Angela Lansbury & Silas Seadler, 1960's

Angela Brigid Lansbury was born in Regents Park London to Edgar Isaac Lansbury (1887-1935) and Charlotte Lillian Mclldowie (1895-1975). She had younger twin brothers William Bruce Lansbury (1930-2017) and Edgar George Lansbury and an older half-sister, Isolde, from her mother's first marriage. The daughter of an Irish actress and a successful English timber merchant who had ancestral ties to politics, Angela made her own way in show business for nearly 75 years. On Broadway, film, and television, she created an indelible impression on audiences with her over 100 roles. As a person, dozens of co-workers praised her kindness and grace. Leaving Liverpool, England in August of 1940, Angela arrived in Quebec Canada at the end of the same month. She travelled on to Buffalo New York and, on October 9th, 1944, she declared her intent to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. On August 1st, 1951, Angela filed her naturalization petition in Los Angeles. She lived in the Los Angeles/Beverley Hills area for the rest of her life. Angela married Peter P. Shaw (1918-2003) on August 12th, 1949, in St. Columbia's Church in Chelsea Middlesex England and they remained married until his death on January 29th, 2003. Peter had a son from his first marriage, David, who Angela helped raise, and Peter and Angela had two other children, Anthony Pullen Shaw and Deidre Angela (Shaw) Battarra. Most people remember Angela as being one of the most loved stage, film, and television actors of her time. She performed for nearly 75 years, making her Hollywood debut as Nancy Oliver, Ingrid Bergman's maid, in MGM's Gaslight (1944). See Angela Lansbury: Professions for more details. On October 11th 2022, Angela passed away at her home in Los Angeles. She is survived by three children, Anthony Pullen Shaw, Deidre Angela (Shaw) Battarra, and David; three grandchildren, Peter, Katherine and Ian; five great grandchildren; and one brother, producer Edgar Lansbury.

Silas Frank Seadler was the head of advertising for Metro-Goldwin-Mayer for fifty years. He was endlessly cheerful and had a great sense of humor. Si was well known for being a fabulous dancer and movie stars loved to dance with him. At Judy Garland's party at El Morocco after her opening at the Palace on Broadway, she danced with Si Seadler. I was there. In his old age, he became the head of Special Projects for M.G.M. and I helped him publicize movies and have a scrapbook filled with my ideas that came to fruition. He was more fun to be with than anyone else in my life.