Tributes are pouring in today for Dame Angela Lansbury, who has died aged 96.
The much-loved star of stage and screen died on 11 October 2022 at her home in Los Angeles.
Tributes to her life and career are being made by a wealth of admirers and co-workers, including Hollywood and the West End stars.
The Society of London Theatre has also announced that West End theatre lights will be dimmed this evening, Wednesday 12 October, at 7pm, in her memory.
Claire Walker and Hannah Essex, Co-Chief Executives of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre said: “The theatre world is a smaller place tonight after the passing of Dame Angela Lansbury whose work touched so many generations. She lit up every stage she graces, and her extraordinary talent will be very much missed”.
Amongst the many tributes paid to the legendary star, former chief theatre critic of the New York Times, Ben Brantley, said:
Jemima Rooper, who starred with Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit in the West End in 2014, said:
Broadway actor and writer Harvey Fierstein said:
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger tweeted a vide of Lansbury singing as Mrs Potts from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast:
Also Disney Animation Studios, who created Beauty & The Beast, said:
Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth said:
Josh Gad, who starred in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast live-action remake said:
The Tony Awards said:
Fellow Broadway star Audra McDonald said:
West End star Elaine Paige said:
West End star Bonnie Langford, who worked with Angela Lansbury, said:
Actor Eric MacCormack (Will & Grace) who starred alongside Lansbury in The Best Man on Broadway in 2012 said:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said:
Hollywood actress Viola Davis said:
Julian Bird, former CEO of The Society of London Theatre, said:
Catherine Zeta Jones, who starred with Angela Lansbury on stage in A Little Night Music, said:
Broadway megastar Bernadette Peters said:
And that other Broadway megastar – Patti LuPone – said:
Even NASA has joined the tributes to Angela Lansbury, choosing a picture of a space rose to commemorate her, and her performance in Gypsy:
Here’s Dame Angela on the BBC, talking to Terry Wogan in 1991 about her career:
The Olivier Awards also posted Angela’s acceptance speech from winning a Best Actress in a Supporting Role Olivier award for playing Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit in 2015:
Also watch this great video from the New York Times, interviewing Angela Lansbury 10 years ago. She spoke to the NYT with the understanding the interview would be published only after her death:
This article was originally posted on 11 October at 11.15pm UK
