T. C. Jones

T. C. Jones

T. C. Jones, 1965
Born Thomas Craig Jones
26 October 1920
Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died 21 September 1971 (aged 50)
Occupation Female impersonator, actor
Spouse(s) Connie Dickson Jones

Thomas Craig "T. C." Jones (October 26, 1920 – September 21, 1971) was an American female impersonator. He was known for his impersonations of stars such as Tallulah Bankhead, Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn and others. He has been described as "probably the best female impersonator since vaudeville's late famed Julian Eltinge".[1]

Professional career

Jones danced in two Broadway shows in the mid-1940s before beginning his career as an impersonator in 1946 in a stint with the Provincetown Players.[2] "One night...another of the players brought me some...material that was hilarious. The only catch was that it more or less required a woman to deliver it. He suggested I do an impersonation."[3] He moved to the Jewel Box Revue in Miami,[4] performing impersonations of Bankhead, Hepburn, Edith Piaf, Claudette Colbert and Bette Davis.[5]

T. C. Jones as "Nurse Betty Ames" on The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

Jones's portrayal of Bankhead brought him to the attention of theatrical producer Leonard Sillman. Sillman cast him in the revue New Faces of 1956,[6] directed by Paul Lynde.[3] Sillman was strongly advised not to cast Jones but stated, "I never think of T. C. as a female impersonator, as a man imitating a woman. T. C. on stage is simply an extraordinarily talented woman."[7] Jones entered the stage by descending a staircase to the tune "Isn't She Lovely" and, as Bankhead, acted as mistress of ceremonies.[8] The show ran 220 performances.[6] The following year Jones starred in Mask and Gown, another Broadway revue. Jones toured with Mask and Gown but it was unsuccessful.[9]

Jones appeared in regional theatrical productions, including The Man Who Came to Dinner in 1959.[1] He also played the nightclub circuit and recorded two albums, the original cast recording of Mask and Gown (1958) and T. C. Jones Himself! (1959). Jones appears on the original cast recording for New Faces of 1956 (1956) and released the single, "Champagne Cocktails" b/w "Sunless Sunday" (1957).

Jones made a number of television appearances, including as the psychotic nurse killer in "An Unlocked Window", an Edgar Award-winning episode[10] of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour in 1965, as well as a similar role in "Night of the Running Death", a 1967 episode of The Wild Wild West.[11] He appeared in a male role opposite Jayne Mansfield and Mamie Van Doren in Three Nuts in Search of a Bolt (1964).[12] and played dual male/female roles as Mr. and Mrs. Ace in The Monkees' film Head (1968).[13]

Personal life

Thomas Craig Jones was born October 26, 1920 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Prior to beginning his performing career, Jones served in the United States Navy and studied to be a minister at Bethany College, West Virginia. He was married to Connie Dickson, who had previously been an actress, competitive fencer and proprietor of several beauty parlors. She and Jones met when he patronized one of her shops in search of a new wig.[1]

Death

T.C. Jones died of cancer on September 21, 1971, aged 50; he was survived by his wife. He is interred at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California - Skyview Lawn, Lot 1207, Grave #4.[14]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The Impersonator". Time Magazine. 1959-07-20. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ Senelick, p. 355
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harnisch, Larry (2008-09-15). "T.C. Jones, male actress". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  4. ↑ Wilmeth, et al, p. 2554
  5. ↑ Senelick, p. 355–8
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Botto, et al, p. 285
  7. ↑ Quoted in Senelick, p. 356
  8. ↑ Senelick, p. 356
  9. ↑ Wallraff, p. 87
  10. ↑ "Internet Movie Database". Retrieved 2011-08-18.
  11. ↑ Tropiano, pp. 57–8
  12. ↑ Barrios, p. 329
  13. ↑ Krafsur, et al, p. 461
  14. ↑ T. C. Jones at Find a Grave

References

External links