'A true giant': Viola Davis, Harvey Fierstein, Fran Drescher, more remember actress Angela Lansbury
The cinema and the theater have lost a true dame with the death of actress Angela Lansbury.
Lansbury, the award-winning star of films like "The Manchurian Candidate," TV's "Murder She Wrote" and Broadway musical "Sweeney Todd," died Tuesday. She was 96.
“The children of Dame Angela Lansbury are sad to announce that their mother died peacefully in her sleep at home in Los Angeles at 1:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, just five days shy of her 97th birthday," said her family in a statement.
Lansbury was a force in the entertainment business for a career that spanned eight decades and garnered her an Oscar, five Tonys and 18 Emmy nominations, although she never won one for CBS's "Murder."
Celebrities are taking to social media to commemorate the actress's impact, including "Grey's Anatomy" star Kevin McKidd, who shared a throwback photo of himself with Lansbury on Twitter.
"I will NEVER forget the magical night I got to perform in front of and get to MEET the legend, Angela Lansbury," McKidd wrote. "She was a true giant and a kind, humble and charming person. I’m blessed to have met her."
I will NEVER forget the magical night I got to perform in front of and get to MEET the legend, Angela Lansbury. She was a true giant and a kind, humble and charming person. I’m blessed to have met her. Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/66dlAJmjlj
— Kevin McKidd (@TheRealKMcKidd) October 11, 2022
"Thought you would live forever," Viola Davis tweeted. "What an absolutely beautiful legacy you've left. You have influenced generations of actors to aspire to excellence. Rest well!!! May flights of angels..."
Actor Harvey Fierstein tweeted a photo of Lansbury and wrote, "She, my darlings, was EVERYTHING!"
Former Disney CEO Robert Iger remembered Lansbury on Twitter as "Disney’s beloved Mrs. Potts" in the original "Beauty and the Beast," released in 1991.
"A consummate professional, a talented actress, and a lovely person," Iger added. "Rest In Peace."
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
Actress Fran Drescher called Lansbury "an inspiration both on and off stage."
“I was fortunate to have seen Dame Lansbury twice on Broadway, and she was even more captivating on stage as she was on television and film. What an amazing presence,” said Drescher in a press release. “Thank God she lived a good, long life as we were all blessed to bask in her light. I’m grateful that her body of work lives on to inspire generations to come.”
"Saddened to hear Dame Angela Lansbury has passed away," wrote actor Stuart Antony on Twitter. "A fine actress and was always very kind to me on the number of occasions we met. Another legend lost."
Saddened to hear Dame Angela Lansbury has passed away. A fine actress and was always very kind to me on the number of occasions we met. Another legend lost pic.twitter.com/GcvLLy2QOj
— Stuart Antony (@STU_ACTOR) October 11, 2022
"Angela Lansbury was not only a wonderful actor, she had a generous and kind heart," wrote actress Piper Perabo on Twitter. "So sad to (lose) her."
Angela Lansbury was not only a wonderful actor, she had a generous and kind heart.
So sad to loose her ♥️🕊♥️♥️♥️ https://t.co/cs561PKqDF— Piper Perabo (@PiperPerabo) October 11, 2022
"RIP Angela Lansbury the absolute GOAT!" tweeted playwright Jeremy O. Harris. "You shaped so much of my childhood and adolescence!"
Not Angela!!!
RIP ANGELA LANSBURY THE ABSOLUTE GOAT! You shaped so much of my childhood and adolescence!
pic.twitter.com/AGomfl68Cv— THEE ACADEMY Playwright Jeremy O Harris (@jeremyoharris) October 11, 2022
"Rest In Peace Great Dame Angela Lansbury," tweeted actor-comedian Mario Cantone. "She was a glorious one."
"She provided the most fabulous, irreplaceable joy," wrote screenwriter and playwright Paul Rudnick on Twitter. "She was beloved as a person and an actress, and managed to be approachable, glamorous and heartbreaking. She'll be missed, celebrated and adored."
RIP Angela Lansbury. This is what stardom means, especially in the theater: she provided the most fabulous, irreplaceable joy. She was beloved as a person and an actress, and managed to be approachable, glamorous and heartbreaking. She'll be missed, celebrated and adored pic.twitter.com/8HVhQRFv4C
— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) October 11, 2022
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angela Lansbury death: Viola Davis, Fran Drescher, more stars mourn