Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber (September 4, 1931 – October 17, 2024), known professionally as Mitzi Gaynor, was an American actress, singer, and dancer of Hungarian descent. A leading lady of light musicals, the bright-eyed star is best remembered for South Pacific (1958) – for which she earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. She also hosted a string of successful annual musical TV specials in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She was added as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

KNOWN FOR

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1970
The Ed Sullivan Show
1956
The Oscars
1954
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
Kraft Music Hall
1967
This Is Your Life
1960
The Dick Clark Show
1960
Reflets de Cannes
1958
There's No Business Like Show Business
1954
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
2021
Monty and the Movies
South Pacific
1958

FILMOGRAPHY

All
Movies
TV
Acting
49
2024
Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion
as Self
2022
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
2021
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
as Self
2019
My Music: A Classic Christmas
as Self (archive footage)
2013
Hello: A Portrait Of Leslie Phillips
as Self
2009
Passion, Prejudice and South Pacific: Creating an American Masterpiece
as Self
2008
Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years
as Self
2003
Cole Porter in Hollywood: Ça c'est l'amour
as Self (archive footage)
1978
Mitzi... What's Hot, What's Not
as Self
1977
Mitzi... Zings Into Spring
as Self
1976
Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20s
as Self
1975
Mitzi & 100 Guys
as Self
1974
Mitzi... A Tribute to the American Housewife
as Self
1974
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
as Self - Presenter
1973
Mitzi... The First Time
as Self
1970
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1969
Mitzi's 2nd Special
as Self
1968
Mitzi
as Self
1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
as Self (uncredited)
1967
Kraft Music Hall
as Self - Host
1963
For Love or Money
as Kate Brasher
1963
Marilyn
as archive footage
1962
Lykke og krone
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1960
Surprise Package
as Gabby Rogers
1960
This Is Your Life
as Self
1960
The Dick Clark Show
as Self
1959
Happy Anniversary
as Alice Walters
1959
The Frank Sinatra Timex Show
as Self
1958
South Pacific
as Ensign Nellie Forbush, USN
1958
Reflets de Cannes
as Self
1957
Les Girls
as Joanne Henderson
1957
The Joker is Wild
as Martha Stewart
1956
Anything Goes
as Patsy Blair
1956
The Birds and the Bees
as Jean Harris
1956
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
1954
There's No Business Like Show Business
as Katy Donahue
1954
Three Young Texans
as Rusty Blair
1954
A Star Is Born World Premiere
as Self
1954
The Oscars
as Self
1953
Down Among the Sheltering Palms
as Rozouila
1953
The I Don't Care Girl
as Eva Tanguay
1952
We're Not Married!
as Patsy Reynolds
1952
Bloodhounds of Broadway
as Emily Ann Stackerlee
1951
Golden Girl
as Lotta Crabtree
1951
Take Care of My Little Girl
as Adelaide Swanson
1950
My Blue Heaven
as Gloria Adams
1949
It's Your Health
as Peggy Hendricks, Jim's girlfriend
Monty and the Movies
as Self (archive footage)
All About Alfred
as Self