British character actress, long in the United States. The daughter of an actress and the granddaughter of a high-ranking politician, Lansbury studied acting from her youth, departing for the United States as the Second World War began. She was contracted by MGM while still a teenager and nominated for an Academy Award for her first film, Gaslight. Two pictures later, she was again nominated for Best Supporting Actress, this time for The Picture of Dorian Gray. Now established as a supporting player of quality, she began a long career, often as "the other woman" in major productions and as the leading lady in lesser films. Her features, while not at all old-appearing, gave her an air of maturity that allowed her to pass as much older than she actually was, and she began playing mother roles, often to players of her own age, while yet in her thirties. She concentrated more and more on stage work, achieving notable success in a number of Broadway plays and musicals, winning four Tony Awards in sixteen years. Although active in television since the early 1950s, she obtained her greatest fame in the 1980s by starring in the light mystery program Murder, She Wrote. As Jessica Fletcher, she became known and loved by millions for well over a decade. She also became known for the odd fact of almost annual Emmy Award nominations for the role without ever winning for it. An institution in American theatre and television, she is also an inspiration for the graciousness of her personality, which is often exploited and always admired.



Fantasia/2000 (1999): £ 3,000
Gaslight (1944): $500/week

Daughter of actress Moyna MacGill, who appeared with her in The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) and Kind Lady (1951). Mother of Anthony Pullen Shaw and Deirdre Angela Shaw. Stepmother of David Shaw. Wearing just conventional makeup (i.e., not studio made-up to look "old"), she was most chilling and unforgettable (and convincing!) as the manipulating mother of Laurence Harvey in The Manchurian Candidate (1962), while in real life being scarcely three years Harvey's senior. A recent authorized biography, "Balancing Act," states that her first husband, Richard Cromwell was gay, a fact she didn't know until after their separation. Her son was a follower of Charles Manson's gang. After the Sharon Tate murders, she thought it best to get him out of the country. She took him to Ireland to help him with his drug problems. 2000: She was the recipient of the John F. Kennedy Center Honors in 2000 for her services to the arts. She has one half-sister, Isolde, from her mother's first marriage to Reginald Denham. Isolde was married to Peter Ustinov, with whom she had one daughter, Tamara Ustinov, Lansbury's niece. She and Mildred Natwick were both in The Court Jester (1955) and were reunited in an episode of "Murder, She Wrote" (1984) ("Murder in the Electric Cathedral") 30 years later. She was reunited with The Court Jester (1955) co-star Glynis Johns in the "Murder, She Wrote" (1984) episode "Sing a Song of Murder" (#27) 29 years after that film. July 21, 2000: She withdrew from a Broadway musical, "The Visit," due to her husband's impending heart surgery. She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England whose alumni include Terence Stamp, Hugh Bonneville, Rupert Friend, Antony Sher, Matthew Goode, Sue Johnston, Minnie Driver and Julian Fellowes. She was one of the last guest stars on "Newhart" (1982). 11/25/75: Her mother, Moyna MacGill, died. Her twin brothers are both film producers. She was offered the role of "Nurse Ratchet" in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) but turned it down because she didn't think she could handle the role. 1985: She accepted the Oscar for "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" on behalf of Peggy Ashcroft, who wasn't present at the awards ceremony. While filming Death on the Nile (1978), aboard ship, no one was allowed his or her own dressing room, so she shared a dressing room with Bette Davis and Maggie Smith. 2006: To date, she has hosted (or co-hosted) more Tony Awards telecasts than any other individual: (1968, 1971, 1987, 1988, and 1989). Her performance as Mrs. John Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate (1962) is ranked #91 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. Though she's not hailed for her singing voice often, she has won 4 Tony Awards for Best Actress In A Musical, and is best known for being in musicals. Before becoming a professional performer she went by her middle name Brigid. MGM wanted her to take the name Angela Marlowe but she refused. Ex-stepmother-in-law of Catherine Bach. 2nd cousin, via cousin Coral Lansbury, to Australian Federal Liberal Party leader, Malcolm Turnbull. Grandmother, via son Anthony Pullen Shaw, of Ian Lansbury. She was considered for the role of Miss Caswell in All About Eve (1950), but Marilyn Monroe was cast in the part instead. She was awarded the 2009 Tony Award for Actress in A Featured Role in a Play for her performance in "Blithe Spirit" on Broadway in New York City. Played Elvis Presley's mother in Blue Hawaii, despite only being 10 years older than him.