What happened to Mary Poppins cast – tragic death at 21, 4 marriages and £36m net worth

Mary Poppins was first released as a feature film in 1964, and is an American musical fantasy.

Based on P. L. Travers’ book series Mary Poppins, and the film was directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney, with songs written and composed by the Sherman Brothers.

Combining live-action and animation, the family favourite stars Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Matthew Garber and Karen Dotrice.

The film was shot entirely at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, using painted London background scenes.

Mary Poppins was released on August 27 in 1964, soon becoming the highest-grossing film of 1964 and, at the time of its release, was Disney’s highest-grossing film ever. It received a total of 13 Academy Awards nominations, including Best Picture.

The cast have been up to a lot since the film first hit the big screen – from a tragic death at just 21 years of age, to becoming the Queen of Genovia, and working within the realms of Hollywood at almost 100 – Daily Star takes a look at what the cast have been up to since the 1960s.

Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins

Julie Andrews shot to fame after reprising the role of Mary Poppins and in 2021 has a net-worth of around $30.

Playing the no-nonsense nanny turned caring mother figure led to her first ever Oscar nomination and win.

Julie was in her late twenties when she played the role of Mary Poppins, and only had a few credits to her filmography.

She was already well known in the theatre world for playing the role of of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady eight years prior to Mary Poppins, in 1956.

In 1965, one year after playing Mary Poppins in the feature film, Julie played yet another leading role in the iconic musical, The Sound of Music.

She continued to star in Hollywood movies and blockbuster feature films like Star! in 1968, Victor/Victoria in 1982 and A Fine Romance in 1992.

Julie is also praised for her role in The Princess Diaries series, where she played the Queen of Genovia.

She’s also had a successful voice-acting career, with credits in the “Shrek” series, “Enchanted” (2007), and the “Despicable Me” series.

Following the death of her husband at the end of 2010, Andrews took a break from acting before reentered the Hollywood scene in 2017 for the Netflix series “Julie’s Greenroom.”

The British-born actress isn’t slowing down yet, even at the age of 85.

She has even recently voiced the narrator of the popular Netflix series Bridgerton, Lady Whistledown.

Dick Van Dyke as Bert

Dick Van Dyke was already a household name when he signed up to reprise the roles of Bert and Mr. Dawes Sr.

At 36 years old he had his own CBS sitcom – The Dick Van Dyke Show – and had been nominated for his first Primetime Emmy a year before Mary Poppins hit the big screen.

Although a little older and a tad greyer, Dick is still active in Hollywood today, and has an estimated net-worth of around $50m (£36million).

After his performance in Mary Poppins, he continued The Dick Van Dyke Show before starring in The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Van Dyke Show, and Diagnosis Murder.

Dick is also well-known for playing the lead role in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the box office smash hit that came out in 1968).

In 2018, he made a surprise cameo in Mary Poppins Returns as Mr. Dawes Jr.

David Tomlinson as Mr. Banks

David Tomlinson had almost 50 film and TV credits before signing up for the film adaptation of Mary Poppins and taking on the role of Mr. Banks.

Not long after his starring role, he joined the cast of another Disney-led feature film – Bedknobs and Broomsticks in 1971.

Retiring in 1980, David had been in the business for four decades.

David first marriage was to Mary Lindsay Hiddingh in September 1943, but just a couple of months later on December 2 1943, she killed herself and her two sons (from a previous marriage, of which she was widowed) in a murder–suicide by jumping from a hotel in New York City.

David remarried to Audrey Freeman in 1953, and the couple remained together for 47 years until his death. They had four sons – David Jr., William, Henry, and James.

At 83 years of age David died peacefully in his sleep at King Edward VII’s Hospital, Westminster, at 4am on June 24 2000, after suffering a stroke.

His son James told the BBC, “He was always an actor and that was his passion. Although he chose to give it up in 1979 and enjoyed spending time with his family, he stayed in touch with the actors of today.”

Matthew Garber as Michael Banks

Born in London, Matthew Garber was only seven years of age when he took on the role of the cute and mischievous Michael Banks, and flew to California to shoot the box office smash hit.

Matthew and Karen (who plays his sister Jane in the film) previously worked together on another Disney film – The Three Lives of Thomasina, which was released two years prior in 1963.

Matthew and Karen also worked together again, The Gnome-Mobile in 1967, which was Matthew’s final acting credit.

Not long after his final acting credit, he tragically contracted hepatitis, which eventually spread to his pancreas.

Matthew sadly died of pancreatitis in 1977 at the age of 21.

His co-star and friend Karen, who played his sister on multiple occasions, once said: “He was how he looked—an imp, and I loved being his shadow. I can’t imagine making movies would have been half as much fun without him. He loved being naughty, finding and jumping off of small buildings on the back lot.

“While I was Victorian proper and wouldn’t let myself get dirty or muddy, Matthew had a great sense of fun and danger. He was a daredevil and could have been a race car driver. And he did live a full life over his 21 years.”

Matthew was posthumously named as a Disney Legend in 2004, where his younger brother Fergus accepted the title on his behalf.

On the Mary Poppins 40th anniversary DVD, Karen said she regretted not keeping in touch with Matthew before his death.

Karen Dotrice as Jane Banks

Karen was just nine when she played Michael Banks’ big sister Jane.

Playing the role of Jane was Karen’s second ever acting credit, her first being The Three Lives of Thomasina, where she starred alongside Matthew.

Between 1963 and 1982 Karen starred in a few films, but she then took a break until around 2005 when she appeared on ION’s Youngblades.

2018 saw her make a brief cameo in Mary Poppins Returns as Elegant Woman.

Glynis Johns as Winifred Banks

Glynis Johns had quite a few film credits before she starred in the family favourite film adaptation of Mary Poppins as Winifred Banks.

When she signed up for Mary Poppins, she had already been in the business for 30 years and had already been nominated for a Golden Globe for her lead role in The Chapman Report in 1962.

After Mary Poppins, she continued to appear in films and on TV.

Before retiring, after a career spanning 60 years and at the age of 76, the actress made her final film credit in 1999 by playing Grandma in the rom-com Superstar.

The stunning actress has been married four times.

Anthony Forwood from 1942 until 1948, with whom she had her only child, actor Gareth Forwood who passed away in 2007.

She then married David Foster, a Royal Navy officer, before wedding Cecil Henderson in 1960.

She then married Elliott Arnold, a writer, in 1964 who sadly died in 1980.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk