Glynis Johns - # 318

Glynis Johns Dies: ‘Mary Poppins’ Mom, Broadway’s Tony Winner Who Debuted ‘Send In The Clowns’ Was 100

 

She was number 318 on the list.

Glynis Johns, remembered by movie audiences as Mrs. Banks from Mary Poppins and by Broadway devotees as the first person to sing Stephen Sondheim’s “Send In The Clowns” on a national stage, died today of natural causes at an assisted living home in Los Angeles. She was 100.

Her death was announced by her publicist Mitch Clem to LA’s ABC7 and the Washington Post.

A Tony winner for her performance as Desiree Armfeldt in the original 1973 Broadway cast of the Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler A Little Night Music, Johns both debuted and, due to her widespread acclaim, helped popularize what would become perhaps Sondheim’s most beloved and well-known songs with “Send In The Clowns.”

Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Johns made her West End debut in 1931 at age 8 in Elmer Rice’s Judgment Day, but wouldn’t hit the Broadway stage until 1952, when she played the title role in Enid Bagnold’s play Gertie. Over the next decade she’d appear on Broadway twice again – in 1956’s Major Barbara and 1963’s Too Good To Be True – but it wasn’t until 1973, with Night Music, that she became one of the major Broadway stars of the era.

In the meantime, she made an indelible impression as Winifred Banks, the liberated, if harried, mother in desperate need of a nanny in Walt Disney’s massive hit 1964 film Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews. As Mrs. Banks, Johns performed one of the more memorable tunes not sung by Andrews or co-star Dick Van Dyke: “Sister Suffragette.”

Johns appeared in more than 60 films and 30 plays. She received various accolades throughout her career, including a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Laurence Olivier Award. She is widely considered to have been one of the last surviving major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood and classical years of British cinema.

Johns was born in Pretoria, South Africa, the daughter of Welsh actor Mervyn Johns. She appeared on stage from a young age and was typecast as a stage dancer from early adolescence, making her screen debut in South Riding (1938). She rose to prominence in the 1940s following her role as Anna in the war drama film 49th Parallel (1941), for which she won a National Board of Review Award for Best Acting, and starring roles in Miranda (1948) and Third Time Lucky (1949). Following No Highway in the Sky (1951), a joint British-American production, Johns took on increasingly more roles in the United States and elsewhere. She made her television and Broadway debuts in 1952 and took on starring roles in such films as The Sword and the Rose (1953), The Weak and the Wicked (1954), Mad About Men (1954), The Court Jester (1955), The Sundowners (1960), The Cabinet of Caligari (1962), The Chapman Report (1962), and Under Milk Wood (1972). On television, she starred in her own sitcom Glynis (1963).

Renowned for the breathy quality of her husky voice, Johns sang songs written specifically for her both on screen and stage, including "Sister Suffragette", written by the Sherman Brothers for Disney's Mary Poppins (1964), in which she played Winifred Banks and for which she received a Laurel Award, and "Send In the Clowns", composed by Stephen Sondheim for Broadway's A Little Night Music (1973), in which she originated the role of Desiree Armfeldt and for which she received a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award.

Johns was born into a theatrical family. Her mother was Alyce Steele-Wareham, an Australian-born concert pianist who had studied in London and Vienna. Originally of English descent, Alyce's family found fame as performing actors, singers and musicians, touring Australia, New Zealand and South Africa with their musical programmes; her mother, Elizabeth Steele-Payne, was one of the first accomplished women violinists of her time. Johns's father was Welsh actor Mervyn Johns, who became a star of British films during the Second World War and worked regularly at Ealing Studios.[9] Through him, Johns was a cousin of British judge John Geoffrey Jones. Alyce and Mervyn met while studying in London, he at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and she at the Royal Academy of Music. They married on 17 November 1922 in St Giles, London, and began touring with her family's theatre company. On 5 October 1923, while touring Pretoria, South Africa, their only child Glynis Margaret Payne Johns was born, named for her paternal grandmother, Margaret Anne Samuel and her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Steele-Payne. She later became the fourth generation in her mother's family to act on stage.

 

The family returned to England just a few months after she was born. Aged five, she joined the London Ballet School; by six, she was hailed in Britain as a dancing wonder; by ten, she was working as a Ballet instructor; and by eleven, she had earned a degree to teach. Hoping to study with the Sadler's Wells Ballet at age twelve, she was enrolled instead at Clifton High School in Bristol, balancing academia with the two hours a day she spent at the Cone School of Dancing (which later merged with the Ripman School to form Tring Park School for the Performing Arts). As a dance student, Johns amassed some 25 gold medals. Aside from her Clifton education, she also attended South Hampstead High School in London, where she was a contemporary of Dame Angela Lansbury.

 

Actress

Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon in Superstar (1999)

Superstar

5.2

Grandma

1999

 

Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman in While You Were Sleeping (1995)

While You Were Sleeping

6.8

Elsie

1995

 

ABC Weekend Specials (1977)

ABC Weekend Specials

7.8

TV Series

Darjeeling (voice)

1994

1 episode

 

Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis, and Denis Leary in The Ref (1994)

The Ref

6.9

Rose

1994

 

Coming of Age (1988)

Coming of Age

6.4

TV Series

Trudie Pepper

1988–1989

15 episodes

 

Casey Kasem and Don Messick in Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School (1988)

Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School

6.8

TV Movie

Ms. Grimwood (voice)

1988

 

Zelly and Me (1988)

Zelly and Me

6.0

Co-Co

1988

 

Nukie (1987)

Nukie

1.7

Sister Anne

1987

 

The Cavanaughs (1986)

The Cavanaughs

7.7

TV Series

Maureen

1987

1 episode

 

Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote (1984)

Murder, She Wrote

7.2

TV Series

Bridget O'Hara

1985

1 episode

 

Gabriel Arcand and Anne Létourneau in The Crime of Ovide Plouffe (1984)

The Crime of Ovide Plouffe

7.2

TV Mini Series

1984

6 episodes

 

Michael Nouri in Spraggue (1984)

Spraggue

5.8

TV Movie

Aunt Mary

1984

 

Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)

The Love Boat

6.3

TV Series

Edna Miles

1984

1 episode

 

Ted Danson, Shelley Long, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, Nicholas Colasanto, and Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982)

Cheers

8.0

TV Series

Mrs. Helen Chambers

1983

1 episode

 

Little Gloria... Happy at Last (1982)

Little Gloria... Happy at Last

7.4

TV Mini Series

Laura Fitzpatrick Morgan

1982

2 episodes

 

Mrs. Amworth (1978)

Mrs. Amworth

6.6

Short

Mrs. Amworth

1978

 

Three Dangerous Ladies (1977)

Three Dangerous Ladies

4.9

Mrs. Amworth (segment "Mrs. Amworth")

1977

 

The Happy Prince (1974)

The Happy Prince

8.6

Short

Swallow (voice)

1974

 

The Vault of Horror (1973)

The Vault of Horror

6.5

Eleanor Critchit (segment "The Neat Job")

1973

 

Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Peter O'Toole in Under Milk Wood (1971)

Under Milk Wood

5.8

Myfanwy Price

1971

 

Lock Up Your Daughters! (1969)

Lock Up Your Daughters!

5.0

Mrs. Squeezum

1969

 

ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

6.9

TV Series

Lorraine Barrie

1968

1 episode

 

Mary Tyler Moore and Robert Wagner in Don't Just Stand There (1968)

Don't Just Stand There

5.6

Sabine Manning

1968

 

Batman (1966)

Batman

7.5

TV Series

Lady Penelope Peasoup

1967

4 episodes

 

Brigitte Bardot, James Stewart, John Williams, Fabian, Cindy Carol, Glynis Johns, Jack Kruschen, Bill Mumy, and Ed Wynn in Dear Brigitte (1965)

Dear Brigitte

6.3

Vina Leaf

1965

 

12 O'Clock High (1964)

12 O'Clock High

8.1

TV Series

Jennifer Heath

1964

1 episode

 

Julie Andrews, David Tomlinson and Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins

7.8

Mrs. Winnifred Banks

1964

 

Robert Reed and E.G. Marshall in The Defenders (1961)

The Defenders

8.1

TV Series

Catherine Collins

1964

1 episode

 

Gene Barry in Burke's Law (1963)

Burke's Law

7.4

TV Series

Steffi Bernard

1964

1 episode

 

Glynis (1963)

Glynis

7.0

TV Series

Glynis Granville

1963

13 episodes

 

Vacation Playhouse (1963)

Vacation Playhouse

7.7

TV Series

Glynis Granville

1963

1 episode

 

Papa's Delicate Condition (1963)

Papa's Delicate Condition

6.5

Amberlyn Griffith

1963

 

The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962)

The Lloyd Bridges Show

7.1

TV Series

Leah Marquand

1963

1 episode

 

Walter Matthau and Frank McGee in The DuPont Show of the Week (1961)

The DuPont Show of the Week

5.7

TV Series

Emily Foster

1963

1 episode

 

Nick Adams in Saints and Sinners (1962)

Saints and Sinners

5.7

TV Series

Lois Hawley (as Glynnis Johns)

1962

1 episode

 

The Beachcomber (1962)

The Beachcomber

7.2

TV Series

Rosalind Metcalf

1962

1 episode

 

Jane Fonda, Shelley Winters, Claire Bloom, and Glynis Johns in The Chapman Report (1962)

The Chapman Report

5.5

Teresa Harnish

1962

 

The Cabinet of Caligari (1962)

The Cabinet of Caligari

5.8

Jane (as Miss Glynis Johns)

1962

 

Dr. Kildare (1961)

Dr. Kildare

7.0

TV Series

Sister Brigid Marie

1962

1 episode

 

The Dick Powell Theatre (1961)

The Dick Powell Theatre

7.4

TV Series

Rosie Sayer

1962

1 episode

 

Naked City (1958)

Naked City

8.2

TV Series

Miss Arlington

1961

1 episode

 

Ronald Reagan in General Electric Theater (1953)

General Electric Theater

6.9

TV Series

Alma

1961

1 episode

 

Donald May, Dorothy Provine, and Rex Reason in The Roaring 20's (1960)

The Roaring 20's

8.1

TV Series

Kitty O'Moyne

1961

1 episode

 

Gardner McKay in Adventures in Paradise (1959)

Adventures in Paradise

8.2

TV Series

Esther Holmes

1961

1 episode

 

Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, and Peter Ustinov in The Sundowners (1960)

The Sundowners

7.1

Mrs. Firth

1960

 

The Spider's Web (1960)

The Spider's Web

6.2

Clarissa Hailsham-Brown

1960

 

James Cagney, Glynis Johns, Don Murray, and Dana Wynter in Shake Hands with the Devil (1959)

Shake Hands with the Devil

7.0

Kitty Brady

1959

 

The Frank Sinatra Show (1957)

The Frank Sinatra Show

7.5

TV Series

Christine Nolan

1958

1 episode

 

Sean Connery and Lana Turner in Another Time, Another Place (1958)

Another Time, Another Place

5.8

Kay Trevor

1958

 

Hal Baylor, Hans Conried, and Chuck Hicks in Schlitz Playhouse (1951)

Schlitz Playhouse

7.6

TV Series

1957

1 episode

 

Glynis Johns in All Mine to Give (1957)

All Mine to Give

7.1

Jo Eunson

1957

 

The Errol Flynn Theatre (1956)

The Errol Flynn Theatre

7.0

TV Series

Lou McNamara

The Girl

1956

2 episodes

 

David Niven and Cantinflas in Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

Around the World in 80 Days

6.7

Sporting Lady's Companion

1956

 

Loser Takes All (1956)

Loser Takes All

5.0

Cary

1956

 

Danny Kaye, Angela Lansbury, and Glynis Johns in The Court Jester (1955)

The Court Jester

7.8

Maid Jean

1955

 

Josephine and Men (1955)

Josephine and Men

5.6

Josephine Luton

1955

 

Glynis Johns in Mad About Men (1954)

Mad About Men

6.3

Caroline Trewella

Miranda Trewella

1954

 

The Beachcomber (1954)

The Beachcomber

6.2

Martha Jones

1954

 

Land of Fury (1954)

Land of Fury

5.6

Marion Southey

1954

 

Diana Dors and Glynis Johns in Young and Willing (1954)

Young and Willing

6.4

Jean Raymond

1954

 

Glynis Johns and Richard Todd in Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue (1953)

Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue

6.3

Helen Mary MacPherson MacGregor

1953

 

Personal Affair (1953)

Personal Affair

6.5

Barbara Vining

1953

 

The Sword and the Rose (1953)

The Sword and the Rose

6.3

Princess Mary Tudor

1953

 

Lux Video Theatre (1950)

Lux Video Theatre

7.6

TV Series

1953

1 episode

 

Studio One (1948)

Studio One

7.6

TV Series

Lily Snape

1952

1 episode

 

The Promoter (1952)

The Promoter

7.1

Ruth Earp

1952

 

Encore (1951)

Encore

6.9

Stella Cotman (segment "Gigolo and Gigolette")

1951

 

David Niven and Glynis Johns in Island Rescue (1951)

Island Rescue

6.1

Nicola Fallaize

1951

 

The Magic Box (1951)

The Magic Box

7.0

May Jones

1951

 

No Highway in the Sky (1951)

No Highway in the Sky

7.1

Marjorie Corder

1951

 

Flesh and Blood (1951)

Flesh and Blood

5.9

Katherine

1951

 

The Great Manhunt (1950)

The Great Manhunt

7.0

Lisa Robinson

1950

 

Dear Mr. Prohack (1949)

Dear Mr. Prohack

6.0

Mimi Warburton

1949

 

Helter Skelter (1949)

Helter Skelter

5.2

Miranda Trewella (uncredited)

1949

 

Third Time Lucky (1949)

Third Time Lucky

5.6

Joan Burns

1949

 

Glynis Johns in Miranda (1948)

Miranda

6.8

Miranda Trewella

1948

 

An Ideal Husband (1947)

An Ideal Husband

6.5

Mabel Chiltern

1947

 

David Farrar, Albert Lieven, and Mai Zetterling in Frieda (1947)

Frieda

7.2

Judy

1947

 

This Man Is Mine (1946)

This Man Is Mine

5.9

Millie

1946

 

Deborah Kerr and Robert Donat in Vacation from Marriage (1945)

Vacation from Marriage

7.1

Dizzy Clayton

1945

 

The Halfway House (1944)

The Halfway House

6.6

Gwyneth - Rhys' Daughter

1944

 

Robert Donat and Valerie Hobson in The Adventures of Tartu (1943)

The Adventures of Tartu

6.9

Paula Palacek

1943

 

Laurence Olivier and Leslie Howard in 49th Parallel (1941)

49th Parallel

7.3

Anna

1941

 

John Gielgud in The Prime Minister (1941)

The Prime Minister

5.8

Miss Sheridan (uncredited)

1941

 

The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

The Thief of Bagdad

7.4

Princess' Maid (uncredited)

1940

 

The Briggs Family

7.0

Sheila Briggs

1940

 

Under Your Hat (1940)

Under Your Hat

5.5

Winnie

1940

 

The Fugitive (1939)

The Fugitive

6.5

Mary Carr

1939

 

Corinne Luchaire in Prison Without Bars (1938)

Prison Without Bars

6.0

Nina

1938

 

Roddy McDowall in Murder in the Family (1938)

Murder in the Family

6.2

Marjorie Osborne

1938

 

Edna Best and Ralph Richardson in South Riding (1938)

South Riding

6.7

Midge Carne

1938

 

Soundtrack

Diminishing Returns (2016)

Diminishing Returns

4.7

Podcast Series

performer: "Sister Suffragette"

2018

1 episode

 

Great Performances (1971)

Great Performances

7.9

TV Series

performer: "Send In The Clowns"

1985

1 episode

 

Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

8.5

TV Series

performer: "Send in the Clowns"

1973

1 episode

 

Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins

7.8

performer: "Sister Suffragette", "Let's Go Fly a Kite" (uncredited)

1964

 

Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, and Peter Ustinov in The Sundowners (1960)

The Sundowners

7.1

performer: "Botany Bay" (uncredited)

1960

 

Glynis Johns in Mad About Men (1954)

Mad About Men

6.3

performer: "I Can't Resist Men"

1954

 

The Great Manhunt (1950)

The Great Manhunt

7.0

performer: "Paper Doll" (uncredited)

1950