‘Murder, She Wrote’ Made Angela Lansbury The Wealthiest Woman in TV History

Oct 14, 2022 by apost team

Hollywood has seen the rise of many truly iconic actors and actresses over the years. The most distinguished of them had careers that lasted several decades and usually either showcased a wide array of roles and talents or cemented each star's overwhelming talent in one particular genre.

One of these actresses was Angela Lansbury, a British-American actress who was known for her many theater, film and television roles. Her career in show business spanned nearly 80 years before she sadly passed away on Oct. 11, 2022. Angela was considered one of the last remaining stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. 

The actress was best known for her roles in "The Manchurian Candidate," "Mame," "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" and "Murder, She Wrote." Angela also lent her voice to popular animation films such as "Beauty and the Beast" and "Anastasia."

She had been the recipient of many awards over her lengthy career, including an Honorary Academy Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BAFTA, as well as winning five Tony Awards, six Golden Globes, and an Olivier Award, among many other nominations. In 2014, she also received the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) from Queen Elizabeth II for her services to drama, charitable work and philanthropy.

But on top of her stellar career, Angela also had a rich personal life. In 1949, she married the love of her life, Peter Shaw, and the couple had two children. Their son Anthony and daughter Deirdre grew up in America but moved to Ireland with their parents later in life after personal struggles. 

Angela had a long and storied career, ranging from cinema classics in the 1940s to the 1960s and pivoting to the theater in the 1970s. In the 1980s, she would have yet another major moment. It happened when she made the jump to television for the role of Jessica Fletcher in the long-standing CBS drama "Murder, She Wrote." She played an unassuming mystery writer with a knack for cracking tough murder cases and it quickly became one of her most recognizable and beloved characters. The show had a 12-year run, debuting in 1984 and ending in 1996.

Her turn in the series is widely considered to be her most popular, but this signature role of hers almost didn't happen, as she went against her agent's recommendations, who had instead favored the leading role in a sitcom that she was offered at the same time. But Angela went with the part she wanted to play the most, and aren't we all lucky she did! It brought her a great deal of recognition, helping to cement her icon status in the minds of a new generation of TV viewers while reviving interest among her longtime fans. 

What's more, Angela took on the job in her 60s, an age many in Hollywood would consider past an actor's prime. Instead, it made her a powerhouse in the entertainment industry, with many touting her to be the most powerful woman on television at the time. Lansbury also wanted to make sure her character's personality remained strong and pushed to change the script if the character was not to the right standard. Several of Lansbury's family members, including her husband and son, also worked on the show. She would continue to play that part with her signature passion and charisma past her 70th birthday. 

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There was, however, a moment in 1990 in which Angela mulled over leaving “Murder, She Wrote” after a dispute with then-series producer, Peter Fischer. Eager to keep their star on, CBS allowed Angela to “call the shots” and Fischer departed the show. From 1992 to 1996, she also served as an executive producer. To lower the cost of production, which had hit $1.82 million per episode by 1994, she hired “younger and less costly guest stars and fewer expensive guest stars.” She also roped in family members, such as her husband and son Anthony, to produce or direct many of the episodes. 

At the height of the success of “Murder, She Wrote,” Angela was earning upwards of $300,000 per episode. As the show remained at the top of the ratings through much of its nine-year run, Angela became the richest woman in television history at the time, with her worth standing at an estimated $100 million. Which was, as she said, pretty much the point.

“I did it for the money,” she told The Mirror in August 2016, before she added, “There comes a time in a theatrical life when you say to yourself, ‘Well I can’t make any money in the theatre,’ so television was a very specific decision I made.”

She added: “When this came on the horizon I thought, ‘That’s interesting … I think I can make something of this.’”

The money also poured in as almost 50 countries – from Japan to Venezuela – bought rights to air the show, making Angela a household name. Despite her years as a working actress, Angela remained surprised by the show’s success. She once said:

“I was amazed, almost everywhere in the world, (people) knew Jessica Fletcher. They treated me like a rock star.”

We’re thrilled to discover Angela Lansbury was able to find so much success so late in her career – in her 60s! Are you a fan of “Murder, She Wrote?” Which were your favorite episodes? Let us know and be sure to pass this on to family and friends.