'Murphy Brown' star Jessie Jones dead at 75

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Jessie Jones, an actress known for her roles on Murphy Brown, Newhart and more popular TV shows, has died. She was 75.

Jones’ writing partner Jamie Wooten confirmed to Deadline on Tuesday, March 31, that she died on March 20 in Washington, D.C., following a long illness.

Jones was a veteran character TV actor who made a memorable appearance on the season 3 premiere of Murphy Brown in September 1990. In the episode titled “The 390th Broadcast,” Jones portrayed Mrs. Betty Hooley, a random woman whom the titular TV host (Candice Bergen) chose to interview about the difficulties American families were facing at the time. However, the idea backfired when Hooley expressed her bigotry on air, leading to a scolding from Murphy.

Beyond Murphy Brown, Jones guest-starred on several other hit TV shows throughout her acting career, including Newhart in 1989, Night Court, Designing Women and Perfect Strangers in 1990, Who’s the Boss? in 1991, Grace Under Fire in 1995, Caroline in the City and Weird Science in 1996, Melrose Place and Unhappily Ever After in 1997, You’re the One in 1998, Judging Amy in 2004 and Cold Case in 2005. She also had a recurring role on the ABC children’s series Fudge, appearing in four episodes in 1995.

Jones was a frequent cast member in TV movies such as 1989’s Everybody’s Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure, 1990’s Jury Duty: The Comedy, 1990’s Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase, 1991’s Wife, Mother, Murderer, 1991’s Backfield in Motion, 1993’s For Their Own Good, 1993’s The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom, 1993’s Caught in the Act, 1995’s My Brother’s Keeper and 1999’s Border Line.

As for her film credits, Jones had small parts in 1991’s Switch and 1993’s Ed and His Dead Mother.

After her last onscreen acting role in 2005, Jones ventured into playwriting, with Dearly Departed becoming one of her most successful productions. The comedy premiered Off Broadway before making its way to U.S. regional and community stages. Jones co-wrote the screenplay for the 2001 film adaptation of the play, which was called Kingdom Come and starred LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Anthony Anderson, Toni Braxton, Whoopi Goldberg, Loretta Devine and Darius McCrary.

Jones co-wrote more than two dozen Southern comedy plays with her writing partners Wooten and Nicholas Hope, including The Sweet Delilah Swim Club, The Red Velvet Cake War, Christmas Belles and The Savannah Sipping Society. Their productions have been performed in every U.S. state and more than 25 countries, where they were translated into other languages. According to Wooten, Jones was the most-produced female American playwright.

Jones is survived by sisters Ellen and Laura, brother-in-law Jim McCarthy, niece Margaret McCarthy and nephews Tommy McCarthy, Todd Hyso and Paul Hyso as well as her grand-nieces and cousins.