Glynis Johns, star of 'Mary Poppins' and 'Send in the Clowns,' Passes Away at 100

Glynis Johns, an actress known for winning a Tony Award and playing the mother in "Mary Poppins" with Julie Andrews, has passed away at 100. She was famous for singing "Send in the Clowns" by Stephen Sondheim. 

Johns' manager, Mitch Clem, announced that she died naturally on Thursday in a Los Angeles care home. Clem expressed his sadness, noting, "Today's a sad day for Hollywood. She was one of the very last from the classic era of Hollywood." 

Glynis was very dedicated and careful in her work, always wanting to be accurate, thoughtful, and strong in her opinions. She chose complex roles because she believed in giving her best in every performance.  

Johns said to The Associated Press in 1990, "I don’t want to play simple, flat characters. Great acting is about making it believable and true. I need to understand my role to make it feel real." 

Glynis' most memorable role was as Desiree Armfeldt in "A Little Night Music," winning her a Tony in 1973. The show's famous song "Send in the Clowns" was written by Sondheim specifically for her unique, deep voice. However, Elizabeth Taylor replaced her in the movie version in 1977.  

Also See: Maurice Hines, Broadway Star and Tap Dance Icon, Dies at 80 

Talking to the AP in 1990, Johns said, "I've had songs written for me before, but nothing compares to this. It's the best thing I've received in theater."  

Many famous artists like Frank Sinatra, Judy Collins, Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughan, and Olivia Newton-John also sang Sondheim's hit song. In 2023, it was featured in the second season of "Yellowjackets," performed by Elijah Wood. 

When "A Little Night Music" was being created, the team started rehearsals even though parts of the script and music, including a solo for Johns, weren't ready yet. The director, Hal Prince, asked her and her co-star, Len Cariou, to make up some scenes to inspire the writer, Hugh Wheeler.  

Hal told them, "Just express what you feel," she remembered in a chat with the AP. "After Len and I improvised, Hal called Steve Sondheim and told him to come over and see our improvisation, because it might help him write my solo."  

Johns came from a four-generation English theater family. Her dad, Mervyn Johns, was a well-known character actor, and her mom was a pianist. She was born in Pretoria, South Africa, while her parents were touring there.

Glynis started dancing at 12 and acting at 14 in London's theater district. She became famous for her role as a love-struck mermaid in the 1948 comedy "Miranda."  

In the 1960 film "The Sundowners" with Deborah Kerr and Robert Mitchum, Johns was up for an Oscar for best supporting actress but didn't win. 

Glynis is also known for playing the mother in "Mary Poppins," singing "Sister Suffragette," and for her role in the 1989 Broadway revival of "The Circle," a play about love and marriage, with Rex Harrison and Stewart Granger.  

For her role in the 1998 play "A Coffin in Egypt," Johns had the Texas-born writer Horton Foote record some lines for her to use as a guide.  

In a 1991 Los Angeles revival of "A Little Night Music," Glynis played Madame Armfeldt, the mother of the character she originally played. She also had her own TV sitcom, "Glynis," in 1963. 

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