Jessie Jones, Playwright and “Murphy Brown” Actress, Dies at 75
Jessie Jones, Playwright and “Murphy Brown” Actress, Dies at 75
Brenton BlanchetWed, April 1, 2026 at 3:13 PM UTC
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Jesse Jones; Jesse Jones in 'You're the One'Credit: Legacy.com; Carin Baer / Warner Bros. / Courtesy of Everett Collection -
Jessie Jones was a playwright and actress with performances in TV shows throughout the '80s and '90s
She died on March 20 at age 75 after a "long illness"
"Jessie was an unbelievably talented and kind woman, and knowing her life’s work will continue bringing laughter to theaters around the world brings great solace," writing partner Jamie Wooten says
Jessie Jones, an actress and playwright with performances in several TV shows like Murphy Brown and Perfect Strangers, has died at age 75.
Jones died on March 20 after a "long illness," according to an online obituary written by her creative partner Jamie Wooten.
One-third of her Jones Hope Wooten comedy trio, Wooten also confirmed the news to PEOPLE on Wednesday, April 1. "Jessie was an unbelievably talented and kind woman, and knowing her life’s work will continue — bringing laughter to theaters around the world — brings great solace," Wooten says in a statement.
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Jessie Jones and Cynthia Geary in 'You're the One' in 1998Credit: Carin Baer / Warner Bros. / Courtesy of Everett Collection
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Jones was born in the panhandle of Texas in 1950, before she won an essay/speech contest in high school that brought her to Washington, D.C. After attending the University of Texas at Austin, Jones got more involved in the performance arts, eventually landing multiple TV guest roles in the '80s and '90s.
Among her many roles, she appeared in Night Court, Newhart, Grace Under Fire, Perfect Strangers, Who’s the Boss and Melrose Place. She also marked performances in TV films like The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom and Everybody’s Baby: The Rescue of Baby Jessica.
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In Murphy Brown's third season, Jones memorably played a woman named Mrs. Betty Hooley who is randomly interviewed by Murphy (Candice Bergen) before things go south. She also made multiple appearances in the 1998 WB sitcom You’re the One, as well the 1995 ABC comedy Fudge.
On the comedy-writing side of things, Jones "found her most enduring, and certainly most explosive, success," per her obituary. She co-created the off-Broadway play Dearly Departed before it toured nationwide. She also co-authored the screenplay version of Kingdom Come, starring Whoopi Goldberg and LL Cool J. Her writing work also included installments of For Your Love and the children's series Teacher's Pet.
Jones notably co-wrote several plays with Wooten and Nicholas Hope. Their work included projects such as Velvet Cake War, Christmas Belles and The Savannah Sipping Society.
Wooten described her as "the most-produced female playwright in America," having had her plays performed "well over 100,000 times on stages all over the world."
"Jessie Jones did something amazing with her one wild and precious life: She made the world laugh," her obituary reads. "What a legacy and gift to leave behind to a world that needs that now more than ever."
She is survived by her sisters Ellen Jones (husband Jim McCarthy) and Laura Jones; niece Margaret McCarthy; nephews Tommy McCarthy, Todd Hyso (Jeri Ann) and Paul Hyso (Meri Dawn); and multiple grand-nieces, cousins and friends.
on People
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