Famous Families
Actress Angela Lansbury Always Puts Her Kids First: Meet Her Blended Family With Late Husband Peter Shaw
Murder, She Wrote actress Angela Lansbury had a career full of incredible accolades and breakthrough roles. The actress died at 96 years old on October 11, 2022.
“The children of Dame Angela Lansbury are sad to announce that their mother died peacefully in her sleep at home in Los Angeles at 1:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, just five days shy of her 97th birthday,” Closer Weekly confirmed in a statement.
Throughout her time in the spotlight, the five-time Tony Award winner eventually found the balance of juggling her busy career while raising her children, Anthony Shaw and Deidre Shaw, with her second husband, Peter Shaw. Peter also had one child, David Shaw, from a previous relationship, whom Angela views as her own.
“In addition to her three children, Anthony, Deirdre and David, she is survived by three grandchildren, Peter, Katherine and Ian, plus five great grandchildren and her brother, producer Edgar Lansbury,” the statement continued. “She was proceeded in death by her husband of 53 years, Peter Shaw. A private family ceremony will be held at a date to be determined.”
Angela, born in London in 1925, began her theater career in the ‘40s before pivoting to films. In 1944, she landed a role in the film Gaslight. The Broadway star earned a Best Supporting Actress nod at the Academy Awards that year, marking the beginning of a lifetime full of award-winning performances.
Angela married her first husband, Richard Cromwell, in 1945. The pair were divorced one year later and did not have any children together. The Little Women actress when on to marry Peter in 1949, and welcomed his son, David, into her life with open arms. The couple welcomed their first child, Anthony, in January 1952. Their daughter, Deidre, was born in April 1953.
After becoming a mom, the Mame actress continued to snag roles in films like 1954’s A Life at Stake, 1955’s A Lawless Street and 1956’s The Long, Hot Summer. She went on to make her Broadway debut in 1957 in Hotel Paradiso. Later on in her career, Angela did admit that fame and work were at the forefront of her life.
“As soon as I had the babies I went on a diet and I was back in business,” she said in a March 2014 interview. “I regret that. You have to be with your children.”
Eventually, the family moved from Malibu to Ireland and Angela put her time and energy into working on her relationships with her children. She remained married to Peter until his death in 2003 from heart failure. The Law & Order actress also took pride in her role as a great-grandmother.
“One of the biggest joys for me right now is my family. I’ve just become a great-grandma for the first time. It’s my grandson Peter’s first child — now that feels pretty wonderful,” Angela told Woman & Home in December 2017. “And of course, I’m doing all the spoiling. If there’s one thing I want more time for at this stage of my life, it’s them.”
Keep scrolling to meet Angela’s three children.
