Actress Glynis Johns, who played the role of Mrs. Banks in the 1964 film “Mary Poppins,” died at the age of 100 on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Her manager Mitch Clem said that Johns died peacefully at an assisted living facility.
Clem said that Johns is survived by her three great-grandkids, Thomas, and her grandson.
He described her as an extraordinary woman who brought a lot of intelligence and love to her life. Johns started her career in the film industry almost nine decades ago.
Johns made her debut in the film industry when she was just a teenager in the 1938 film South Riding.
She continued to appear in various movies during the 1940s. One of her most notable performances was in the war-era film 49th Parallel.
Johns was born in South Africa and lived in the UK until her death. She started her career in the 1950s in various Hollywood movies.
She then made her big break in 1960 when she appeared alongside Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr in the film The Sundowners.
“Mary Poppins” was nominated for five Academy Awards. Johns was also nominated for an award for best supporting actress.
She played the role of a mystery writer in the TV series “Glynis” in 1963. She then went on to play the role of Mrs Banks in the 1964 Disney film.
Johns was part of the film’s talented cast, which included Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. She played a vibrant and uplifting character named Mrs. Banks.
In the Broadway play “A Little Night Music,” which premiered in 1973, she originated the part of Desiree, which eventually led to Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal in the 1977 film.
She was able to receive a Tony award for her performance in the Broadway production of A Little Night Music.
Johns’ guttural voice was also very effective in singing the famous song “Send In The Clowns.” During the 1980s and 90s, she appeared in various TV shows, such as “The Ref” and “Coming of Age.”
Apart from “While You Were Sleeping,” she also appeared in the 1999 comedy “Superstar.” In October, Johns turned 100 years old. She told ABC7 that her age didn’t matter as she looked great at any age.
In a statement, Clem said that Johns was an extraordinary woman who brought a lot of intelligence and love to her life. She was also able to keep people in their tracks through her wit.