "Peyton Place," "Mister Ed," "Barnaby Jones" and
"Cannon."

After playing a small role in the 1973 film "The Way We Were," she made
a few more television appearances in the '70s.

She retired in the early '80s after playing a small, recurring role on
"General Hospital."

Jones was married twice: to Robert Chic, a sporting goods company sales
representative, with whom she had two sons, Bob and Tim; and to TV
writer Bill Davenport.

In addition to her sons, she is survived by her brother Marvin and two
grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 16 at the Motion
Picture and Television Fund Country House.

Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the
Motion Picture and Television Fund.


Many thanks to Deathwatch Central for posting this obituary