Janet Jones | |
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 Jones arriving at the 2014Toronto International Film Festival | |
| Born | Janet Marie Jones (1961-01-10)January 10, 1961 (age 64) Bridgeton, Missouri, U.S. |
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| Occupation(s) | Actress, dancer |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
Janet Marie Gretzky (néeJones; born January 10, 1961)[1] is an American actress, married to former Canadianice hockey Hall of Fame playerWayne Gretzky.
Janet Marie Jones was born inBridgeton, Missouri, the daughter of a business executive. She attendedPattonville High School inMaryland Heights, Missouri.[citation needed]
One of Jones's earliest appearances was as a contestant onMerv Griffin's syndicated U.S. television programDance Fever in 1979, and later as a member of the dance duoMotion, dancing choreographed routines with the show's host,Deney Terrio.[2] Jones performed inAnnie (1982),Staying Alive (1983) andSnow White Live (1980), and had a bit part inThe Beastmaster (1982). She also had a small role in the musical comedy,Grease 2 (1982). On April 4, 1983, Jones was a contestant on the television game showThe Price Is Right. Herbig break came inThe Flamingo Kid (1984), which was followed by the film version ofA Chorus Line (1985). In 1986, she appeared inAmerican Anthem, co-starring gymnastMitch Gaylord and, in 1987, she appeared on the cover and in a semi-nude pictorial in the March issue ofPlayboy.
Other credits include1988'sPolice Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach and the baseball filmA League of Their Own (1992) withGeena Davis,Rosie O'Donnell, andMadonna.
Jones served as host of aninfomercial forJackie Chan and as the "master instructor" for a workout video produced byThe FIRM. She and daughter Paulina were featured in the movieAlpha Dog.
Playing on her surname, she appeared in a 1986 TV commercial endorsing Jones Sausage along with other people who shared her last name.[citation needed]
Jones, who was engaged toVitas Gerulaitis from 1985 to 1987,[3] first met Gretzky when he was a judge onDance Fever in 1984. They met again at aLos Angeles Lakers game in 1987, and on July 16, 1988, married in a lavish ceremony atSt. Joseph's Basilica in Edmonton that was broadcast live across Canada. That August 9, Gretzky was traded to theLos Angeles Kings. One of the motivations behind the deal was rumored to be furthering Jones' career.[4] Jones refuted this in the 2009 documentaryKings Ransom, stating that she would not have allowed herself to become "barefoot and pregnant for the next eight years" were she intent on pursuing her career.[5] She and Gretzky have five children: Paulina, Ty Robert, Trevor Douglas, Tristan Wayne, and Emma Marie. Her daughter Paulina was on the Canadian cover of theFlare (magazine) August 2005, seventeen years after Janet appeared on the cover, making them the first mother-daughter pair to appear on the cover of Flare Magazine.[citation needed]
Paulina andDustin Johnson announced their engagement on August 18, 2013.[6] Ty played hockey atShattuck-Saint Mary's.[7] Trevor was drafted by theChicago Cubs in the2011 MLB draft.[8] He was traded on March 20, 2014, to theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Matt Scioscia, son of Angels' managerMike Scioscia.[9] In June 2014, he was named to the roster of theOrem Owlz.[10]
Jones introducedVanna White toMerv Griffin while appearing onDance Fever, leading White to her long-term engagement as a presenter onWheel of Fortune.[2]
On February 7, 2006, Jones and a half-dozen NHL players were among those implicated in aNew Jersey–based sports gambling ring allegedly financed byPhoenix Coyotes assistant coachRick Tocchet. Then-Coyotes' general manager and Gretzky's former agent, Michael Barnett, admitted to placing a bet onSuper Bowl XL through Tocchet.
Gretzky told reporters that Jones "would sit down at some point and answer questions that everybody has for her and be her own person" while denying any involvement. Jones released a statement through the Coyotes: "At no time did I ever place a wager on my husband's behalf. Other than the occasional horse race, my husband does not bet on any sports."
TheNewark Star-Ledger revealed thatNew Jersey State Policewiretaps have Gretzky speaking about the ring. Lawyers for the couple later announced that there was no evidence of any betting on their part, and neither would face criminal charges.[11] "They were trying to paint something that just wasn't true," Jones later toldChatelaine Magazine. "It's unfair that Wayne and I have had a great marriage for 20 years and a nice family, and the people in the media could care less if they are trying to cause friction in your marriage, trouble in your family, and make your kids feel a certain way. That was a little hurtful because it was like, 'Why? What have we ever done to you?'"[12] In 2007, she took part in a high-stakesgolf tournament broadcast byESPN.[2] The NHL prohibits personnel from betting on its own games, but does not have a policy against other sports betting.[13]
On March 15, 2006, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office announced that it wouldsubpoena Jones to testify about the alleged ring as soon as a grand jury convened. On May 8, Tocchet and Jones filed notices inNew Jersey that they intend to sue the state for defamation, claiming that each lost business opportunities in the wake of the investigation.[14]On May 25, 2007, Tocchet pleaded guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling. New Jersey Attorney GeneralAnne Milgram announced on August 17, 2007, that Tocchet had been sentenced to two years probation in exchange for his plea. He could have received up to five years in New Jersey state prison, but there is a presumption against incarceration for first-time offenders who plead guilty to such crimes.[citation needed]
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