Jessie Jones, playwright and TV actor known for co-writing film 'Kingdom Come,' dies at 75

Jessie Jones, a playwright and histrion who appeared connected shows specified arsenic “Murphy Brown,” “Night Court,” and “Melrose Place,” has died. She was 75.

Jones died March 20 aft a agelong illness, according to an online obituary. Jamie Wooten, a person and 1 of her longtime penning partners, told Deadline she died successful Washington, D.C.

“Jessie Jones was a beautiful, hilarious and beardown Texas pistillate with property plus,” Wooten said Wednesday successful a connection to People. “A writer who was devoted to bringing laughter to the world, Jessie’s life’s enactment volition proceed to entertain audiences for decades to come.”

Jones and Wooten, on with Nicholas Hope, were a playwriting squad collectively referred to arsenic Jones Hope Wooten. The trio were known for their Southern-set comedies and their enactment of section theaters, according to their website. Among the plays they wrote were “The Sweet Delilah Swim Club,” “Christmas Belles,” “Dearly Beloved” and “Rex’s Exes.”

Born Aug. 21, 1950, successful the Texas Panhandle, Jones got her commencement successful section theatre successful Austin. There, the University of Texas postgraduate archetypal met and befriended Nicholas Hope Wilkinson, who formed her successful 1 of his plays. After moving to New York to prosecute a vocation successful theater, Jones headed to Hollywood, wherever her vocation pivoted to mostly television.

Her credits see appearances connected shows specified arsenic “Newhart,” “Designing Women,” “Perfect Strangers,” “Who’s the Boss?” and “Weird Science” arsenic good arsenic respective TV movies.

After 2005, Jones again focused connected her theatre career. Besides her enactment with Jones Hope Wooten, she was known for co-writing “Dearly Departed.” The off-Broadway play was adapted into the 2001 movie “Kingdom Come,” which she besides co-wrote with David Dean Bottrell.

Jones is survived by her sisters, Ellen Jones and Laura Jones; niece Margaret McCarthy; and nephews Tommy McCarthy, Todd Hyso and Paul Hyso. Her household asks that immoderate donations successful her representation beryllium made to “her favourite charity,” Planned Parenthood.