Actress Mitzi Gaynor passed away peacefully of natural causes. She was 93. Her management team confirmed her death in a statement on X on October 17. She is best remembered for her work in TV specials and movie musicals. Her most famous role was her performance in South Pacific.
— Mitzi Gaynor (@TheMitziGaynor) October 17, 2024
Mitzi Gaynor, born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber on September 4, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois. She was an actress, singer, and dancer renowned for her work in Hollywood musicals and television. The actress was raised in a creative family—her mother was a ballet dancer and her father a musician. Mitzi moved to Los Angeles during her childhood. She trained extensively in dance, eventually joining the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera in her early years.
Her big break came in the 1950s with a series of light-hearted musical films. Known for her vibrant personality, stunning looks, and impressive dancing, Gaynor starred in several notable movies, including There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954) alongside Marilyn Monroe and The Birds and the Bees (1956). However, her most iconic role came in 1958 when she starred as Ensign Nellie Forbush in the film adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific. The movie became a major success.
Despite her talent and success, the Hollywood musical genre began to decline in the 1960s, prompting Mitzi to shift her focus. She found new success in live performances, particularly on the Las Vegas stage and with her concert tours. She dazzled the audiences with song, dance, and comedy.
Mitzi also became a fixture on television, earning widespread acclaim for her series of musical variety specials that aired throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Her glamorous costumes and high-energy routines became trademarks of these performances.
Mitzi Gaynor was a frequent guest on popular TV variety shows, appearing multiple times on The Donald O’Connor Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She also featured in specials with stars like Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and Danny Thomas. Notably, one of her appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 coincided with The Beatles’ second appearance, filmed in Miami Beach. Gaynor had top billing for the episode, and after the taping, Paul McCartney even asked for her autograph, per PEOPLE.
Gaynor married talent agent Jack Bean in 1954, and the couple remained together until his death in 2006. Although they never had children, they shared a long and loving partnership. Mitzi often credited Jack with helping guide her career through its various phases.
Rest In Peace.
