Dean Jones - Disney's The Love Bug

Dean Jones (Deceased) (January 25, 1931 – September 1, 2015) was an American actor best known for his work in a series of popular Walt Disney films during the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Decatur, Alabama, Jones began his career as a singer and actor, appearing in television programs and motion pictures before becoming closely associated with Disney. He starred in such films as That Darn Cat! (1965), The Ugly Dachshund (1966), Blackbeard’s Ghost (1968), The Love Bug (1968), The Million Dollar Duck (1971), and Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977). His role as race-car driver Jim Douglas in The Love Bug became one of his most recognizable performances and helped make the Volkswagen Beetle character “Herbie” a lasting part of Disney film history. Jones also worked extensively in television and on the stage. In 1970, he originated the role of Bobby in Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway musical Company, although he left the production shortly after it opened. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Jones became especially identified with wholesome family entertainment and remains remembered as one of Disney’s most familiar live-action stars.