Mitzi Gaynor, 'South Pacific' & 'Les Girls' Actress & Variety Show Star, Dies at 93
Mitzi Gaynor has sadly died.
The beloved actress, who starred in South Pacific and Les Girls, passed away at the age of 93, her management team confirmed to Variety on Thursday (October 17).
She died of natural causes.
“For eight decades she entertained audiences in films, on television and on the stage. She truly enjoyed every moment of her professional career and the great privilege of being an entertainer,” the team wrote in a statement on social media.
“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.”
She starred as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 big-screen adaptation of South Pacific together, performing the famous number “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair.”
She also starred with Gene Kelly and Kay Kendall in the George Cukor-directed musical Les Girls.
She made her feature debut in 1950’s My Blue Heaven, and had her first starring role in the musical Golden Girl, in which she played Lotta Crabtree. She was part of the ensemble cast of 1952’s We’re Not Married! along with Marilyn Monroe and Zsa Zsa Gabor, plus There’s No Business Like Show Business and Anything Goes.
She later appeared on variety shows like The Frank Sinatra Show, The Ed Sullivan Show and The Dick Clark Show, as well as several stand-alone specials through the late ’70s. In total, the nine specials brought in 16 Emmy nominations.
She also recorded two albums: Mitzi and Mitzi Gaynor Sings the Lyrics of Ira Gershwin.
From 2008 to 2011, she toured on and off with her show Mitzi … Razzle Dazzle! My Life Behind the Sequins. In 2008, the special Mitzi Gaynor Razzle Dazzle: The Special Years aired on PBS.
She was married to agent and producer Jack Bean from 1954 until his death in 2006.
Our thoughts are with Mitzi Gaynor‘s loved ones at this difficult time. RIP.