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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Brian Klugman to Michael Lantieri
Angela Lansbury Biography (1925-)
Full name, Angela Brigid Lansbury; born October 16, 1925, in London, England;immigrated to the United States in 1940; naturalized citizen, 1951; daughterof Edgar Isaac (a lumber merchant) and Moyna (an actress; maiden name, MacGill) Lansbury; married Richard Cromwell (an actor), September 17, 1945 (divorced August, 1946); married Peter Pullen Shaw (an agent), August 12, 1949 (diedJanuary 29, 2003); children: (second marriage) Anthony Peter, Deirdre Angela; David (stepson, a director). Addresses: Agent: William Morris Agency, 151 El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Contact: c/o 635 N. Bonhill Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90049-2301.
- Nationality
- British
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Actress, producer, singer
- Birth Details
- October 16, 1925
- London, United Kingdom
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Stage Appearances
- (Broadway debut) Marcelle, Hotel Paradiso, Henry Miller's Theatre,1957
- Helen, A Taste of Honey, Lyceum Theatre, New York City, 1960
- Cora Hoover Hooper, Anyone Can Whistle, Majestic Theatre, New YorkCity, 1964
- Title role, Mame, Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1966
- Countess Aurelia, Dear World, Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York City, 1969
- Prettybelle Sweet, Prettybelle, Shubert Theatre, Boston, MA, 1971
- Title role, Mame, Westbury Music Fair, Long Island, NY, 1972
- (London debut) Mistress, All Over, Royal Shakespeare Company, Aldwych Theatre, 1972
- Ensemble, Sondheim: A Musical Tribute (revue), Shubert Theatre, New York City, 1973
- Mama Rose, Gypsy, Piccadilly Theatre, London, 1973, then Shubert Theatre, Los Angeles, then Winter Garden Theatre, both 1974
- Gertrude, Hamlet, National Theatre Company, Old Vic Theatre, London, 1975, then Lyttleton Theatre, London, 1976
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Counting the Ways, Hartford Stage Company, Hartford, CT, 1976-1977
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Listening, Hartford Stage Company, 1976-1977
- Anna, The King and I, Uris Theatre, New York City, 1978
- Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd, Uris Theatre, 1979
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A Little Family Business, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre,Los Angeles, then Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, both 1982
- Title role, Mame, Gershwin Theatre, New York City, 1983
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The Players Club Centennial Salute, Shubert Theatre, 1989
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Major Tours
- Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd, U.S. cities, 1980
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Film Appearances
- (Film debut) Nancy Oliver, Gaslight (also known as The Murder in Thornton Square), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1944
- Edwina Brown, National Velvet, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1944
- Sybil Vane, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1945
- Dusty Millard, The Hoodlum Saint, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1946
- Guest performer, Till the Clouds Roll By, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1946
- Em, The Harvey Girls, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1946
- Mabel Sabre, If Winter Comes, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1947
- Clotilde de Marelle, The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (also known asWomen of Paris), United Artists, 1947
- Kay Thorndyke, State of the Union (also known as The World andHis Wife), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1948
- Susan Bratten, Tenth Avenue Angel, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1948
- Queen Anne, The Three Musketeers, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1948
- Audrey Quail, The Red Danube, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1949
- Semador, Samson and Delilah, Paramount, 1949
- Mrs. Edwards, Kind Lady, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1951
- Leslie, Mutiny, United Artists, 1952
- Valeska Chauvel, Remains to Be Seen, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1953
- Doris Hillman, Key Man (also known as A Life at Stake), Anglo-Amalgamated, 1954
- Tally Dickinson, A Lawless Street (also known as Marshal of Medicine Bend), Columbia, 1955
- Madame Valentine, The Purple Mask, Universal, 1955
- Princess Gwendolyn, The Court Jester, Paramount, 1956
- Myra Leeds, Please Murder Me, Distributors Corporation of America,1956
- Minnie Littlejohn, The Long, Hot Summer, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1958
- Mabel Claremont, The Reluctant Debutante, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1958
- Countess Lina, A Breath of Scandal, Paramount, 1960
- Mavis Pruitt, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Warner Bros., 1960
- Sarah Lee Gates, Blue Hawaii, Paramount, 1961
- Pearl, Season of Passion (also known as Summer of the Seventeenth Doll), United Artists, 1961
- Annabel Willart, All Fall Down, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1962
- (Uncredited) Voice of Marguerite Laurier, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1962
- Mrs. Iselin, The Manchurian Candidate, United Artists, 1962
- Sibyl Logan, In the Cool of the Day, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963
- Phyllis, Dear Heart, Warner Bros., 1964
- Isabel Boyd, The World of Henry Orient, United Artists, 1964
- Lady Blystone, The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (also knownas Moll Flanders), Paramount, 1965
- Claudia, The Greatest Story Ever Told (also known as George Stevens Presents The Greatest Story Ever Told), United Artists, 1965
- Mama Jean Bello, Harlow, Paramount, 1965
- Gloria, Mister Buddwing (also known as Woman without a Face), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1966
- Countess Herthe von Ornstein, Something for Everyone (also known as The Rook and Black Flowers for the Bride), National General,1970
- Eglantine Price, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Buena Vista, 1971
- Mrs. Salome Otterbourne, Death on the Nile (also known as Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile), Paramount, 1978
- Miss Froy, The Lady Vanishes, Rank/Group 1, 1979
- Miss Jane Marple, The Mirror Crack'd, Associated Film Distribution, 1980
- Voice of Mommy Fortuna, The Last Unicorn (animated), ITC, 1982
- Ruth, The Pirates of Penzance (also known as The Slave of Duty), Universal, 1982
- Granny, The Company of Wolves, Cannon, 1985
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Ingrid (documentary), Wombat Productions, 1985
- Voice of Mrs. Potts, Beauty and the Beast (animated), Buena Vista,1991
- (Voice; in archive footage) Mrs. Potts, Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Be Our Guest, 1994
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Stephen Verona: Self Portrait, 1995
- Herself, Your Studio and You, 1995
- Voice of Dowager Empress Marie, Anastasia (animated), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1997
- Voice of Mrs. Potts, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas(animated; also known as Beauty and the Beast 2), 1997
- Herself, Forever Hollywood, 1999
- Hostess, "Firebird Suite--1919 Version," Fantasia/2000, Buena Vista, 1999
- Herself, Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers--Bedknobs and Broomsticks, 2001
- Narrator, Still the Fairest of Them All: The Making of "Snow White andthe Seven Dwarfs," Buena Vista, 2001
- (Uncredited) Voice of herself, About Schmidt, New Line Cinema, 2002
- Herself, Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (also known as Broadway: The Golden Age), 2003
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Television Appearances
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Series
- Herself, Pantomime Quiz (also known as Mike Stokey's PantomimeQuiz and Stump the Stars), 1947
- Regular, Star Time Playhouse, 1955
- Jessica Beatrice Fletcher, Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1984-1996
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Miniseries
- Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, Little Gloria ... Happy at Last, NBC,1982
- Aunt Hortense Boutin, Lace, ABC, 1984
- Alice Garrett, The First Olympics--Athens, 1896 (also known as The First Modern Olympics), NBC, 1984
- Marchesa Allabrandi, Rage of Angels: The Story Continues, NBC, 1986
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Movies
- Amanda Fenwick, The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story, CBS, 1983
- Ann Royce McClain, A Talent for Murder, Showtime, 1984
- Jessica Fletcher, The Murder of Sherlock Holmes, 1984
- Nan Moore, Shootdown, NBC, 1988
- Penelope Keeling, The Shell Seekers, 1989
- Agatha McGee, The Love She Sought (also known as Last Chance for Romance and A Green Journey), NBC, 1990
- Title role, Mrs. 'arris Goes to Paris, CBS, 1992
- Title role, Mrs. Santa Claus, CBS, 1996
- Jessica Fletcher, Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest, CBS, 1997
- Emily Pollifax, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, CBS, 1999
- Jessica Fletcher, Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For, CBS, 2000
- Jessica Fletcher and Sarah McCullough, Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man, CBS, 2001
- Jessica Fletcher, Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle, CBS, 2003
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Specials
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The Perry Como Christmas Show, NBC, 1964
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The Perry Como Thanksgiving Show, NBC, 1966
- Voice of Sister Theresa, The Story of the First Christmas Snow (animated; also known as The First Christmas), NBC, 1975
- Host, The Making of "The Wizard of Oz," 1979
- Ringmaster, Circus of the Stars, CBS, 1980
- Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd (also known as Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), 1982
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The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1985
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Clue: Movies, Murder, and Mystery, CBS, 1986
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The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn, PBS, 1986
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Liberty Weekend, ABC, 1986
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The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1987
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People Magazine on TV, CBS, 1988
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Grammy Living Legends, CBS, 1989
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CBS Premiere Preview Spectacular, CBS, 1989
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MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon, syndicated, 1990
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The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1990
- Host and narrator, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic,CBS, 1990
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The Dream Is Alive: The 20th Anniversary Celebration of Walt Disney World (also known as Walt Disney World's 20th Anniversary Celebration), CBS, 1991
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Bob Hope and Friends: Making New Memories, NBC, 1991
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Be Our Guest: The Making of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," The Disney Channel, 1991
- "Helen Hayes: First Lady of the American Theatre," American Masters, PBS, 1991
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The Grand Opening of Euro Disney, CBS, 1992
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The Defense Rests: A Tribute to Raymond Burr, NBC, 1993
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Coming Up Roses, CBS, 1993
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The American Film Institute Salute to Elizabeth Taylor, ABC, 1993
- Host, Bob Hope: The First Ninety Years (also known as Bob Hope:A 90th Birthday Celebration), NBC, 1993
- Host, The Best of Disney Music: A Legacy in Song, CBS, 1993
- Grand Marshal, The 104th Tournament of Roses Parade, CBS, 1993
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The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1993
- "Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Bowl," Great Performances, PBS, 1994
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Sinatra: 80 Years My Way, ABC, 1995
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Inside the Dream Factory, TCM, 1995
- "A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim," A&E Stage, Arts and Entertainment, 1995
- Host, The Wizard of Oz: 40 Years on Television, CBS, 1996
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Voices of Hope... Finding the Cures for Breast and Ovarian Cancer,Lifetime, 1997
- Herself, Frank Capra's American Dream, 1997
- Guest Host, CBS: The First 50 Years, CBS, 1998
- Herself, "Angela Lansbury: A Balancing Act," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
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AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Movies, CBS, 1998
- Narrator, Glorious Technicolor, TCM, 1998
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Hollywood & Vinyl: Disney's 101 Greatest Musical Moments, VH1,1998
- Herself, The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 2000
- Herself, On Cukor (also known as American Masters: On Cukor), PBS, 2000
- Herself, Elizabeth Taylor: England's Other Elizabeth, PBS, 2000
- Herself, Mormon Tabernacle Choir Presents the Joy of Christmas with Angela Landsbury, 2002
- Herself, AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Heroes & Villains (also knownas AFI's 100 Years, 100 Heroes & Villains: America's Greatest ScreenCharacters), CBS, 2003
- Interviewee, Intimate Portrait: Bea Arthur, Lifetime, 2003
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Awards Presentations
- Host, The 22nd Annual Tony Awards, 1968
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The 23rd Annual Tony Awards, 1969
- Herself, The 35th Annual Tony Awards, 1981
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The 37th Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards, 1985
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The 39th Annual Emmy Awards, 1987
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The 1987 Antoinette Perry Awards, 1987
- Host, The 41st Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1987
- Host, The 42nd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1988
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The 14th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1988
- Host, The 43rd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1989
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The 41st Annual Emmy Awards, Fox, 1989
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The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation, Fox, 1990
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The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation, Fox, 1991
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The 64th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1992
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The 44th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1992
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The 18th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1992
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The 65th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1993
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The 19th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1993
- Host, The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 1993
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The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 1994
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The 20th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1994
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The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1995
- Honoree, The Screen Actors Guild Awards, NBC, 1997
- Presenter, The 52nd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1998
- Presenter, The 53rd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1999
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Pilots
- Detective, Scene of the Crime, NBC, 1984
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Episodic
- "The Citadel," Robert Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theatre, NBC, 1950
- Leslie, "The Wonderful Night," The Lux Video Theater, CBS, 1950
- Lucy Landor, "Operation Weekend," The Lux Video Theater, CBS, 1952
- Tina Rafferty, "Stone's Throw," The Lux Video Theater, CBS, 1952
- "Cakes and Ale," Robert Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theatre, NBC, 1953
- Joan Dexter, "Dreams Never Lie," Revlon Mirror Theater, CBS, 1953
- "The Ming Lama," Ford Television Theatre, NBC, 1953
- Florie, "Storm Swept," Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, CBS, 1953
- Joan Robinson, "A String of Beads," Four Star Playhouse, CBS, 1954
- Daphne Rutledge, "The Crime of Daphne Rutledge," General Electric Theatre, CBS, 1954
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Your Show of Shows, 1954
- Elsa, "A Chair for a Lady," Lux Video Theatre, 1954
- Herself, The George Gobel Show, 1954
- Brenda Jarvis, "The Indiscreet Mrs. Jarvis," Fireside Theater, NBC, 1955
- Mrs. Pritchard, "The Treasure," Henry Fonda Presents the Star and theStory, syndicated, 1955
- Mrs. Hallerton, "Madeira, Madeira," Four Star Playhouse, CBS, 1955
- Vanessa Peters, "Billy and the Bride," Stage 7, CBS, 1955
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Star Time Playhouse, CBS, 1955
- Katie, "The Rarest Stamp," Studio '57, syndicated, 1956
- "Instant of Truth," Front Row Center, CBS, 1956
- Vera Wayne, "Claire," Screen Directors Playhouse, NBC, 1956
- Flossie Norris, "The Brown Leather Case," Studio '57, syndicated,1956
- "The Force of Circumstance," Henry Fonda Presents the Star and the Story, syndicated, 1956
- "Bury Me Later," Climax!, CBS, 1956
- "The Devil's Brood," Climax!, CBS, 1957
- "Verdict of Three," Playhouse 90, CBS, 1958
- "The Grey Nurse Said Nothing," Playhouse 90, CBS, 1959
- "Something Crazy's Going on in the Back Room," The Eleventh Hour,NBC, 1963
- Herself, The Danny Kaye Show, 1964
- Effie Van Donck, "The Deadly Toys Affair," Man from U.N.C.L.E., NBC, 1965
- "Leave It to Me," The Trials of O'Brien, CBS, 1965
- Mystery guest, What's My Line?, 1966
- Herself, The Julie Andrews Hour, 1973
- Herself, Scene of the Crime, 1984
- Emma McGill, "Sing a Song of Murder," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1985
- Jessica Fletcher, "Novel Connection," Magnum, P.I., CBS, 1986
- Emma McGill, "It Runs in the Family," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1987
- Penelope Keeling, "The Shell Seekers," Hallmark Hall of Fame, ABC,1989
- (Uncredited) Herself, "Lights! Camera! Contractions!," Newhart, 1990
- Narration, "The Christmas Witch," Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories, Showtime, 1992
- Lady Barrington, "For All the Tea in China," Touched by an Angel,CBS, 2002
- Also appeared in The Danny Kaye Show, CBS; Alcoa Preview, ABC; The Merv Griffin Show, syndicated; The Today Show, NBC; Suspense Theatre, syndicated; The Art of Film, NET; Studio One, CBS; Kraft Theatre;
Pantomime Quiz; as Deborah, "Deborah,"Undercurrent.
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Television Work
- Executive producer, Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1992-1996
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RECORDINGS
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Videos
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Angela Lansbury's Positive Moves: A Personal Plan for Fitness and Well-Being at Any Age, 1988
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Albums
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Anyone Can Whistle (original cast recording), CBS Special Products, 1964
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Mame (original cast recording), Columbia, 1966
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Dear World (original cast recording), CBS Special Products, 1969
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Sweeney Todd (original cast recording), RCA, 1979
- Also recorded The Beggar's Opera, 1982.
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WRITINGS
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Books
- Author of (with Mimi Avins) Angela Lansbury's Positive Moves: My Personal Plan for Fitness and Well-Being;
Wedding Speeches and Toasts;
Unforgettable British Weekends--A Guide to Unusual & Celebration Holidays;
See Scotland at Work: A Guide to Factories and Craft Workshops Open to Visitors.
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books
- Gottfried, Martin, Balancing Act: The Authorized Biography of Angela Lansbury, Little, Brown, 1999
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International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, St. James Press, 1996
Periodicals
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Variety, July 24, 2000, p. 28
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