Remembering Late 'Murder She Wrote' Star Angela Lansbury

Oct 12, 2022 by apost team

Angela Lansbury has been a pinnacle figure in the film, television and theater industries for almost eight decades. The legendary Dame first appeared on the scene in 1944. A mere 17 years old, she immediately made a striking impression playing a flirtatious maid in "Gaslight," a classic psychological thriller. More than 75 years and countless triumphs later, she is universally regarded as an icon and an actress of incredible strength and diversity. Sadly, the 96-year-old actress died on Oct. 11, 2022.

Throughout her long life, Angela made her way into the hearts and minds of many fans, critics, and loved ones. Her professionalism and dedication to her craft have made her a favorite among many, and her strong yet polite personality has helped her keep stable relationships in both her personal and professional environments.

Some of her most notable roles include her time on screen in the film "Blue Hawaii," the television series "Murder, She Wrote," and her role as Mrs. Potts in the Disney animated film "Beauty and the Beast" and its follow-up movies and projects. Her claim to fame came from portraying various motherly characters, but Angela has also been able to show off more of her range and impressive skills throughout her career. 

Whether it's in a movie or television show or on the Broadway stage, Angela has been captivating audiences for many years. Angela is one of the most universally loved actresses. Not only did she have an impressive array of work under her belt, but her record of achievements and awards show that she was by far no ordinary talent.

As successful as she was as an actress, Angela also found time to build a family during her career. She first married Cromwell, a fellow actor, in 1945 when she was just 19 and he was 35. However, the relationship wasn't meant to be, and by 1946 they had gotten divorced. 

The pair didn't discuss why their union hadn't worked at the time, but years later, Angela revealed that it wasn't only their age gap that was an obstacle but the fact that Cromwell was gay. Angela told Radio Times, as reported by Attitude, "I found him such an attractive individual. He wanted to marry, he was fascinated with me, but only because of what he had seen on the screen." She added, "It didn't injure or damage me in any way because he maintained a friendship with me and my future husband (Peter Shaw) ... It was just a terrible error I made as a very young woman. But I don't regret it." Cromwell died tragically of liver cancer in 1960. 

Angela found true love soon after with Peter, an actor and producer who she married in 1949. Her marriage to him proved to be the big one. Peter already had a son from his first marriage, David Shaw, and Angela took him in as her own. Angela gave birth to her son Anthony Shaw in 1952, and the next year, a daughter named Deirdre Shaw. 

Of his stepmother's love and acceptance, David once said:

"She's a great lady … She always puts family first."

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Dedicated to their family, both Angela and her husband had to make a difficult decision to move their family away from the US when their two children, Anthony and Deirdre, became heavily involved with drugs in the late 1960s. The entire family moved to Ireland for a fresh start. 

Speaking on her family's relocation, Angela said, "When we got to Ireland it was like we had started a new life. It gave us the time we needed to come back to earth. I bought a house in Cork. We started working in the garden, and I learned to cook … I used products from my own garden. We started a whole new life. The family bounced back, and both kids improved greatly."

Perhaps Angela drew inspiration from her own mother, who always encouraged the actress to pursue her dreams. In speaking with a Masterpiece Studio podcast in 2018, she recalled, "It was thanks to my mother who recognized in me an ability to cut up, to make believe, to run around being somebody other than the little girl that I was … it made her realize that I was a natural…."

She was indeed a natural talent who managed to balance a skyrocketing career with busy family life, never slowing down until well into her nineties. When once asked about her age and her ability to continue working, Angela once said:

"I've never been particularly aware of my age … It's like being on a bicycle - I just put my foot down and keep going." 

What are your favorite memories of "Murder She Wrote"? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, as well as any fans of Angela Lansbury!