Mitzi Gaynor, the vibrant dancer and actress best known for her role as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film South Pacific, has passed away at the age of 93. Gaynor, a celebrated figure from the golden age of Hollywood musicals, died of natural causes on Thursday morning in Los Angeles, as confirmed by her long-time managers, Rene Reyes and Shane Rosamonda.
In a statement, her managers expressed gratitude to Gaynor’s fans and friends: “As we celebrate her legacy, we offer our thanks to her friends and fans and the countless audiences she entertained throughout her long life. Your love, support and appreciation meant so very much to her and was a sustaining gift in her life.”
Gaynor’s illustrious career spanned over eight decades, with notable roles in films such as We’re Not Married! and There’s No Business Like Show Business. However, her most iconic performance was in South Pacific, which earned three Academy Award nominations and won for Best Sound. Gaynor herself was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress.
The role of Nellie, originally created on Broadway by Mary Martin, was highly coveted in Hollywood. Gaynor landed the part with help from Frank Sinatra, with whom she was working in The Joker Is Wild. Despite a scheduling conflict, Sinatra adjusted their filming schedule, allowing her to audition for lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Her performance impressed Hammerstein, as well as director Josh Logan and composer Richard Rodgers, securing her the role alongside Rossano Brazzi, where she famously sang, “I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy.”
