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.

Filmography

• 1963For Love or Money — Kate Brasher
• 1963Marilyn — archive footage
• 1960Surprise Package — Gabby Rogers
• 1959Happy Anniversary — Alice Walters
• 1958South Pacific — Ensign Nellie Forbush, USN
• 1957Les Girls — Joanne Henderson
• 1957The Joker is Wild — Martha Stewart
• 1956Anything Goes — Patsy Blair
• 1956The Birds and the Bees — Jean Harris
• 1954There's No Business Like Show Business — Katy Donahue
• 1954Three Young Texans — Rusty Blair
• 1953Down Among the Sheltering Palms — Rozouila
• 1953The I Don't Care Girl — Eva Tanguay
• 1952Bloodhounds of Broadway — Emily Ann Stackerlee
• 1952We're Not Married! — Patsy Reynolds
• 1951Golden Girl — Lotta Crabtree
• 1951Take Care of My Little Girl — Adelaide Swanson
• 1950My Blue Heaven — Gloria Adams
• 1949It's Your Health — Peggy Hendricks, Jim's girlfriend

Appearances as themselves (30)

• 2024Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion — Self
• 2022Rat Pack — Self (archive footage)
• 2021Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It — Self
• 2019My Music: A Classic Christmas — Self (archive footage)
• 2013Hello: A Portrait Of Leslie Phillips — Self
• 2009Passion, Prejudice and South Pacific: Creating an American Masterpiece — Self
• 2008Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years — Self
• 2003Cole Porter in Hollywood: Ça c'est l'amour — Self (archive footage)
• 1978Mitzi... What's Hot, What's Not — Self
• 1977Mitzi... Zings Into Spring — Self
• 1976Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20s — Self
• 1975Mitzi & 100 Guys — Self
• 1974Mitzi... A Tribute to the American Housewife — Self
• 1974The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards — Self - Presenter
• 1973Mitzi... The First Time — Self
• 1969Mitzi's 2nd Special — Self
• 1968Mitzi — Self
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In — Self (uncredited)
• 1962Lykke og krone — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson — Self
• 1959The Frank Sinatra Timex Show — Self
• Kraft Music Hall — Self - Host
• The Dick Clark Show — Self
• 1954A Star Is Born World Premiere — Self
• Reflets de Cannes — Self
• The Oscars — Self
• This Is Your Life — Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show — Self
• All About Alfred — Self
• Monty and the Movies — Self (archive footage)