“Herbie the Love Bug” Star Dean Jones Passes

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Disney star of the 1960s, Dean Jones, has died of Parkinson's Disease at age 84.

Jones boyish good looks and all-American manner made him Disney's favorite young actor for such lighthearted films as "That Darn Cat!" and "The Love Bug." He passed away on Sept. 1 in Los Angeles, publicist Richard Hoffman announced on Wednesday.

Jones' long association with The Walt Disney Co. began after he received an unexpected call from Walt Disney himself, who praised his work on the TV show "Ensign O'Toole," noting it had "some good closing sequences." Jones, himself a former Navy man, played the title role in the 1962 sitcom.