Donald Jones
Encyclopedia
Donald Jones was an actor
and dancer; born in Harlem, he went to the Netherlands
in his early twenties and became the first Dutch black star.
in 1954 with a dance troupe. He was hired by a cabaret
company and began a career singing, acting, and dancing. He was hired for the very first Dutch television show, the 1950s television hit Pension Hommeles (written by Annie M.G. Schmidt), in which he played Dinky Henderson, who sings the Cor Lemaire song "Ik zou je het liefste in een doosje willen doen," a Dutch hit and now one of the standards
in the musical comedy genre. This made Jones the first black star in the Netherlands.
Jones played in many Dutch shows, movies (Grijpstra & De Gier
, 1979), and theatrical productions, and in television shows such as Mik & Mak and Pipo de Clown
.
He married Dutch actress Adèle Bloemendaal; they were the first well-known mixed couple in the country. Their son, John (born 1963 ), is an actor and comedian. Donald Jones died in Amsterdam
of a heart attack.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and dancer; born in Harlem, he went to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in his early twenties and became the first Dutch black star.
Biography
Born in Harlem, New York, Jones originally trained to be an advertising designer. He moved to the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1954 with a dance troupe. He was hired by a cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
company and began a career singing, acting, and dancing. He was hired for the very first Dutch television show, the 1950s television hit Pension Hommeles (written by Annie M.G. Schmidt), in which he played Dinky Henderson, who sings the Cor Lemaire song "Ik zou je het liefste in een doosje willen doen," a Dutch hit and now one of the standards
Standard (music)
In music, a standard is a tune or song of established popularity.-See also:* Blues standard* Jazz standard* Pop standard* Great American Songbook-Further reading:* Greatest Rock Standards, published by Hal Leonard ISBN 0793588391...
in the musical comedy genre. This made Jones the first black star in the Netherlands.
Jones played in many Dutch shows, movies (Grijpstra & De Gier
Grijpstra & De Gier
Grijpstra & De Gier is a 1979 Dutch crime film directed by Wim Verstappen.-Cast:* Rijk de Gooyer - Henk Grijpstra* Rutger Hauer - Rinus de Gier* Willeke van Ammelrooy - Constanze Verboom* Donald Jones - Habberdoedas van Meteren...
, 1979), and theatrical productions, and in television shows such as Mik & Mak and Pipo de Clown
Pipo de Clown
Pipo de Clown is a character created by writer and artist Wim Meuldijk, which became famous as the lead character of a popular early Dutch television series also written by Meuldijk, and which was subsequently popularized in movies and on records...
.
He married Dutch actress Adèle Bloemendaal; they were the first well-known mixed couple in the country. Their son, John (born 1963 ), is an actor and comedian. Donald Jones died in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
of a heart attack.