Movies - TV
Angela Lansbury,
Star Of Murder, She Wrote And Beauty And
The Beast,
Dies At 96
By DANIELLE RYAN
Dame Angela Lansbury, star of stage and screens both big and small, has died at the age of 96. According to a statement released by her family, Lansbury passed away peacefully just five days short of her 97th birthday.
The performer was known for something different by each generation, as she was a near-constant presence on Broadway, was practically omnipresent on our TVs as crime writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher on "Murder, She Wrote," and starred in a number of films that range from the darkly dramatic to beloved family favorites.
Lansbury first made a name for herself in the movies playing a supporting role opposite Ingrid Bergman in the 1944 psychological thriller "Gaslight," and was nominated for an Oscar for her performance. It would not be her last nomination, however, as she was also nominated for her work in 1945's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and her performance in "The Manchurian Candidate" in 1962.
She would go on to star in several Disney films, including the delightfully zany "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and the animated classic "Beauty and the Beast," for which she sang the beautiful and haunting theme song.
Her career in theatre earned her five Tony awards making Lansbury the second most awarded Broadway performer in history, with her most recent win in 2009 for her role in "Blithe Spirit." Lansbury left behind a legacy as a celebrated star of stage and screen, by thrilling us, singing us to sleep, and sharing a part of her sparkle for decades. She will be deeply missed.