Glynis Johns, Tony-winning actress who played Mrs. Banks in “Mary Poppins”, dies at 100

She also originated the role of Desiree Armfeldt in Stephen Sondheim’s "A Little Night Music."

Glynis Johns, the British leading lady who starred as dedicated suffragette mother Winifred Banks in Mary Poppins, has died. She was 100.

The award-winning actress died peacefully in Los Angeles on Jan. 4, her longtime manager Mitch Clem confirmed to EW.

“Glynis powered her way through life with intelligence, wit, and a love for performance, affecting millions of lives,” Clem said in a statement. “She entered my life early in my career and set a very high bar on how to navigate this industry with grace, class, and truth. Your own truth. 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.”

A talent who dazzled on stage and screen, Johns memorably starred alongside Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the beloved 1964 musical movie about a magical nanny. Recruited by Walt Disney himself, she portrayed the spirited feminist Mrs. Banks and kicks off the film with a rousing performance of the Sherman Brothers song penned specifically for her, “Sister Suffragette.”

Prior to that film, she earned a best supporting actress Oscar nomination as the widowed saloon owner Mrs. Firth Fred Zinnemann’s western, The Sundowners. She went on to deliver a Tony-winning performance as Desiree Armfeldt in the original 1973 production of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, making her the first to sing one of his most popular tunes, “Send in the Clowns.” Eighteen years later, she appeared in a Los Angeles revival of the musical as Madame Armfeldt, the mother of the character she played in the original.

Born Oct. 5, 1943 in South Africa, Johns has a career that spans eight decades and includes over 60 films and 30 plays. She began as a child star, making her movie debut at age 13 in the Ralph Richardson-led drama, South Riding. She gained further recognition for playing the title role of Peter Pan in a West End production at just 19 but her true breakthrough was the 1948 comedy Miranda, which saw her portray a playful mermaid.

Johns continued to establish her career throughout the 50s, gaining notoriety in England with films including State Secret, The Magic Box, and Mad About Men, which saw her reprise the role of Miranda. She continued her success into the 60s, earning her Academy Award nomination, starring in Mary Poppins, and even headlining her own short-lived sitcom, Glynis.

Later years saw Johns appear in many more films, such as The Cabinet of Caligari, The Vault of Horror, Nukie, The Ref, and While You Were Sleeping. She also racked up TV credits that include Batman, Cheers, and Murder, She Wrote. Her final screen appearance came in 1999 as Grandma Gallagher in the Molly Shannon-led comedy, Superstar.

The actress recently celebrated her milestone 100th birthday in October 2023 with a brief ABC7 interview.

“It doesn’t make any difference to me,” Johns said when asked what 100 felt like. “Well, I looked very good for every age.”

Married four times, Johns had one son, the late actor Gareth Forwood, during her marriage to Anthony Forwood. She is survived by a grandson Thomas, and her three great grandchildren.

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