Star of the Month-Mitzi Gaynor

 

MITZI GAYNOR

BIRTH: September 4, 1931

DEATH: October 17, 2024

AGED: 93 yrs

DIED FROM: Natural Causes

REAL NAME: Francesca Marlene De  Czanyi Von Gerber

NICKNAME: Mitzi

MARRIED: Once, to Jack Bean, talent Agent and her manager, until he died. 52 yrs.

CHILDREN: None

FRIENDS: Bob Mackie, Liza Minnelli

TALENT: singing, dancing, knew how to entertain

KNOWN FOR: her perky demeanour. Knew how to calm a situation ie. Ethel Merman was fuming when Marilyn Monroe was late or would not come out of her trailer. Mitzi would give a wink making Merman believe Monroe was having a sex time with someone. This would neutralize Merman’s anger.

Known for her perky and effervescent personality, this sweet gal wished she could be known for her sexiness so she could get some roles that went to Marilyn Monroe but she did pretty good for herself, regardless. She is, actually, from Hungarian aristocracy ( sorry Zsa Zsa but she really is aristocracy)on her father’s side, who was a classical violinist and music director and her mom was a dancer, so her talents were inherited. Her nickname, “Mitzi” is a German endearment from the name “Maria” and she was called this since she was a child. When she came to Hollywood, a talent scout( I think), decided to change her last name to Gaynor, from the film actress, Janet Gaynor, which was fine by Mitzi who loved the actress.  Her biggest time in film, were the 1950s with, her last film, being in 1963 when she realized her natural talents would be better utilized on stage. She began appearing in Las Vegas to sold out shows and she would often appear in Vancouver, BC- Canada, to try out a new show and loved the city and the people. She brought the house down during the 1967 Oscars when she sang the Oscar nominated song, “Georgy Girl” receiving a standing ovation that did not stop. The execs had a hard time to get the audience to stop clapping so they could continue on with the show. Mitzi, and her husband, who was her manager,  had many TV specials during the late 60s and 79s where she won many Emmys and other awards. She knew how to stop the show especially in her famous Bob Mackie gowns. She continued to perform, on stage, well into the 1990s before she semi retired. She still would dance every day even into her 80s and kept her gorgeous figure. A fun note, she appeared on the Ed Sullivan show when the Beatles performed back in 1964. Afterward, she went out to dinner with them and they asked for her autograph! I love that:)

I’m going to list her film from my favourite on down but the last 4, I did not see but want to.

FILMS

1. South Pacific-1958

2. Les Girls-1957

3. Anything Goes-1956

4. Were Not Married-1952

5. The Joker Is Wild-1957

6. For Love Or Money-1963

7. Happy Anniversary- 1959

8. Surprise Package-1960

9. The Birds And The Bees-1956

10. The “I Don’t Care” Girl-1953