Jessie Jones, a veteran TV character actor and comedy playwright, has died at the age of 75 after a long illness. She appeared on popular series such as Murphy Brown, Newhart, and Night Court throughout the '90s. Jones also co-wrote over two dozen plays, which have been performed in every U.S. state and over 25 other countries. Her most notable work was the Southern-funeral comedy Dearly Departed, which premiered Off Broadway and was the source for Kingdom Come, a film adaptation from Fox Searchlight. Jones is survived by her sisters, brother-in-law, niece and nephews.