Profile Text
09/10/2011 – Gaynor – 2011 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards – Arrivals – Nokia Theatre – Los Angeles, CA, USA – Keywords: Orientation: Portrait Face Count: 1 – False – Photo Credit: Andrew Evans / PR Photos – Contact (1-866-551-7827) – Portrait Face Count: 1
Birth Name: Francisca Weissgerber
Date of Birth: September 4, 1931
Place of Birth: Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
Date of Death: October 17, 2024
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – Hungarian, Austrian * mother – German
Mitzi Gaynor was an American actress, singer, and dancer. She starred in the films My Blue Heaven (1950), Take Care of My Little Girl , Golden Girl , We’re Not Married! , Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952), The I Don’t Care Girl , Down Among the Sheltering Palms , Three Young Texans , There’s No Business Like Show Business , The Birds and the Bees , Anything Goes , The Joker Is Wild , Les Girls , South Pacific , Happy Anniversary , Surprise Package , and For Love or Money .
Mitzi was the daughter of Pauline Catherine (Fisher), a dancer, and Henry Weissgerber/de Czanyi von Gerber, a violinist, cellist, and music director. Her father was born in Budapest, Hungary. Her mother was born in Missouri, to German parents. Her step-brother was anti-war activist Donald W. Duncan, from her father’s remarriage. During her childhood, her family lived in Elgin, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan, before moving to Hollywood, California. Her birth name is sometimes listed as Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber, but her Chicago birth certificate lists simply Francisca Weissgerber.
Mitzi was married to manager, talent agent, and public relations executive Jack Bean, until his death.
Mitzi’s paternal grandfather was named Mathew Weiss Gerber.
Mitzi’s paternal grandmother was named Francisca Decanyi.
Mitzi’s maternal grandfather was Johann Konrad Friederich Fischer (the son of Friedrich Fischer and Marie Friedrike Diehm). Johann was a German emigrant, from Halden, Bühlertann, Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg. Mitzi’s great-grandfather Friedrich was the son of Johann Lorenz Friedrich Fischer and Friderika Christiana Kaltdorf.
Mitzi’s maternal grandmother was Klara Katharine Wahl (the daughter of Christian Wahl and Christine Catharine Tochtermann). Klara was a German emigrant, from Scheppach, Weinsberg, Württemberg. Christian was the son of Christoph Friedrich Wahl and Elisabethe Katherine Klinger. Christine was the daughter of Johann Gottlieb Tochtermann and Helena Christiana Gailing.
Source: Genealogy of Mitzi Gaynor – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Mitzi Gaynor – https://www.familysearch.org