Angela Lansbury dead at 96: what happened to Murder, She Wrote star - cause of death and tributes

Dame Angela Lansbury has died at the age of 96.

The acclaimed actress was confirmed to have passed away on 11 October 2022. The news came after her family shared an emotional statement confirming her death.

London-born Lansbury was known for her famous role in crime drama Murder, She Wrote. She also starred in Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and was nominated for various awards throughout her career.

How did Angela Lansbury die?

In a statement, Lansbury’s family confirmed that the actress has passed away peacefully in her sleep. The statement read: “The children of Dame Angela Lansbury are sad to announce that their mother died peacefully in her sleep at home in Los Angeles at 1.30am today, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, just five days shy of her 97th birthday.

“In addition to her three children, Anthony, Deirdre and David, she is survived by three grandchildren, Peter, Katherine and Ian, plus five great grandchildren and her brother, producer Edgar Lansbury. She was proceeded in death by her husband of 53 years, Peter Shaw. A private family ceremony will be held at a date to be determined.”

Who has paid tribute to Angela Lansbury?

The death of Lansbury has touched both those in the industry and others who were a fans of her work. Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport tweeted: “An icon of the theatre, a legend of the screen and one of the greatest actors of our time. May she Rest In Peace.”

Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson said of the actress:“I’ll never forget sitting next to Angela Lansbury at an opening night. Even though I had to pee I refused to leave my seat during intermission. I spent the 15 minutes chatting with her instead. She was incredibly lovely and I’m so glad I had that brief time with her. RIP Angela.”

Star Wars actor George Takei called Lansbury a “great soul” as he paid tribute to her legacy. He tweeted: “Angela Lansbury, who graced the stage for decades winning five Tony awards and brought the sleuthing Jessica Fletcher into our living rooms for a dozen years, has passed. A tale old as time, our beloved Mrs. Potts will sing lullabies to us now from the stars. Rest, great soul.”

Actor Josh Gad, who is famed for his role of Olaf in the Frozen franchise, said: “It is rare that one person can touch multiple generations, creating a breadth of work that defines decade after decade. #AngelaLansbury was that artist.

“From ‘Mame’ to ‘Bedknobs’ to ‘Murder She Wrote’ to ‘B&TB’ to ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ she touched 4 generations. RIP Legend.”

What films and television shows was Angela Lansbury in?

Born in 1925, Lansbury began starring in films at the age of 19. Her first starring role was beside Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer in 1944’s Gaslight, for which she was nominated for her first Oscar.

The actress, who was one of the last of the ‘golden age of Hollywood’, went onto star in an adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray and National Velvet in the same decade, as well as starring in ‘The Long, Hot Summer’, ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ and ‘Death on the Nile’ in the 1950s.

‘The Manchurian Candidate’ and ‘The Picture of Dorian Grey’ won her a further two Academy Award nominations. She eventually won a Lifetime Achievement award in 2013.

Further into her career, she became well-known for her work in children’s movies, including 1971’s ‘Bedknobs & Broomsticks’, and the animated 1991 Disney film ‘Beauty and the Beast’. However, she became a certified household name upon taking the role of Jessia Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote.

Lansbury starred on the show for a total of 264 episodes from 1984 until 1996. She also appeared in a crossover episode of Magnum P.I with Tom Selleck in 1896.

The actress was also accomplished on stage, and won five Tony Awards throughout her career. This included for the 1795 production of Gypsy, and the 1979 production of Sweeney Todd. In 2022, at the age of 96, Lansbury was awarded the Lifetime Achievement accolade.