RIP Mitzi Gaynor.
Posted on 10/17/2024 12:40:47 PM PDT by Red Badger
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mitzi Gaynor, the effervescent dancer and actor who starred as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film of "South Pacific" and appeared in other musicals with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, has died. She was 93.
Gaynor, among the last survivors of the so-called golden age of the Hollywood musical, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, her long-time managers Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press.
“As we celebrate her legacy, we offer our thanks to her friends and fans and the countless audiences she entertained throughout her long life,” Reyes and Rosamonda said in a joint statement. “Your love, support and appreciation meant so very much to her and was a sustaining gift in her life.”
Her entertainment career spanned eight decades across film, television and the stage, and appeared in several notable films including “We’re Not Married!” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” but she is best remembered for her turn in “South Pacific.”
The screen version of “South Pacific” received three Academy Award nominations and won for best sound, while Gaynor was a best actress nominee for a Golden Globe.
(Excerpt) Read more at centurylink.net ...
FTA ...
... The role of the love-sick nurse Nellie, created on Broadway by Mary Martin, had been eagerly sought by Hollywood stars. Sinatra helped Gaynor land it.
She was starring with him in “The Joker Is Wild,” when she had a one-day opportunity to audition for lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. It was the same day she was scheduled for her biggest scene with Sinatra. When she explained her plight, he told her, “Don’t worry, I’ll change the schedule.” ...
Women were generally better looking back in the day
RIP
Rest In Peace, Mitzi.
Was it “some enchanted evening” ?
You know, you’re right.
I spent an evening emceeing an event where she was the guest of honor. We spent several hours together. After kind of a rocky start (I was polite, but not gushing….she was off put by that) we had a wonderful evening.
I had more in common with her husband who was a really nice guy. We both stood at the side and watched in wonder as people lined up to “meet her.” Got a few laughs out of that.
She was a classy lady. And an immense talent. Back in the day of “movie stars” she was right at home.
Rest in Peace.
Hard to believe What a beautiful woman leaving great memories.
R.I.P. Mitzi Gaynor...
She was a couple of years older than me and I remember her career fondly...
RIP.
She was a firecracker!
‘Mitzi Gaynor, the effervescent dancer and actor …,
Shouldn’t they dispense with the Best Actress category if they’re going to insist on this terminology?
She stayed young for a very long time.
Of course, it helped that people knew what a "woman" was.
RIP. Pretty lady
Movie stars way back then seem to be much more elegant than today’s crew, by far.
I watched a bit of a Western last night and the leading lady seemed to really have it. I looked her up. It was Hedy Lamar, the genius movie star. She invented some electronic technology we use today.
Torpedoe navigation I think. Worked it about at a piano.
That’s Hedley!
RIP Mitzi Gaynor.
Aw, go suck on some betle nuts.
RIP Mitzi Gaynor!
In South Pacific when she steps out of the shower and says “well hello”... let’s just say I have to rewind and look at that a few times. Exquisite!
There’s a great interview of her on YouTube talking about the night The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan show. She was scheduled for the same show and had some interesting take on it.
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