Mitzi Gaynor, the vibrant dancer and actor best known for her role as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film South Pacific, has passed away at 93. Her long-time managers, Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda, confirmed she died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Gaynor, one of the last performers from Hollywood’s golden age of musicals, had a career that lasted eight decades. She appeared in important films such as We’re Not Married! and There’s No Business Like Show Business, but her most memorable appearance was in South Pacific. The film, based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, received three Academy Award nominations, winning for best sound. Gaynor was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role.
Gaynor’s Hollywood career didn’t take off as expected after South Pacific, so she transitioned to television, appearing on variety shows like The Jack Benny Hour. Later, she found success in live performances, headlining musical revues in Las Vegas and touring internationally. Gaynor became a fixture in Las Vegas with residencies at the Flamingo Hotel and Riviera Hotel, and eventually crafted a one-woman show that toured until 2002.
Gaynor was born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber on September 4, 1931, in Chicago. She was up in a musical family and began performing at an early age. She married her manager, Jack Bean, in 1954, and they were together until his death in 2006. Despite the fact that they had no children, they valued a tranquil life and entertained close friends at their Beverly Hills home.
Gaynor is remembered as a warm, talented entertainer who left an indelible mark on stage and screen.