Angela Lansbury had us racking our brains on Murder, She Wrote, but fortunately viewers weren't the ones who had to stop a killer in their tracks. Thanks to Angela and the team behind the show – including her talented son – we were treated to 12 seasons of mysteries. Read on to find out how her son helped make the show a hit...
© Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesAngela was married to Peter until his death in 2003
Marriage to Peter Shaw
Angela wed actor-turned-agent Peter Shaw in 1949, following her divorce from Richard Cromwell. They remained married until his death in 2003 and welcomed two children together.
Peter said of his wife in a 1992 interview with People, "Angela has that marvellous gumption, and that's one of the nice things that Jessica has."
© Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesAnthony Shaw worked behind the camera and in the spotlight
Anthony Pullen Shaw
Anthony Pullen Shaw was born on 7 January 1952 to Angela and Peter. He shares a talent for acting with his famous mother, and has even joined her on the set of her best-known project.
He's credited as a director on 68 episodes of Murder, She Wrote and all four of the franchise's TV movies. Anthony is also credited with on-screen appearances in The Spy Who Loved Me and A Bridge Too Far. He married Lee Webster in 1980 and the couple share three children.
© Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesDeidre found success as a chef and restaurateur in Los Angeles
Deidre Angela Shaw
Born 26 April 1953 in New York, Deidre Angela Shaw is the younger of Angela's two children. Unlike her mother and brother, Deidre chose a path outside of the entertainment industry. She became a professional chef and wed Italian chef Enzo Battarra.
Together, the couple owned and operated the popular Italian restaurant Enzo & Angela in West Los Angeles, which operated for years before closing its doors in 2019.
© CBS via Getty ImagesMurder She Wrote fame
With sharp sleuthing skills, professional writer Jessica Fletcher manages to wrap her mind around any mystery she comes across.
Angela Lansbury starred as the amateur detective between 1984 and 1996, also appearing in TV movies including 2003's The Celtic Riddle.
© Getty ImagesAngela Lansbury passed at the age of 96 in 2022
Loss of a TV icon
Angela's impact on screen expanded beyond the cosy crime genre. The three-time Oscar nominee starred in the likes of '40s feature Gaslight and political thriller The Manchurian Candidate.
She also voiced the beloved Mrs Potts in Beauty and the Beast, bringing her musical talent to a new generation. The acclaimed actress died at home in Los Angeles in 2022, at the age of 96, five days before her birthday.
