<Li> The Partridge Family </Li> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> shirleyjones.com </Td> </Tr> <P> Shirley Mae Jones (born March 31, 1934) is an American singer and actress of stage, film and television . In her six decades of show business, she has starred as wholesome characters in a number of well - known musical films, such as Oklahoma! (1955), Carousel (1956), and The Music Man (1962). She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing a vengeful prostitute in Elmer Gantry (1960). She played the lead role of Shirley Partridge, the widowed mother of five children, in the musical situation - comedy television series The Partridge Family (1970--74), which co-starred her real - life stepson David Cassidy, son of Jack Cassidy . </P> <P> Jones was born on March 31, 1934, in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, to Methodist parents Marjorie (née Williams), a homemaker, and Paul Jones, owners of the Jones Brewing Company . Jones' paternal grandfather came from Wales . She was named for child star Shirley Temple . The family later moved to the small nearby town of Smithton, Pennsylvania . Jones began singing at the age of six in the Methodist Church choir and took voice lessons from Ralph Lewando . Upon attending South Huntingdon High School in Ruffs Dale, Pennsylvania, she participated in school plays . </P>

Who played the mother on the partridge family