Mitzi Gaynor's most iconic role was in the 1958 film South Pacific, where she played the part of Ensign Nellie Forbush, singing the memorable song "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair". Despite not being the first choice for the role, Gaynor's performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
Born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber, Mitzi began performing in public at the age of four. Her family moved to Hollywood when she was eleven, where she trained as a ballerina in the corps de ballet. She made her screen debut as a dancer in My Blue Heaven (1950) and was soon signed to a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox.
Mitzi's early career was marked by a string of musicals, including Golden Girl (1951),Down Among the Sheltering Palms (1952),and The I Don't Care Girl (1953). Her breakout role came in Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952),where she played Emily Ann Stackerlee and showcased her dancing and singing abilities.
In the 1950s, Mitzi married talent agent Jack Bean, who helped rejuvenate her career. She signed a new contract with Paramount and appeared in a trio of films, including The Joker Is Wild (1957) and Les Girls (1957). Her final film role was in For Love or Money (1963),a comedy starring Kirk Douglas.
After retiring from films, Mitzi spent the latter part of her career on the nightclub circuit and in television specials. She was inducted into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame in 2017 and received a star on the Walk of Fame in 1960. Her husband, Jack Bean, passed away in 2006 after 52 years of marriage.
