Queen of the screen legend, Angela Lansbury, known for “Murder, She Wrote” and as the voice of Mrs. Pot in “Beauty and the Beast”, has died. She was 96. Her 97th birthday was only 5 days away.

Her family reported she died Tuesday October 11, 2022 @ 1:30 AM in her sleep. She was at her home in Los Angeles.

Ms. Lansbury was most popular for playing Jessica Fletcher in the successful TV series “Murder She Wrote.” Her character was a widowed crime-solving mystery writer. Out of all the roles she has played, Lansbury has said Jessica Fletcher is most like her. This series ran for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996.

”I had a lot of say in it, and I didn’t want the character to be quirky,” she was quoted in The New York Times in 2009.  ”I wanted her to be real. I didn’t want to have to put on any kind of veneer for 24 hours a day, which is what a television schedule sometimes feels like.”

Lansbury was a highly decorated actress. She took home 5 Tony Awards. Then, she was awarded a 6th Tony as a Lifetime Achievement.Her most recent award came in 2009 for her work in “Blithe Spirit.” Also, for roles in “Sweeney Todd” (1979), “Mame” (1966), and “Gypsy” (1975). In 1996, Lansbury was inducted into the TV Hall of Fame in 1996. She was Emmy nominated 18 times. In 2014, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

The future actress was born on Oct 16, 1925 in London, England. Her mother Moyna Macgill was an Irish-born actress who appeared in West End productions and had about 25 roles in English and American productions.Her father was timber executive Edgar Lansbury. Both her father and grandfather (George Lansbury) were liberal British politicians.

Young Angela loved movies and studied music and acting. As Nazi attacks started in England, Lansbury’s mother moved the family to the New York City. She toured with her Mother and made contacts. Then, they moved to Los Angeles. At 17, Angela signed a 7 year contract with MGM making $ 500 a week. This launched her career. She received an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress for her first role, as a devious maid opposite Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman in the 1944 suspense film “Gaslight.”

She is survived by three children, Anthony, Deirdre and David; three grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and her brother, producer Edgar Lansbury. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Peter Shaw.

Rest in Peace.