Mitzi Gaynor, the renowned dancer and actress best known for her role as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film South Pacific, has passed away at the age of 93. Gaynor, a celebrated figure from Hollywood's golden age of musicals, died of natural causes on Thursday morning in Los Angeles, her longtime managers Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda confirmed.
In a statement, Reyes and Rosamonda honored her legacy: "As we celebrate her life, we extend our heartfelt thanks to her friends, fans, and the many audiences she entertained over the decades. Their love and support meant the world to her."
With a career that spanned more than 80 years, Gaynor's talents graced film, television, and the stage. However, she is most fondly remembered for her performance in South Pacific, a film that earned three Academy Award nominations, including a win for Best Sound. Gaynor herself was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in the movie, where she sang iconic songs such as I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair and Some Enchanted Evening.
Beyond South Pacific, Gaynor starred in films like We’re Not Married alongside Ginger Rogers, There’s No Business Like Show Business with Marilyn Monroe, and The Birds and the Bees with David Niven. Later in life, she successfully transitioned into live performances, headlining her own musical revue and becoming a top attraction in Las Vegas and theaters across the U.S., Canada, and internationally.
In 2008, Gaynor won an Emmy for her special Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years. Born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber on September 4, 1931, in Chicago, Gaynor grew up in a musical family and began singing and dancing from a young age.
She married her husband-manager, Jack Bean, in 1954, and the couple lived in Beverly Hills until Bean's death in 2006. Despite her fame, the pair preferred a private life, often hosting intimate gatherings with close friends. They had no children.
Mitzi Gaynor leaves behind a rich legacy, forever remembered for her contributions to the golden age of Hollywood musicals.
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