Jesse Jones, the television actress who achieved success as a playwright with “The Dearly Departed” and the Jones Hope Wooten Comedies, died on March 20 in Washington, D.C., after a long illness.
Her friend and writing partner Jamie Wooten announced her death.
Throughout the ’80s, ’90s and beyond, Jones made guest appearances on shows such as “Night Court,” “Newhart,” “Designing Women,” “Murphy Brown,” where she played Betty Fourie, “Who’s the Boss,” “Perfect Strangers,” “Grace Under Fire,” and “Melrose Place.” She also appeared in television movies such as The True Adventures of the Texas Cheerleader Murderer, Everyone’s Baby: Rescued Baby Jessica (co-starring Patty Duke and Beau Bridges), and the frequently aired Wife, Mother, Murderer.
She also wrote an episode of the Warner Bros. sitcom “For Your Love” and an episode of the children’s series “Teacher’s Pet” starring Nathan Lane.
After Jones’ acting career ended, she became a successful playwright, co-creating the off-Broadway southern funeral comedy Dearly Departed, which went on to be performed by theater companies across the country. She also co-wrote the screenplay for the Fox Searchlight film Kingdom Come with Whoopi Goldberg and LL Cool J.
She formed a writing partnership with friends Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten to produce such Southern-flavored comedies as “Sweet Delilah Swim Club,” “Red Velvet Cake War,” “Christmas Bells,” “Savannah Bite Society,” and 26 other titles published by Concord Theatricals. Jones Hope Wooten’s comedies have been widely produced and translated into many languages. She is said to be the most prolific American female playwright.
She is survived by her sisters, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews, and her friend and writing partner Wooten.
Donations can be made to Planned Parenthood.
