Glynis Johns, a legendary performer whose career spanned stage and screen, has passed away in California. Reports attributed to her representative, Mitch Clem, note that the 100-year-old star of the Disney musical Mary Poppins (1964) died of natural causes.
According to Clem, Johns, who portrayed Winifred Banks, the mother of the film’s central characters, left the world peacefully. Her association with Disney began when the studio founder, Walt Disney, personally selected her for the Mary Poppins project. Before that signature role, she appeared in two early Disney productions and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Sundowners, a Western that showcased her versatility and magnetic presence on screen.
Glynis Johns later earned widespread recognition on the stage as well. In 1973 she captured the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her starring turn in A Little Night Music, a work that featured music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and showcased her formidable vocal and acting talents. Her enduring legacy extended into the late 1990s when she was celebrated as a Disney Legend, a designation she held as one of the studio’s most cherished icons until her passing.
Beyond her screen and stage triumphs, Johns led a life marked by resilience and longevity. She was married on four occasions and raised one son, Gareth Forwood, who followed his own path in the acting world. The family’s public narrative reflected both the glamour and the personal complexities that accompany a life lived in the limelight.
In related entertainment news, another notable figure, Russian director Elena Demidova, was reported to have died at age 60. Separately, a prior report noted that a Santa Barbara actor had married a fan from Russia, illustrating how cross-cultural connections remain a recurring subplot in the world of cinema and theater.