Actress Glynis Johns, famed for her role in Mary Poppins, passes away at 100
Glynis Johns, the legendary British actress, renowned for her iconic portrayal of feminist Winnifred Banks in Mary Poppins, has passed away at the remarkable age of 100
British actress Glynis Johns, famous for her portrayal of feminist icon Mrs. Banks in the 1964 film "Mary Poppins," has passed away at the age of 100. According to her longtime manager Mitch Clem, she died peacefully on Thursday morning at an assisted living home in Los Angeles, where she has resided for the past few years. Clem mentioned that she is survived by her grandson Thomas and her three great-grandchildren.
The cause of death is still unknown.
In a statement on Thursday, Clem expressed, "Glynis lived her life with intelligence, wit, and a passion for performance, influencing millions of lives. She came into my life early in my career and set a high standard for navigating this industry with elegance, sophistication, and honesty."
John had a career as a film, TV, and stage actor that lasted for nearly nine decades. She began her career as a teenager with her first film role in the 1938 romantic drama "South Riding." Throughout the 1940s, she appeared in several films, including the war-era drama "49th Parallel" in 1941, for which she received a best acting award from the National Board of Review.
Having been born in South Africa and raised in the United Kingdom, Johns appeared in numerous Hollywood films and TV shows during the 1950s. However, she gained significant recognition in 1960 when she starred in the family drama "The Sundowners" alongside Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Following this success, she landed her own TV series "Glynis" in 1963 before achieving widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Mrs. Banks in Disney's beloved 1964 film "Mary Poppins."
Starring with Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, and David Tomlinson in "Mary Poppins," Johns portrayed Mrs. Banks, a lively and positive feminist who performed "Sister Suffragette" in the Oscar-winning film.
She is also recognized for originating the role of Desiree Armfeldt in the 1973 Broadway production "A Little Night Music," a character later played by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1977 film adaptation. Johns received a Tony Award for her performance in the stage version, where her uniquely throaty vocal style shone while singing the well-known Stephen Sondheim-written ballad "Send In the Clowns."
During the 1980s and 1990s, Johns made appearances in several TV series such as "Coming of Age" in 1988 and the 1994 dramedy "The Ref," where she starred alongside Denis Leary and Judy Davis. Other notable credits include "While You Were Sleeping" in 1995 and the 1999 comedy "Superstar."
In October, Johns celebrated her 100th birthday, expressing to ABC7 that her age "doesn't make any difference to me." Still sharp and quick-witted, the Hollywood veteran joked, "I looked very good at every age."
"Her light shined very brightly for 100 years," Clem said in his statement Thursday. "She had a wit that could stop you in your tracks powered by a heart that loved deeply and purely."
