Angela Lansbury

Actress

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her three-and-a-half-hour interview, Angela Lansbury (1925-2022) recalls growing up in England before immigrating to New York during the London Blitz, and beginning her early motion picture career at MGM with films including Gaslight and The Picture of Dorian Gray. She discusses her many appearances on live television shows, including Robert Montgomery Presents, The George Gobel Show, Ford Television Theatre, Your Show of Shows, and Playhouse 90, which highlighted both her comedic and dramatic talents. She discusses her many television movies over the years, her award-winning Broadway successes in Mame, Gypsy, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and details her involvement as star and executive producer of the popular 12-season mystery series, Murder She Wrote. Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on September 15, 1998 in North Hollywood, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"In early television, there were a handful of tremendously successful televisions producers. They wanted real actors who could learn the roles and give a performance with a modicum of rehearsal. We would go to New York and rehearse for two weeks or less and put on a live television show. It required tremendous training to be able to do that. There weren't very many movie actors who could do that."

People Talking About ...

Angela Lansbury

Highlights

Angela Lansbury on her British accent as an asset

00:44

Angela Lansbury on her Murder, She Wrote character, "Jessica 'J. B.' Fletcher"

01:59

Angela Lansbury on her thoughts on television work in the early days of the medium

01:01

Angela Lansbury on how she wanted to add more sophistication to Murder, She Wrote when she became the show's producer

00:51

Angela Lansbury on how she'd like to be remembered

00:44

Angela Lansbury on watching rehearsals of the MGM musicals and wanting to be in those productions

00:44

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her childhood and early influences - radio, pantomimes, the theater and singing

On the outbreak of World War II in England

On her training at the Weber Douglas School of Dramatic Arts in London and moving to America

Chapter 2

On moving to New York from England

On her drama school training in the International Building at Rockefeller Center and the war effort overseas

On her early impressions of television and of Broadway

On her first paid acting job

On moving to Los Angeles

Chapter 3

On her first years in Los Angeles - working in Bullocks Wilshire department store

On breaking into the movie business in Los Angeles and on life as an MGM contract player

On her Academy Award nominations for "Gaslight" and "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

On leaving MGM and her early work in live television

Chapter 4

On her early television work on Pantomime Quiz, Lux Video Theatre

On becoming an American citizen and starting a family

On appearing on Broadway

On her films - "The Long Hot Summer," "Dark at the Top of the Stairs," "Blue Hawaii," "All Fall Down," "The Manchurian Candidate"

Chapter 5

On her television and Broadway appearances

On the film "Bedknobs and Broomsticks"; on the Broadway play "Mame"

On the film "Death on the Nile"; on moving to Ireland and doing "Gypsy"

On several movies she did in the 1970s, including "The Mirror Cracked"

On the play and television versions of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and doing television miniseries, including The First Olympics: Athens 1896

Chapter 6

On the miniseries Lace

On Murder, She Wrote

Chapter 7

On Murder, She Wrote; on television movies and miniseries

On the future of television; on her legacy; on co-workers and people she knew

Shows

Danny Kaye Show, The

Angela Lansbury on her appearances on The Danny Kaye Show

00:33

David Copperfield

Angela Lansbury on TV miniseries David Copperfield

00:36

Eleventh Hour, The

Angela Lansbury on appearing on The Eleventh Hour with Tuesday Weld and Martin Balsam, which she considers one of her best roles in filmed TV

00:59

First Olympics, The: Athens 1896

Angela Lansbury on her role in the TV miniseries The First Olympics: Athens 1896

00:25

Ford Star Revue

Angela Lansbury on her appearances on Ford Star Revue

01:53

Lace

Angela Lansbury on the TV miniseries Lace

01:17

Little Gloria ... Happy At Last

Angela Lansbury on her role in the TV miniseries Little Gloria ... Happy At Last

01:29

Love She Sought, The

Angela Lansbury on TV movies The Shell Seekers and The Love She Sought

00:25

Lux Video Theatre

Angela Lansbury on her first television appearance on Lux Video Theatre

00:17

Angela Lansbury on getting a case of the giggles in rehearsal on a show with Richard Kiley, likely Lux Video Theatre's "Operation Weekend"

02:00

Lux Video Theatre: "Operation Weekend"

Angela Lansbury on getting a case of the giggles in rehearsal on a show with Richard Kiley, likely Lux Video Theatre's "Operation Weekend"

02:00

Man From U.N.C.L.E., The

Angela Lansbury on her role on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

01:26

Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz aka Stump the Stars

Angela Lansbury on appearing on Pantomime Quiz because she needed the work

00:49

Angela Lansbury on being a regular on Pantomime Quiz for a short time

00:39

Murder, She Wrote

Angela Lansbury on her decision to do a TV series and then her disappointment in the initial projects she was offered

01:52

Angela Lansbury on choosing to star in Murder She, Wrote (over a Norman Lear comedy series)

03:04

Angela Lansbury on Jean Stapleton turning down the role of "Jessica Fletcher" allowing Lansbury to get the role on Murder She, Wrote

01:24

Angela Lansbury on the workload of doing a weekly "anthology" series

01:14

Angela Lansbury on the audience who watched Murder, She Wrote

03:03

Angela Lansbury on the appeal of Murder, She Wrote to its audience on how she wanted to add more sophistication when she became the show's producer

00:51

Angela Lansbury on the contribution of Murder, She Wrote creators Richard Levinson and William Link

00:50

Angela Lansbury of Murder, She Wrote producer Peter S. Fischer

00:53

Angela Lansbury on the regulars who appeared on Murder, She Wrote

01:41

Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote's regular directors, including her son Anthony Shaw

00:38

Angela Lansbury on her brother Bruce Lansbury's work as Murder, She Wrote's showrunner

00:37

Angela Lansbury on demanding a longer and less strenuous work schedule (from seven to eight days)

00:36

Angela Lansbury on sticking with Murder, She Wrote for the long run

01:05

Angela Lansbury on the camraderie on the set of Murder, She Wrote

01:19

Angela Lansbury on getting a hip replacement during the run of Murder, She Wrote

00:49

Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote producer David Moessinger, who served as the executive producer between 1991-92

03:05

Angela Lansbury on transitioning to being Murder, She Wrote's executive producer and the changes she sought

01:19

Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote as a "family affair"

01:47

Angela Lansbury on her approach as a producer of Murder, She Wrote

02:44

Angela Lansbury on her Murder, She Wrote character, "Jessica 'J. B.' Fletcher"

01:58

Angela Lansbury of CBS' decision to move Murder, She Wrote from its long standing Sunday night timeslot to Thursday night

02:13

Angela Lansbury on hearing that Murder, She Wrote was CBS Chairman William S. Paley's favorite show

00:19

Angela Lansbury on the support she received from CBS executive Howard Stringer

01:04

Angela Lansbury on CBS executive Laurence A. Tisch dropping by the set to meet her during Murder, She Wrote

00:27

Angela Lansbury on how without supporters William S. Paley and Howard Stringer at CBS, Murder, She Wrote was allowed to be moved out of its timeslot

01:25

Angela Lansbury on the overseas popularity of Murder, She Wrote

00:27

Angela Lansbury on the fan mail she's received due to Murder, She Wrote

00:24

Angela Lansbury on the subsequent TV movies following the end of Murder, She Wrote as a series

00:41

Angela Lansbury on her many nominations, but no wins, of the Emmy Award

00:41

Playhouse 90

Angela Lansbury on the experience of doing "live TV"

00:47

Robert Montgomery Presents

Angela Lansbury on working with "pleasant but cold" Robert Montgomery

02:26

Angela Lansbury on her exciting experience doing "Cakes and Ale" on Robert Montgomery Presents

00:47

Robert Montgomery Presents: "Cakes and Ale"

Angela Lansbury on her exciting experience doing "Cakes and Ale" on Robert Montgomery Presents

00:47

Shell Seekers, The

Angela Lansbury on TV movies The Shell Seekers and The Love She Sought

00:25

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Angela Lansbury on her casting and performance as "Nellie Lovett" in "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway, which was also seen in a filmed TV version

03:46

Your Show of Shows

Angela Lansbury on appearing on Your Show of Shows as a guest

01:32

Topics

Bloopers

Angela Lansbury on getting a case of the giggles in rehearsal on a show with Richard Kiley, likely Lux VideoTheatre's "Operation Weekend"

02:00

Characters & Catchphrases

Angela Lansbury on her Murder, She Wrote character, "Jessica 'J. B.' Fletcher"

01:58

Criticism of TV

Angela Lansbury on being asked to curtail violence on TV

01:32

Emmy Awards

Angela Lansbury on her many Emmy nominations, but no wins

00:41

Historic Events and Social Change

Angela Lansbury on her recollections of the outbreak of World War II

13:53

Pop Culture

Angela Lansbury on her many nominations, but no wins, of the Emmy Award

00:41

Sex & Violence

Angela Lansbury on being asked to curtail violence on TV

01:32

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

Angela Lansbury on the experience of doing "live TV" during the "Golden Age of Television," after having been a theater performer.

03:35

Technological Innovation

Angela Lansbury on the odd makeup one had to wear in early television (because of the lights and camera quality)

00:48

Television Industry

Angela Lansbury on being asked to curtail violence on TV

01:32

War

Angela Lansbury on her recollections of the outbreak of World War II

13:53

World War II

Angela Lansbury on her recollections of the outbreak of World War II

13:53

Professions

Actress

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Angela Lansbury on wanting to be an actress

01:01

Performers

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Angela Lansbury on wanting to be an actress

01:01

Producers

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Angela Lansbury on the similarities between housekeeping and producing

02:44

Genres

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote

27:34

Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote

18:18

People

Martin Balsam

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Angela Lansbury on appearing on The Eleventh Hour with Tuesday Weld and Martin Balsam, which she considers one of her best roles in filmed TV

00:59

Angela Lansbury on her admiration for actor Martin Balsam

00:15

Tom Bosley

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Angela Lansbury on the regulars who appeared on Murder, She Wrote

00:50

Charles Boyer

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Angela Lansbury on actor Charles Boyer

00:27

Fred Coe

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Angela Lansbury on television producer Fred Coe

01:50

Ronald Colman

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Angela Lansbury on her appearances on Ford Star Revue working with Ronald Colman

01:53

George Cukor

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Angela Lansbury on meeting with director George Cukor for "Gaslight"

07:42

Bette Davis

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Angela Lansbury on her admiration for actress Bette Davis

00:25

Angela Lansbury on working with actress Bette Davis

00:58

Cecil B. DeMille

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Angela Lansbury on Cecil B. DeMille's foot fetish

00:31

Howard Duff

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Angela Lansbury on Howard Duff

00:08

Peter Falk

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Angela Lansbury on actor Peter Falk

00:31

Peter Fischer

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Angela Lansbury of Murder, She Wrote producer Peter S. Fischer

00:53

Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote producer Peter Fischer

01:44

John Frankenheimer

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Angela Lansbury on John Frankenheimer

01:10

Angela Lansbury on film director John Frankenheimer

01:08

George Gobel

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Angela Lansbury on comedian George Gobel

00:54

John Houseman

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Angela Lansbury on John Houseman

00:23

Hal Kanter

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Angela Lansbury on comedy writer Hal Kanter

00:09

Boris Karloff

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Angela Lansbury on doing live television with Boris Karloff

00:17

Richard Kiley

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Angela Lansbury on getting a case of the giggles in rehearsal on a show with Richard Kiley, likely Lux Video Theatre's "Operation Weekend"

02:00

Angela Lansbury on actor/singer Richard Kiley

00:09

Bert Lahr

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Angela Lansbury on what she learned from starring with Bert Lahr on Broadway

01:03

Bruce Lansbury

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Angela Lansbury on her brother Bruce Lansbury's work as Murder, She Wrote's showrunner

00:37

Norman Lear

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Angela Lansbury on turning down a Norman Lear show to do Murder, She Wrote

00:22

Richard Levinson

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Angela Lansbury on the contribution of Murder, She Wrote creators Richard Levinson and William Link

00:50

Albert Lewin

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Angela Lansbury on meeting with director Albert Lewin for "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

02:30

William Link

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Angela Lansbury on the contribution of Murder, She Wrote creators Richard Levinson and William Link

00:50

Angela Lansbury on transitioning to being Murder, She Wrote's executive producer, the changes she sought, and the assistance she received from William Link

00:28

Delbert Mann

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Angela Lansbury on working with film director Delbert Mann on "Dark at the Top of the Stairs"

01:45

Mary Martin

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Angela Lansbury on Mary Martin being considered for the musical version of "Mame"

01:28

Louis B. Mayer

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Angela Lansbury on getting hired at MGM by Louis B. Mayer

01:35

Angela Lansbury on former boss Louis B. Mayer

00:13

David Moessinger

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Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote producer David Moessinger, who served as the executive producer between 1991-92

03:05

Robert Montgomery

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Angela Lansbury on working with "pleasant but cold" Robert Montgomery on his show Robert Montgomery Presents

00:39

Laurence Olivier

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Angela Lansbury on working with actor Sir Laurence Olivier

01:58

William S. Paley

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Angela Lansbury on hearing that Murder, She Wrote was CBS Chairman William S. Paley's favorite show

00:19

Elvis Presley

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Angela Lansbury on appearing with Elvis Presley in the feature film "Blue Hawaii"

00:35

Rosalind Russell

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Angela Lansbury on Rosalind Russell turning down the musical version of "Mame"

01:28

Anthony Shaw

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Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote's regular directors, including her son Anthony Shaw

00:38

Peter Shaw

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Angela Lansbury on husband Peter Shaw

00:51

Angela Lansbury on her husband Peter Shaw's career

00:45

Angela Lansbury on the support of her husband, Peter Shaw, throughout her career

02:03

Jean Stapleton

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Angela Lansbury on Jean Stapleton turning down the role of "Jessica Fletcher" allowing Lansbury to get the role on Murder She, Wrote

01:24

Mike Stokey

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Angela Lansbury on appearing on Pantomime Quiz with Mike Stokey

00:47

J. Michael Straczynski

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Angela Lansbury on Murder, She Wrote writer J. Michael Straczynski

00:16

Howard Stringer

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Angela Lansbury on the support she received from CBS executive Howard Stringer

01:04

Elizabeth Taylor

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Angela Lansbury on doing "National Velvet" with Elizabeth Taylor

00:19

Laurence A. Tisch

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Angela Lansbury on CBS executive Laurence A. Tisch dropping by the set to meet her during Murder, She Wrote

00:27

Audrey Wood

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Angela Lansbury on being seen by agent Audrey Wood

01:07

Bud Yorkin

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Angela Lansbury on producer Bud Yorkin

00:05