Legendary Dancer and Actress Mitzi Gaynor Passes Away at 93 \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Mitzi Gaynor, the beloved actress and dancer best known for her starring role in South Pacific, passed away at age 93 from natural causes. Her eight-decade career spanned film, television, and stage, with notable appearances alongside Hollywood icons like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Gaynor’s enduring legacy includes not only her film work but also her celebrated musical revue performances and television specials.
Mitzi Gaynor’s Life and Legacy Quick Looks
- Mitzi Gaynor, star of South Pacific and Hollywood’s golden age, has died at 93.
- Gaynor’s career spanned over eight decades, with highlights in film, television, and stage performances.
- She became a fixture in Las Vegas and starred in Emmy-winning TV specials, leaving an indelible mark on entertainment.
Deep Look
Mitzi Gaynor, the vibrant and effervescent star of the Hollywood golden age, who gained widespread fame for her role as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film South Pacific, has died at the age of 93. Gaynor passed away peacefully from natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, as confirmed by her long-time managers, Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda.
Gaynor’s career spanned an impressive eight decades across film, television, and the stage. While she appeared in several notable films, including We’re Not Married! and There’s No Business Like Show Business, she is most fondly remembered for her starring role in the film adaptation of South Pacific, which earned three Academy Award nominations and won for Best Sound. Her performance as the love-struck nurse Nellie Forbush also earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
Her managers released a heartfelt statement following her passing: “As we celebrate her legacy, we offer our thanks to her friends and fans and the countless audiences she entertained throughout her long life. Your love, support, and appreciation meant so very much to her and was a sustaining gift in her life.”
A Career Born in Hollywood’s Golden Age
Gaynor’s rise to stardom in the 1950s placed her among the last remaining icons of the Hollywood musical era. She starred alongside legends like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Gene Kelly, captivating audiences with her talent as both a dancer and singer. While many Hollywood stars sought the coveted role of Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, it was Sinatra who played a pivotal role in helping her secure the part. Gaynor was starring alongside Sinatra in The Joker Is Wild when she had the chance to audition for Oscar Hammerstein II. Sinatra generously rearranged the shooting schedule to allow her to audition, and she quickly won over Hammerstein, director Josh Logan, and composer Richard Rodgers.
Despite her success in South Pacific, the film did not serve as the turning point she had hoped for in her career. Gaynor gradually shifted from film to television, where she found new success. She appeared in popular variety shows such as The Jack Benny Hour and The Frank Sinatra Timex Show, which featured performances with industry giants like Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Bing Crosby.
Reinvention on the Stage and Las Vegas Stardom
Gaynor reinvented herself later in her career, becoming a renowned live entertainer with the help of her husband and manager, Jack Bean. She launched her own musical revue, drawing large crowds in theaters across the United States, Canada, the U.K., and Australia. Her performances became a mainstay in Las Vegas, where she headlined weeks-long residencies at major venues like the Flamingo Hotel and the Riviera Hotel for over a decade.
As her touring production became increasingly expensive and complex, Gaynor adapted by slimming down the show, eventually transitioning it into a one-woman production. She continued to tour annually until 2002, when Bean’s illness led her to take a hiatus. Reflecting on her career in a 2003 interview, Gaynor shared, “I love touring; I’ve been doing it much of my life. We go back to the same places; it’s like visiting friends.”
Television Variety Specials and Emmy Recognition
In addition to her stage success, Gaynor starred in a series of popular television variety specials during the 1960s and 1970s, including Mitzi… Zings Into Spring and Mitzi… Roarin’ in the 20’s. These shows showcased her dancing and singing talents while collaborating with stars such as choreographer Bob Mackie, who won several Emmy Awards for his work on the specials. Gaynor’s television presence was celebrated in the 2008 documentary Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years, which highlighted her Emmy-nominated performances.
A Life of Joy and Generosity
Born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber in Chicago on September 4, 1931, Gaynor was the daughter of a musically inclined family, with early training in singing and dancing. Her stage debut as a young child was a memorable one—she humorously recalled in a 2003 interview that she accidentally wet the stage out of nerves but was cheered back on after recovering her composure.
Gaynor married Jack Bean in 1954, and the couple enjoyed a quiet life away from the Hollywood spotlight, preferring intimate gatherings with close friends at their Beverly Hills home. The two remained together until Bean’s death in 2006, though they had no children. Gaynor was known for her warm, gracious personality, humor, and her passion for cooking, a talent fondly referenced by her managers in a statement following her death. “Off stage, she was a vibrant and extraordinary woman, a caring and loyal friend, and a warm, gracious, very funny and altogether glorious human being. And she could cook, too!” they said, recalling the lyrics of a song from On the Town that she had sung in one of her revue shows.
Mitzi Gaynor’s dazzling performances, her legacy in film, television, and the stage, and her endearing personality will remain beloved by fans and friends alike for generations to come.
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