Who was Jessie Jones? ‘Most-produced female American playwright’ dies at 75

Jessie Jones, a television actress who reinvented herself as one of America’s most-produced female playwrights, has died at 75.

Her longtime friend and writing partner Jamie Wooten confirmed she passed away March 20 in Washington, D.C. after a long illness.

Jones is survived by her sisters, a brother-in-law, a niece and nephews, and by her close collaborator Wooten.

Jessie Jones’ popular sitcoms:

Jones built a career in front of the camera throughout the 1980s and ’90s, appearing in popular sitcoms such as Night Court, Newhart, Designing Women, Murphy Brown (where she played Betty Hooley), Who’s the Boss, Perfect Strangers, Grace Under Fire and Melrose Place.

Jessie Jones’ TV movies:

She also starred in TV movies including The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom, Everybody’s Baby: The Rescue of Baby Jessica alongside Patty Duke and Beau Bridges, and the frequently aired Wife, Mother, Murderer.

Jessie Jones as playwright:

As her acting career wound down, Jones turned to writing.

She co-created the Off-Broadway Southern funeral comedy Dearly Departed, which became a staple for theater companies nationwide.

She later co-wrote the screenplay for Fox Searchlight’s Kingdom Come starring Whoopi Goldberg and LL Cool J.

Her most enduring legacy came through the Jones Hope Wooten partnership with Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten.

Together, they penned more than two dozen Southern-flavored comedies including The Sweet Delilah Swim Club, The Red Velvet Cake War, Christmas Belles and The Savannah Sipping Society.

Published by Concord Theatricals, their plays have been widely produced and translated into multiple languages.

Wooten described Jones as “the most-produced female American playwright.”