February 25, 1927 – Actor and Disney Legend Dickie Jones is Born
“Pinocchio. Every time I think about it, I think about how blessed I was that I was there at the right time, the right moment, and I was the one Walt Disney decided to use. And the people I got to work with, it’s unbelievable. I worked with some of the best character actors in the business at that time. I’m so proud I was able to work with one of the greatest groups that was ever assembled for an animated feature.” – Dickie Jones.
On February 25, 1927, Richard “Dickie” Percy Jones was born in Snyder, Scurry County, Texas. At the age of four, Jones was billed as “World’s Youngest Trick Rider and Trick Roper,” and at age six, he was hired by actor Hoot Gibson to perform tricks in his rodeo. Gibson convinced Jones’ mother to take young Jones to Hollywood, where he landed small parts in B-Westerns. In 1939, Jones had his breakthrough with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, playing Senate page Richard Jones. Soon after, Jones would have his most well-known role as the voice of the title character in Walt Disney’s second full-length animated feature film, Pinocchio. At the age of fifteen, Jones then joined the popular radio show The Aldrich Family as Henry Aldrich. During World War II, Jones served in the Army in Alaska, and was hired by Gene Autry after the war. Jones would then work in several western-themed television series, including The Range Rider, Annie Oakley, and Buffalo Bill, Jr. In 1959, Jones retired from acting and began a career in real estate. He was named a Disney Legend in 2000.
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