Allan Jones

Biography

Allan Jones was an American actor and tenor who worked in Pennsylvania coal mines before leaving that job to study voice at New York University. He was born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Scranton, and his early stage work included Boccacio, Roberta, and a short-lived revival of Bitter Sweet. He became best remembered as the romantic lead in the Marx Brothers' first two Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films, A Night at the Opera (1935) and A Day at the Races (1937), and he starred in the musicals Show Boat (1936) and The Firefly (1937), where he introduced The Donkey Serenade, his signature song. Other films included Everybody Sing, The Boys from Syracuse, and One Night in the Tropics. He recorded for RCA Victor and starred in CBS radio's Old Gold Show, and during the 1980s he appeared in stage productions such as Man of La Mancha and Carousel. He died in 1992.

84years old at death

Born October 14, 1907Lackawanna County
Died June 27, 1992New York City
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22

Movie Career

Films: 4
Career span: 35 years1935 to 1970

Every film, newest first

1970A Man Called SledgeIMDb rating 5.9
1937A Day at the RacesIMDb rating 7.5
1936Show BoatIMDb rating 7.4
1935A Night at the OperaIMDb rating 7.8

Genres

Did you know?!

Big break
Jones filled the straight-man role in the Marx Brothers' first two MGM films, a part opened by Zeppo Marx's departure from the team.
A first
Jones's best-known movies included Show Boat (1936) and The Firefly (1937). In The Firefly he gave the first performance of "The Donkey Serenade," the song that became his signature.
A role that slipped away
Jones's brief appearance in Rose Marie was mostly cut after Nelson Eddy, who saw him as a rival, asked Louis B. Mayer's studio to remove it.
A first
In 1977, Jones's 1938 recording of "The Donkey Serenade" was listed third among the best-selling single records ever put out by RCA Victor.

Allan Jones movies on Netflix

A Man Called Sledge1970IMDb rating 5.9as Matt
A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5as Gil
Show Boat1936IMDb rating 7.4as Gaylord Ravenal
A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8as Riccardo Barone

Most often with

Sam Wood directed two of these films. Five actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Sig Ruman

Groucho Marx

Chico Marx

Harpo Marx

Margaret DumontSam WoodDirector, 2 films

Films together

Sig Ruman2 films together, 1935 to 1937
Sig Ruman's page
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Jones as GilRuman as Dr. Steinberg
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Jones as Riccardo BaroneRuman as Herman Gottlieb
Groucho Marx2 films together, 1935 to 1937
Groucho Marx's page
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Jones as GilMarx as Dr. Hackenbush
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Jones as Riccardo BaroneMarx as Otis B. Driftwood
Chico Marx2 films together, 1935 to 1937
Chico Marx's page
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Jones as GilMarx as Tony
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Jones as Riccardo BaroneMarx as Fiorello
Harpo Marx2 films together, 1935 to 1937
Harpo Marx's page
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Jones as GilMarx as Stuffy
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Jones as Riccardo BaroneMarx as Tomasso
Margaret Dumont2 films together, 1935 to 1937
Margaret Dumont's page
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Jones as GilDumont as Mrs. Upjohn
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Jones as Riccardo BaroneDumont as Mrs. Claypool
Sam WoodDirector, 2 films, 1935 to 1937
All films by Sam Wood
- A Day at the Races1937IMDb rating 7.5Jones as Gil
- A Night at the Opera1935IMDb rating 7.8Jones as Riccardo Barone

Awards

One award and honor.

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Allan Jones's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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