Mitzi Gaynor, the vibrant dancer and actress best known for her role as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film adaptation of South Pacific, has passed away at the age of 93. Gaynor, one of the last remaining icons from Hollywood’s golden era of musicals, died of natural causes in Los Angeles, her long-time managers Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda confirmed.
In a joint statement, her managers expressed their gratitude to Gaynor’s fans: “As we celebrate her legacy, we offer our thanks to her friends and fans and the countless audiences she entertained throughout her long life. Your love, support, and appreciation meant so much to her and was a sustaining gift in her life.”
A Legacy in Film, Television, and Stage
Gaynor’s entertainment career spanned eight decades, with notable performances in films such as We’re Not Married! and There’s No Business Like Show Business. However, her role in the South Pacific became her signature. The film earned three Academy Award nominations, winning Best Sound, while Gaynor was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her portrayal of the love-stricken nurse Nellie.
Landing the role was no small feat. While many Hollywood stars vied for the part, Gaynor’s opportunity came with some luck and help from Frank Sinatra. While filming The Joker Is Wild with Sinatra, Gaynor had a chance to audition for lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Sinatra adjusted the schedule for their big scene, giving her the time she needed to audition. She impressed Hammerstein, director Josh Logan and composer Richard Rodgers, securing her iconic role.
Transition from Film to Television
Despite the success of South Pacific, the film was not the turning point Gaynor had hoped for in her career. Shifting her focus to television, she made early appearances on popular shows like Here Comes Donald and The Jack Benny Hour. In 1959, she was the only woman to guest star alongside entertainment legends like Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and Jimmy Durante on The Frank Sinatra Timex Show.
Reinventing Herself as a Stage Performer
Later in her career, Gaynor reinvented herself as a live entertainer. With the help of her husband and manager, Jack Bean, she created a musical revue that became a massive hit, drawing large crowds in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. She became one of the highest-paid female performers in Las Vegas, and in 1970, she was the first woman to receive the Las Vegas Governor’s Trophy for “Star Entertainer of the Year.”
As touring with a full orchestra and a large team became more challenging, Gaynor transitioned to a one-woman show, continuing her tours annually until 2002, when Bean’s illness required a pause.
A Life on the Road
Reflecting on her career in a 2003 interview, Gaynor expressed her love for touring: “I love touring; I’ve been doing it much of my life. We go back to the same places; it’s like visiting friends. After the show, people come backstage, and we renew friendships. We send out almost 3,000 Christmas cards every year.”
Early Life and Start in Entertainment
Born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber on September 4, 1931, in Chicago, Gaynor came from a musically inclined family and began singing and dancing at an early age. She fondly recalled her stage debut at the age of seven during a dance recital. Nervous and unprepared, she accidentally created a memorable moment on stage, which she would later recount with humor.
A Lasting Love
Gaynor married Jack Bean in 1954, and the couple purchased a home in Beverly Hills in 1960, where they lived for the rest of their lives together. Though they kept a low profile, preferring intimate gatherings with close friends, they shared a deep bond until Bean’s death in 2006. The couple had no children.
Mitzi Gaynor will be remembered not only for her enduring talent but also for her joyful spirit and dedication to her craft throughout her long and storied career.
