Angela Lansbury's life in photos

Jason Guerrasio,Kirsten AcunaOct 12, 2022, 02:54 IST

Angela Lansbury was known best as the star of "Murder, She Wrote" for 12 seasons.CBS/Getty

Angela Lansbury died at 96, "peacefully in her sleep."
She was known best for being the star of "Murder, She Wrote" for 12 seasons.

Lansbury didn't waste any time finding attention in Hollywood. Leaving central London during "The Blitz" in World War II for America in 1940, she ended up in Hollywood.

Angela Lansbury getting a taste of the spotlight.John Springer Collection/Corbis/Getty

Here's Lansbury in 1944's "Gaslight." The eventual classic starring Ingrid Bergman marked the 17-year-old's first role, playing the maid Nancy Oliver.

"Gaslight" marked the movie debut for Lansbury (center).Donaldson Collection/Getty

The role didn't just launch the profession Lansbury would do the rest of her life, it also garnered the first of three Oscar nominations she'd receive over her career.

Angela Lansbury in the 1940s.Getty

Lansbury's second Oscar nomination would come a year later for "The Picture of Dorian Gray."

Hurd Hatfield and Angela Lansbury in "The Picture of Dorian Gray."Donaldson Collection/Getty

With her instant success, MGM signed her to a contract into the 1950s. But it didn't stretch her talents.

Lansbury needed a change.Clarence Sinclair Bull/John Kobal Foundation/Getty

Personally, she was also going through challenging times. After her marriage to artist Richard Cromwell lasted only a year, she rebounded and began dating actor Peter Shaw. The two married in 1949 and were together until his death in 2003.

Peter Shaw and Angela Lansbury on their wedding day in 1949.Walter Bellamy/Express/Getty

Personally, she was also going through challenging times. After her marriage to artist Richard Cromwell lasted only a year, she rebounded and began dating actor Peter Shaw. The two married in 1949 and were together until his death in 2003.

After getting out of her MGM contract, Lansbury found it difficult not just to find worthwhile roles, but ones of her age. She seemed to always get cast for older parts.

Angela Lansbury in the 1950s.Getty

After getting out of her MGM contract, Lansbury found it difficult not just to find worthwhile roles, but ones of her age. She seemed to always get cast for older parts.

So she changed things up and headed to the stage.

Lansbury goes to Broadway.NBC/Getty

Broadway became Lansbury's lifeline. Whether it was stage plays or musicals, she took it all on and became a sensation.

Angela Lansbury's first-ever musical was opposite Lee Remick in 1964's "Anyone Can Whistle."Trascendental Graphics/Getty

The acclaim quickly followed. On the screen, it was another Oscar nomination for her performance in 1962's "The Manchurian Candidate."

Angela Lansbury and Laurence Harvey in "The Manchurian Candidate."John Springer Collection/Corbis/Getty

On stage, she won her first Tony Award for her work in 1966's "Mame."

Angela Lansbury in "Mame."Jack Mitchell/Getty

Lansbury worked steadily in the 1970s.

Lansbury was only getting warmed up.Getty

Highlights include starring in the 1971 Disney classic "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and the 1978 version of "Death on the Nile."

Angela Lansbury in "Bedknobs and Broomsticks."Getty

But by the time the 1980s hit, everything changed. Angela Lansbury became a sensation thanks to "Murder, She Wrote."

Angela Lansbury in "Murder, She Wrote."CBS/Getty

The show became a phenomenon as it ran from 1984-1996, but a rerun of it is probably playing on TV somewhere in the world right now.

Angela Lansbury played a crime novelist who also solved real-life murders in "Murder, She Wrote."CBS/Getty

During this same time of having a hit TV show, Lansbury also found time to voice Mrs. Potts in 1991's "Beauty and the Beast" and performed the memorable Oscar-winning title song.

During the film's 25th anniversary with cast and crew, Lansbury recalled how the movie version of the song was recorded in a single take.Getty/Lisa Maree Williams/Disney

During this same time of having a hit TV show, Lansbury also found time to voice Mrs. Potts in 1991's "Beauty and the Beast" and performed the memorable Oscar-winning title song.

Through the 2000s and 2010s, Lansbury continued to work and found more acclaim: BAFTA Lifetime Award in 2003. Honorary Oscar in 2014. She was made a dame by the Queen of England in the same year. And she received the Laurence Olivier Award in 2015.

She was one of a kind.Joyce Tenneson/Getty

Through the 2000s and 2010s, Lansbury continued to work and found more acclaim: BAFTA Lifetime Award in 2003. Honorary Oscar in 2014. She was made a dame by the Queen of England in the same year. And she received the Laurence Olivier Award in 2015.

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Angela Lansbury's life in photos

Lansbury didn't waste any time finding attention in Hollywood. Leaving central London during "The Blitz" in World War II for America in 1940, she ended up in Hollywood.

Here's Lansbury in 1944's "Gaslight." The eventual classic starring Ingrid Bergman marked the 17-year-old's first role, playing the maid Nancy Oliver.

The role didn't just launch the profession Lansbury would do the rest of her life, it also garnered the first of three Oscar nominations she'd receive over her career.

Lansbury's second Oscar nomination would come a year later for "The Picture of Dorian Gray."

With her instant success, MGM signed her to a contract into the 1950s. But it didn't stretch her talents.

Personally, she was also going through challenging times. After her marriage to artist Richard Cromwell lasted only a year, she rebounded and began dating actor Peter Shaw. The two married in 1949 and were together until his death in 2003.

After getting out of her MGM contract, Lansbury found it difficult not just to find worthwhile roles, but ones of her age. She seemed to always get cast for older parts.

So she changed things up and headed to the stage.

Broadway became Lansbury's lifeline. Whether it was stage plays or musicals, she took it all on and became a sensation.

The acclaim quickly followed. On the screen, it was another Oscar nomination for her performance in 1962's "The Manchurian Candidate."

On stage, she won her first Tony Award for her work in 1966's "Mame."

Lansbury worked steadily in the 1970s.

Highlights include starring in the 1971 Disney classic "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and the 1978 version of "Death on the Nile."

But by the time the 1980s hit, everything changed. Angela Lansbury became a sensation thanks to "Murder, She Wrote."

The show became a phenomenon as it ran from 1984-1996, but a rerun of it is probably playing on TV somewhere in the world right now.

During this same time of having a hit TV show, Lansbury also found time to voice Mrs. Potts in 1991's "Beauty and the Beast" and performed the memorable Oscar-winning title song.

Through the 2000s and 2010s, Lansbury continued to work and found more acclaim: BAFTA Lifetime Award in 2003. Honorary Oscar in 2014. She was made a dame by the Queen of England in the same year. And she received the Laurence Olivier Award in 2015.