Mitzi Gaynor, star of big-screen musical 'South Pacific', dies at 93

LOS ANGELES — Mitzi Gaynor, the prolific dancer and actor who played Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film “South Pacific” and appeared in other musicals with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly, has died. He was 93.

Gaynor, one of the last survivors of the so-called golden age of Hollywood musicals, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, his longtime managers Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press.

“As we celebrate his legacy, we thank his friends and fans and the countless audiences he entertained throughout his long life,” Reyes and Rosamond said in a joint statement. “Your love, support and gratitude meant so much to her and were a lasting gift in her life.”

Her entertainment career spanned eight decades across film, television and stage, and “We're Not Married!” Appeared in several notable films including and “There's No Business Like Show Business”, but he is best remembered for his turn in “South Pacific”.

The screen version of “South Pacific” received three Academy Award nominations and won for Best Sound, while Gaynor received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.

Mary Martin's Broadway production of the role of love-sick nurse Nellie was eagerly sought after by Hollywood stars. Sinatra helped Gaynor land it.

She starred with him in “The Joker Is Wild,” when she had a one-day audition for lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. It was scheduled for his biggest scene with Sinatra on the same day. When she told him of her plight, he told her, “Don't worry, I'll change the schedule.”

Hammerstein was impressed with Gaynor, who already had the approval of director Josh Logan and composer Richard Rodgers. She starred opposite Rossano Brazzi, about whom she sang “I'm in Love with Wonderful Guy.”

Gaynor's career spans film, television and Vegas

“South Pacific” was not the turning point in his career that Gaynor had hoped it would be, and he turned his attention from film to television, making early appearances on Donald O'Connor's variety series “Here Comes Donald” and CBS'. “The Jack Benny Hour.” In October 1959, she was the only woman to guest star on ABC's “The Frank Sinatra Timex Show” special, along with Sinatra, Crosby, Dean Martin and Jimmy Durant.

Later in his career, Gaynor reinvented himself as a performing entertainer. Working with her husband and manager Jack Bean, she performed in her own musical revue that was a big draw in theaters across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

She became the highest paid female entertainer in Las Vegas and was the first woman to be awarded the Las Vegas Governor's Trophy for “Star Entertainer of the Year” in 1970.

While touring with a full orchestra, a troupe of dancers and backstage crew became too unprepared and expensive, Gaynor scaled back the production, eventually turning it into a one-woman show. They continued to tour every year until 2002 when Bean's illness required a break.

“I love traveling; I've been doing this most of my life,” Gaynor said in a 2003 interview. “We go back to the same place; It's like visiting friends. After the show, people come backstage to the dressing room and we renew friendships. We send about 3,000 Christmas cards each year.”

“Off the stage, she was a vivacious and wonderful woman, a caring and loyal friend, and a warm, gracious, very funny and completely glorious human being. And she could cook, too!” According to Rosamond and Reyes' statement, Gaynor was referring to a song from “On the Town” that Gaynor sang at one of her revue shows.

Gaynor also starred in several television variety specials, including “Mitzi…Zings Into Springs” and the 20's “Mitzi…Roarin'.” She received numerous award nominations for choreography, lighting, art design and costume design, including The latter was credited to Gaynor's longtime collaborator, Bob Mackie, in the 2008 documentary “Mitzy Gaynor: The Special Years!”.

She started singing and dancing at a young age

Born Francesca Marlene de Jani von Gerber (short for Mitzi Marlene) in Chicago on September 4, 1931, she was part of a musical family and began singing and dancing at an early age.

In a 2003 AP interview, Gaynor said she has a clear memory of her stage debut. She was taking ballet and tap lessons, and at age 7 she was scheduled for a tap routine at a dance school recital. He neglected to use the bathroom, and when he faced the audience, a puddle formed on the stage.

“I ran off the stage kicking and screaming,” she recalls. “But I got massive applause. So I dried and applied some lipstick. After the next girl hit the stick and fell to the wet floor, I went out and said, 'I'm fine now. Can I do it?' And I got cheers!

Gaynor and Bean married in 1954 and in 1960 bought a spacious house in Beverly Hills that became their home until her death in 2006. They rarely appeared at Hollywood events, preferring to entertain a few close friends. The couple had no children.