Raised in Oklahoma

As a child, assisted parents at their theater company, selling tickets and refreshments

While in college, wrote letter to actress Katharine Cornell soliciting her advice; Cornell suggested broadening her background

Moved to NYC to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Hosted own local radio program in Tulsa, Oklahoma, "The Phylis Isley Radio Theater"; ran for 13 weeks

After marriage to Robert Walker, moved to California

Signed contract with Republic Pictures

Film acting debut alongside John Wayne in "New Frontier"; made second film "Dick Tracy's G-Men"; billed as Phylis Isley

With Walker, moved to NYC

Autioned for the film version of "Claudia", to be produced by David O Selznick; offered personal seven-year contract

Acted on stage in Santa Barbara in "Hello Out There"; billed as Phylis Walker

Changed name to Jennifer Jones in January

Achieved star status with her performance in the title role of "The Song of Bernadette", a film biography of the young woman who claimed to see a vision of the Virgin Mary; received Best Actress Oscar

First film produced personally by David O. Selznick, "Since You Went Away"; starred opposite Robert Walker; received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination

Reportedly offered title role in "Laura"; Selznick declined it

Earned second Best Actress Academy Award nomination as an amnesiac in "Love Letters", co-starring Joseph Cotten

Starred in "Duel in the Sun"; garnered third Best Actress Oscar nomination

Reteamed with Joseph Cotton in the romantic "Portrait of Jennie"

Played "Madame Bovary"

Made a number of films abroad during the 1950s: "Gone to Earth" (1950) in England with the filmmaking team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger; "Indiscretion of an American Wife" (1953) with director Vittorio de Sica; "Beat the Devil" (1953; various locales) with director John Huston

Played title role of "Carrie", based on Theodore Dreiser's novel

Earned fifth Academy Award nomination for leading role in "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing"

Cast as Elizabeth Barrett Browning in "The Barretts of Wimpole Street"

Last film for five years, "A Farewell to Arms", produced by David O. Selznick

Returned to films after a five-year absence to play the leading role in "Tender Is the Night"

After Selznick's death, returned to filmmaking following a four-year absence in "The Idol"

Took an accidental overdose of sleeping pills following the 1967 death of Charles Bickford

Last film for five years, the dreadful "Angel, Angel Down We Go"

Played a supporting role as Fred Astaire's love interest in the all-star "The Towering Inferno"; final film role

Had purchased the screen rights to Larry McMurtry's "Terms of Endearment"; relinquished them when she was told she was too old for the role of Aurora Greenway