Glynis Johns, the Tony-winning actress renowned for her role as Mrs. Banks in the classic film Mary Poppins, has passed away at the age of 100. Her versatile and enduring career spanned eight decades, making her one of the last surviving actors of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Johns, born on October 5, 1923, in Pretoria, South Africa, to Welsh actor Mervyn Johns, achieved success in both British and American films.
Having made her big-screen debut in 1938, Johns garnered acclaim for her performances in movies like 49th Parallel, The Sword and the Rose, The Court Jester, and The Sundowners, which earned her an Oscar nomination. However, her most iconic film role was in Disney’s 1964 classic Mary Poppins, where she portrayed the suffragette mother of the Banks children, singing the memorable tune “Sister Suffragette.”
In the realm of theater, Johns achieved greatness as part of the original cast of Stephen Sondheim’s musical A Little Night Music, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her rendition of “Send in the Clowns” became one of Broadway’s most well-known showtunes.
A perfectionist in her craft, Johns was known for her dedication to acting on multiple levels. Her career extended into the 1990s, with appearances in sitcoms like Cheers and films such as The Ref, While You Were Sleeping, and Superstar.
In recent years, Johns gained recognition for her remarkable longevity, becoming Britain’s oldest living stage and screen star after the death of Olivia De Havilland in 2020. As she celebrated her 100th birthday in October, her family campaigned for her to receive Damehood in acknowledgment of her outstanding career.
Glynis Johns will be remembered as a multi-talented icon and one of the last survivors of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Her manager noted, “Her light shined very brightly for 100 years. She had a wit that could stop you in your tracks powered by a heart that loved deeply and purely. Today is a somber day for Hollywood. Not only do we mourn the passing of our dear Glynis, but we mourn the end of the golden age of Hollywood.”