Viola Davis, George Takei And More Pay Tribute To Angela Lansbury: 'An Absolute Legend'
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The death of Angela Lansbury, who conquered Broadway before becoming a household staple with “Murder, She Wrote,” led to an outpouring of tributes from movie stars, filmmakers and stage actors. Lansbury died Tuesday at 96 after seven decades in the business.
“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,” tweeted actor George Takei. “A tale as old as time, our beloved Mrs. Potts will sing lullabies to us now from the stars. Rest, great soul.”
Lansbury famously portrayed intrepid mystery writer Jessica Fletcher in “Murder, She Wrote” from 1984 to 1996. She voiced the animated teapot, Mrs. Potts, in Disney’s beloved “Beauty in the Beast” in 1991, which co-star Robby Benson, who voiced the titular Beast, never forgot.
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.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 11, 2022
“One of the most memorable moments in my life was being so very fortunate to be in the recording studio when Ms. Lansbury sang the title song, ‘Beauty and the Beast,’” Benson told The Hollywood Reporter. “For me, the 2 minutes and 46 seconds was a lifetime of inspiration.”
“It is rare that one person can touch so many multiple generations, creating a breadth of work that defines decade after decade,” tweeted Broadway star Josh Gad. “#AngelaLansbury was that artist. From ‘Mame’ to ‘Bedknobs’ to ‘Murder She Wrote’ ... she touched 4 generations. RIP Legend.”
Lansbury left Britain for the U.S. as a child during World War II, according to the BBC. She started a career on Broadway before pivoting to film and earning three Oscar nominations. She won an honorary Academy Award in 2013 and was made a dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014.
Thought you would live forever. What an absolutely beautiful legacy you've left. You have influenced generations of actors to aspire to excellence. Rest well!!! May flights of angels...❤️❤️❤️https://t.co/QCwAYzELus
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) October 11, 2022
“Thought you would live forever,” tweeted actor Viola Davis. “What an absolutely beautiful legacy you’ve left. You have influenced generations of actors to aspire to excellence. Rest well!!! May flights of angels...”
Director Rian Johnson, whose mystery thriller “Knives Out” and its sequel, “Glass Onion,” were inspired by Lansbury’s work, tweeted simply: “An absolute legend.” From Harvey Fierstein and Jason Alexander to Maria Shriver and Robert Iger, dozens more tweeted their sympathies and expressed their admiration for the late star.
Lansbury “died peacefully in her sleep at home in Los Angeles at 1:30 AM today, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, just five days shy of her 97th birthday,” her family said in a statement obtained by NBC News.
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🙏 pic.twitter.com/CTFlrL5GPU
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) October 11, 2022
Angela Lansbury - She, my darlings, was EVERYTHING! pic.twitter.com/MLKlRNjxhA
— Harvey Fierstein (@HarveyFierstein) October 11, 2022
The great Angela Lansbury - one of the most versatile, talented, graceful, kind, witty, wise, classy ladies I’ve ever met has left us. Her huge contribution to the arts and the world remains always. #ripAngelaLansbury
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) October 11, 2022
Heroic. #AngelaLansbury was a legend, an icon, a role model, a mom, a grandmother. She did it all. @joshgad@RexChapmanhttps://t.co/LOcxRIUgX3
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) October 11, 2022
Disney’s beloved Mrs. Potts, Angela Lansbury…a consummate professional, a talented actress, and a lovely person. Rest In Peace. https://t.co/QsV8oEHOPh
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) October 11, 2022
Angela Lansbury was one of the greatest actresses of her or any other generation, a multiplicity of generations. What I mean by that is she could play the vicious mother or bring comedic, true innocence & joy to the silver screen. A long & incomparable career. RIP pic.twitter.com/VYJiEapsXm
— Michael Des Barres (@MDesbarres) October 11, 2022
2012. And this VERY excited #theaterkid got to meet her, after one of our shows at Godspell. She poured so much love into each of us. An icon of the stage, and legend across so many mediums but, we all knew…she was always one of us :). Thank you, Angela Lansbury. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/mug68Qg0WR
— Uzo Aduba (@UzoAduba) October 11, 2022
Gratitude for the magnificent Angela Lansbury who gave us so many great performances. It was an honor to have worked with her and to know her as a friend. Thank you dearest Angie. Love forever pic.twitter.com/R31xmL9YAJ
— Mia Farrow🇺🇦 (@MiaFarrow) October 11, 2022
We join her many fans around the world as we mourn the passing of the wonderful Angela Lansbury, seen here with Lauren Bacall in 1966. Best known for “Murder, She Wrote,” Ms. Lansbury had a formidable career both in Hollywood and on Broadway. May she rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/7lEoI7vJQx
— BogartEstate (@HumphreyBogart) October 11, 2022
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.