Mitzi Gaynor, the vibrant dancer and actress famous for her role as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film “South Pacific,” has passed away at the age of 93. Her managers, Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda, confirmed that she died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday morning.
In a joint statement, they expressed gratitude for the love and support she received from her friends and fans throughout her impressive eight-decade career in film, television, and theater. Gaynor appeared in several notable films, including “We’re Not Married!” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” but she will always be best remembered for her iconic performance in “South Pacific.”
The film adaptation of “South Pacific” garnered three Academy Award nominations, winning one for Best Sound, while Mitzi Gaynor received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
A Sought-After Role
Gaynor’s portrayal of the lovesick nurse Nellie, originally created by Mary Martin on Broadway, was highly sought after by Hollywood stars. Frank Sinatra played a crucial role in helping her secure the part.
While they were working together on “The Joker Is Wild,” Gaynor had a chance to audition for lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, but it clashed with a major scene she was set to perform with Sinatra. When she shared her dilemma, Sinatra reassured her, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll change the schedule.”
Hammerstein was impressed by Gaynor, who had already won the support of director Josh Logan and composer Richard Rodgers. She ultimately landed the role opposite Rossano Brazzi, performing the song “I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy.”
Shift to Television
Despite her success in “South Pacific,” Mitzi Gaynor didn’t find the career breakthrough she had anticipated. She shifted her focus from film to television, making early appearances on Donald O’Connor’s variety show “Here Comes Donald” and on CBS’s “The Jack Benny Hour.” In October 1959, she made history as the only woman to guest star alongside Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and Jimmy Durante in the ABC special “The Frank Sinatra Timex Show.”
As her career progressed, Gaynor reinvented herself as a live performer. Teaming up with her husband and manager, Jack Bean, she launched a successful musical revue that toured theaters across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia.
Gaynor also became a prominent performer in Las Vegas, enjoying long residencies at iconic venues like the Flamingo Hotel and the Riviera Hotel for over a decade.
Transition to a One-Woman Show
As touring with a full orchestra, dancers, and extensive backstage staff became too complex and costly, Mitzi Gaynor streamlined her production into a one-woman show. She continued to tour annually until 2002, when her husband Bean’s illness necessitated a break.
In a 2003 interview, Gaynor expressed her love for touring, saying, “I’ve been doing it for much of my life. We revisit the same places; it feels like visiting friends. After the show, people come backstage to reconnect, and we send out nearly 3,000 Christmas cards every year.”
“Off stage, she was a vibrant and remarkable woman—caring, loyal, warm, funny, and truly wonderful. And she could cook, too!” said a statement from Rosamonda and Reyes, referencing a song from the musical “On the Town” that Gaynor performed in her revue shows.
Gaynor also appeared in numerous television variety specials, including “Mitzi…Zings Into Springs” and “Mitzi…Roarin’ in the 20’s.” Many of these specials earned Emmy nominations, winning awards for choreography, lighting, art design, and costume design, the last of which went to her longtime collaborator, Bob Mackie. The specials were featured in the 2008 documentary “Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years.”
Early Life
Born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber in Chicago on September 4, 1931, Gaynor came from a musically inclined family and began singing and dancing at a young age.
Memorable Stage Debut
In a 2003 interview, Mitzi Gaynor vividly recalled her stage debut. At just 7 years old, she was set to perform a tap routine at her dance school recital but had forgotten to use the bathroom. When she faced the audience, a puddle formed on the stage.
“I ran off the stage kicking and screaming,” she remembered. “But I received huge applause. After drying off and putting on some lipstick, I returned after the next girl slipped on the wet floor during her hula with batons and said, ‘I’m OK now. Can I do it?’ The crowd cheered!”
Personal Life
Gaynor married Jack Bean in 1954, and in 1960, they purchased a spacious home in Beverly Hills, where they lived until his death in 2006. The couple preferred to entertain a small circle of close friends rather than attend Hollywood events, and they did not have children.