Lansbury, Angela (1925-2022), was a successful motion-picture, stage, and television actress. She became well known as Jessica Fletcher, a mystery writer and amateur detective, in the television series “Murder, She Wrote” (1984-1996). She won several Golden Globe Awards for the role. Lansbury was nominated for Academy Awards for her performances in the films Gaslight (1944), The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945), and The Manchurian Candidate (1962). She won an honorary Academy Award in 2014.
Lansbury was born in London, England, on Oct. 16, 1925. She later acquired United States and Irish citizenship, in addition to her British citizenship. Lansbury studied acting in England before moving to the United States in 1940. She signed a motion-picture contract in 1943 and made her movie debut in Gaslight (1944).
Lansbury’s other notable films include State of the Union (1948), Remains to Be Seen (1953), The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), and Death on the Nile (1978). She later appeared in the films Nanny McPhee (2005), Mr. Popper’s Penguins (2011), and Mary Poppins Returns (2018). Lansbury also acted in many television movies.
Lansbury frequently performed in Broadway productions from the late 1950’s to the late 1970’s. She won praise in the English play A Touch of Honey (1960). Lansbury received Tony Awards for her performances in the musicals Mame (1966), Dear World (1969), Gypsy (1975), Sweeney Todd (1979), and Blithe Spirit (2009).
In 2014, Lansbury was made a dame commander in the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to drama and charity. She became known as Dame Angela Lansbury. She died on Oct. 11, 2022.
