'Murder, She Wrote' actor Angela Lansbury passes away at 96

Actor Angela Lansbury, who became popular for her role of writer-detective in ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ died at the age of 96 on Tuesday. The family’s statement read, ‘Children of Dame Angela Lansbury are sad to announce that their mother died peacefully in her sleep at home in Los Angeles... just five days shy of her 97th birthday.’

In a career-spanning eight decades, she has worked in Broadway as well as Hollywood, with success on the big and small screen.

Lansbury won five Tony Awards- in 2009 for best featured actress in a play for her work in Noel Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit,’ best musical actress in 1979 for her role in ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.’ Her other three Tony wins were for best actress in a musical for ‘Gypsy’ in 1975, ‘Dear World’ in 1969 and ‘Mame’ in 1966.

In 2013, she was also given an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement, aged 88.

Broadway royalty mourned the loss and paid their respects to her. Audra McDonald tweeted, ‘She was an icon, a legend, a gem, and about the nicest lady you’d ever want to meet.’ Leslie Uggams also tweeted, ‘Dame Angela was so sweet to me when I made my Broadway debut. She was a key person in welcoming me to the community. She truly lived, lived, lived!’

The actor is survived by her three children Anthony, Deirdre and David, three grandchildren Peter, Katherine and Ian, and five great grandchildren and brother producer Edgar Lansbury. Angela’s husband Peter Shaw passed away when he was 53.

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