1. Early Life
O-Lan Jones's early life was shaped by a unique family environment and significant relocations that influenced her artistic journey.
1.1. Childhood and Background
O-Lan Jones was born on May 23, 1950, in Los Angeles, California. Her uncommon first name, O-Lan, is derived from the Chinese heroine in Pearl S. Buck's renowned novel, The Good Earth. Her childhood was marked by her father's departure from the family. Her mother, Scarlett Johnson, described as a "free spirit," embarked on an unconventional path, moving the family for a year to a remote Mayan village within the Yucatán jungle when Jones was 15 years old. This experience profoundly influenced her formative years.
1.2. Artistic Beginnings
In 1966, following their return from the Yucatán, Jones and her mother relocated to Greenwich Village, New York City. It was in this vibrant artistic hub that Jones began her acting career. During this period, her mother Scarlett Johnson married comedian and actor Johnny Dark. Coincidentally, Jones herself began dating Dark's close friend, the acclaimed playwright Sam Shepard. Shepard recognized Jones's unique talent and wrote the character of "Oolan" specifically for her in his 1967 play, Forensic & The Navigators, marking her initial entry into professional collaborations in the performing arts.
2. Personal Life
O-Lan Jones's personal life has been intertwined with her artistic endeavors, notably through her marriage to playwright Sam Shepard and later relationships.
2.1. Marriage to Sam Shepard
In 1969, O-Lan Jones and Sam Shepard married. Their partnership extended beyond the personal realm into their professional lives, with Jones starring in several of Shepard's plays, including Suicide in B♭ and Angel City. In 1971, Jones gave birth to their son, Jesse Mojo Shepard. Their marriage, however, concluded in 1984 when they divorced, after Shepard left her for actress Jessica Lange.
2.2. Later Relationships and Family
Following her divorce from Sam Shepard, Jones continued to focus on her multifaceted career. In 2003, she married her longtime partner, Halldor Enard.
3. Career
O-Lan Jones has cultivated a diverse and distinguished career spanning acting, writing, and composing, working across various artistic fields and collaborating with notable figures.
3.1. Acting Career
Jones has appeared in numerous film and television productions, developing a reputation for her distinctive and often quirky character portrayals.
3.1.1. Film Roles
Her film career includes collaborations with director Tim Burton, notably in Edward Scissorhands (1990), where she played the peculiar character Esmeralda and also composed the organ music heard in the film. She reunited with Burton in Mars Attacks! (1996), portraying Sue-Ann Norris, the mother of characters played by Lucas Haas and Jack Black. Jones has appeared in a wide array of films, often taking on supporting roles with unique characteristics.
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | A Death in Canaan | Carla Pitts |
| 1980 | Die Laughing | Judge |
| 1982 | Out | Nixie / Dinah |
| 1982 | Shoot the Moon | Counter Girl |
| 1983 | The Right Stuff | Pretty Girl |
| 1988 | Married to the Mob | Phyllis |
| 1988 | Miracle Mile | Waitress |
| 1988 | Wildfire | Mrs. Johnson |
| 1989 | How I Got into College | Sally O'Connor |
| 1990 | Edward Scissorhands | Esmeralda |
| 1990 | Martians Go Home | |
| 1990 | Pacific Heights | Hotel Maid Patricia |
| 1992 | Beethoven | Biker Woman |
| 1992 | Secrets | |
| 1993 | Shelf Life | Tina |
| 1994 | Natural Born Killers | Mabel |
| 1996 | Mars Attacks! | Sue-Ann Norris |
| 1997 | Clockwatchers | |
| 1998 | Animals | |
| 1998 | The Truman Show | Bar Waitress |
| 2000 | American Virgin | Kim |
| 2000 | Attention Shoppers | Meg |
| 2002 | American Girl | Hildegarde |
| 2012 | Queens of Country | |
| 2013 | Syrup | Clinic Receptionist / Sperm Bank Employee |
| 2014 | Child of Grace | |
| 2016 | Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children | Shelly |
3.1.2. Television Roles
Jones has also appeared in various television series and miniseries, bringing her distinctive acting style to the small screen. Her television credits include a recurring role as Rose McLaughlin on Harts of the West.
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Lonesome Dove | Sally Skull | Miniseries |
| 1992 | Seinfeld | Waitress | Episode: "The Bubble Boy" |
| 1993-1994 | Harts of the West | Rose McLaughlin | |
| 1995 | Chicago Hope | ||
| 1996 | The X-Files | Rebecca Waite | Episode: "Sanguinarium" |
| 1996 | Nash Bridges | ||
| 1998 | Martial Law | Co-starred with Sammo Hung | |
| 2001 | Diagnosis: Murder | Chantelle Boudreau | Episode: "Bachelor Fathers" |
| 2015 | Community | Garrett's Mom | Episode: "Wedding Videography" |
3.2. Work as a Writer and Composer
Beyond her acting, O-Lan Jones is also an accomplished writer, musician, composer, and lyricist. She notably penned the script for the 1993 film Shelf Life, in which she also starred. Furthermore, she composed original music, including the distinctive organ piece featured in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands. She is an alumna of New Dramatists, an organization dedicated to supporting playwrights.
3.3. Overtone Industries
In 1980, O-Lan Jones founded Overtone Industries, a company where she serves as the artistic director. The organization is dedicated to the creation and development of innovative new works for the genres of opera and musical theater. Under her leadership, Overtone Industries has become a significant platform for exploring and presenting unique theatrical and musical pieces, reflecting Jones's commitment to expanding artistic expression.
4. Legacy and Artistic Impact
O-Lan Jones has left a distinct mark on the entertainment industry through her unique artistic contributions and continues to engage in new projects that highlight her enduring creativity.
4.1. Distinctive Style and Contributions
O-Lan Jones is recognized for her distinctive acting style, often portraying quirky and memorable supporting characters in film and television. Her ability to imbue these roles with depth and peculiarity has made her a recognizable presence in her works, particularly in films directed by Tim Burton. Beyond acting, her multifaceted contributions as a writer and composer, especially her foundational role in Overtone Industries, demonstrate a unique approach to her craft that extends beyond traditional performance, fostering new forms of artistic expression in opera and musical theater.
4.2. Recent and Future Projects
O-Lan Jones continues to be active in the entertainment industry. In early 2024, filmmaker Alex Mechanik announced that he was slated to direct a feature film starring Jones, to be produced by Gloria Sanchez Productions, indicating her continued presence in significant new cinematic endeavors.