Whatever Happened To The Partridge Family? A Look Back At The Stars Of The ’70s Sitcom

Jones was the matriarch of The Partridge Family clan, taking on the role of widowed mother-of-five Shirley Renfrew Partridge. Before starring on the hit show alongside her real-life stepson, David Cassidy, Jones, now 82 — who had a musical background — garnered critical acclaim and an Oscar for her Best Supporting Actress performance in Elmer Gantry.

Reflecting back on her time on The Partridge Family, Jones is quick to issue a caveat about starring on a hit show. “When my agents came to me and presented it to me, they said if you do a series and it becomes a hit show, you will be that character for the rest of your life and your film career will go into the toilet, which is what happened,” she said in a 2009 interview. “But I have no regrets.”

The star, who remarried in 1977 after her split from Jack Cassidy in 1974 (the pair had three sons together) continues to act. As for whether or not she’s similar to her Partridge Family character, Jones told the AP: “I am nowhere near as breezy and uncomplicated as Mrs. Partridge.”