Angela Lansbury, one of the most acclaimed and talented actors of her period, died on Tuesday at the age of 96, according to her family. Lansbury, best remembered for her role as Jessica Fletcher in the long-running television series Murder, She Wrote, died quietly in her sleep at her Los Angeles home, just five days before her 97th birthday.
Angela Lansbury Cause of Death
Five days before her 97th birthday, on October 11, 2022, Lansbury peacefully passed away at her home in Los Angeles.
Angela Lansbury has sadly passed away. pic.twitter.com/vVesqtSoZC
— Cartoon Base (@TheCartoonBase) October 11, 2022
Her cause of death remains unconfirmed; however, her family hypothesizes that she passed away from natural causes. In July 2005, Lansbury underwent knee replacement surgery, during which metal and plastic were utilized to replace the degenerating cartilage in her knee joint.
Daughter Deirdre Shaw, son Anthony Shaw, and stepson David Shaw are the surviving offspring of Lansbury. She had five great-grandchildren and three grandchildren, in addition to a sibling named producer Edgar Lansbury.
Following in her footsteps was Peter Shaw, her spouse of 53 years, whose demise was caused by a myocardial infarction in 2003. The family has announced that an undetermined date will be set aside for a private family ceremony.
Additionally, they requested privacy and esteem from the public while expressing gratitude for their support and affection during this trying period.
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A Career Spanning Eight Decades
Lansbury was born in London in 1925 and moved to New York with her mother and brothers in 1940, when World War II began. A Hollywood talent scout discovered her at a party in 1942 while she was attending the Feagin School of Dramatic Art.
She made her cinematic debut as a maid in the 1944 thriller Gaslight, co-starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. She won her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for her performance.
The next year, she was nominated for another Oscar for her performance as Sibyl in The Picture of Dorian Gray, based on Oscar Wilde’s novel. She later appeared in more than 50 films, including The Manchurian Candidate.
A Global Icon as Jessica Fletcher
Lansbury rose to international prominence and renown as Jessica Fletcher, a mystery writer and amateur detective on the CBS series Murder, She Wrote, from 1984 to 1996. The sitcom was a big success, drawing millions of viewers and garnering Lansbury 12 Emmy awards and four Golden Globe nominations.
She also worked as the show’s executive producer and wrote two episodes. She played Jessica Fletcher again in four TV movies, the most recent of which aired in 2003.
Lansbury’s portrayal of Jessica Fletcher established her as a cultural figure, inspiring a new generation of admirers and authors. She was also lauded for shattering preconceptions by depicting a strong, independent, and educated woman in her 60s and 70s who traveled the world and solved murders with her wit and charm.
A Loving Family and a Generous Philanthropist
Lansbury married actor Richard Cromwell in 1945, but the couple divorced the following year. In 1949, she married Peter Shaw, a British film producer, and they were married until he died in 2003.
They had two children, Anthony and Deirdre, and also adopted David, Peter’s son from a previous marriage. Lansbury was also the grandfather of three grandkids and five great-grandchildren.
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