Angela Lansbury was maybe the most popular actress in American history and one of the most gifted. She’s passed away today at age 96. But she will never be forgotten. Her role as Jessica Fletcher in “Murder She Wrote” immortalized her. The entertaining reruns will go forever.
She was our Judi Dench , excelling in TV, theater, and movies often at the same time. And in theater, she commanded drama, comedy and musicals. There as nothing she couldn’t do. So devious and cunning in “The Manchurian Candidate,” sweet and endearing Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd,” and then brilliantly charming as Jessica Fletcher. And those three roles were just a few highlights of a remarkable career.
Angela Lansbury had a great talent. We’re all lucky that so much of it was captured on film. pic.twitter.com/u9L33hSShm
— Lee Grant (@TheLeeGrant) October 11, 2022
Think of “Beauty and the Beast,” and her singing the famous title song. Or winning a Tony Award in 2009 for “Blithe Spirit” on Broadway. And that was just two years after a nomination in 2007 for Terence McNally’s “Deuce.” Certainly it’s time for a theater on Broadway to be named for her. (She did receive a Lifetime Tony Award this past season.)
What a life! Amazing lady! Condolences to her family and legions of fans around the world.