“Jessica Fletcher is about as close to the sort of woman I might have been, had I not been an actress.” - Lansbury
One of the longest running detective programmes on television, Murder, She Wrote drew in millions of viewers each week in the US, and found fans in countries worldwide. Lansbury’s creative input in her character’s narrative was a crucial part of the show’s success, with Fletcher becoming a rare – and now, iconic - televisual instance of a single, middle-aged leading lady. In her final recorded interview, Lansbury said, “Jessica Fletcher is about as close to the sort of woman I might have been, had I not been an actress.”
Lansbury was also a gay icon, following her eponymous role in the musical Mame, for which she won her first of four Tony Awards. She was “very proud” of her popularity in the gay community, and in the 1980s, dedicated support to charities who worked to support the community during the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Lansbury was married to the actor Peter Shaw for over 50 years, until his death in 2003. They moved from America to Ireland in 1970 for the safety of their daughter Deidre, who had become involved with Charles Manson, and son Anthony, who had developed a drug addiction. The move proved fruitful, with Deirdre eventually opening a restaurant with her husband, and Anthony becoming a television director, whose credits include 68 episodes of Murder, She Wrote.
At the time of her death, she had three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She will be sorely missed, by her family, and by her fans across the world.