40 Behind-The-Scenes Facts From Murder, She Wrote

Angela Lansbury passed away at the age of 96 on October 11, 2022, but she will long live on as the beloved star of Murder, She Wrote. She graced our televisions as the intrepid Jessica Fletcher from 1984 to 1996 — although the show’s reruns are still delighting audiences to this day. But even the most ardent Murder, She Wrote fans might not know these juicy behind-the-scenes tidbits. And while there were no actual murders backstage, there was still plenty of drama.

1. Doris Day and Jean Stapleton were offered the role

Believe it or not, Lansbury wasn’t the first choice to play Jessica Fletcher. Doris Day and Jean Stapleton were both offered the role before her. Producer Peter Fischer told The New York Times in 1985, “[Stapleton] didn't understand the character. I think after playing Edith Bunker she wanted something more sophisticated than this bicycle-riding widow from Maine.”

2. Lansbury’s main motivation was money

Lansbury was always open about wanting to be paid well. During an interview with Star2.com about Murder, She Wrote, the actress said, “Why did I go to television? I went to television to make some money, because you don’t make any money in the theater, and you don’t make money from the occasional movie.”

3. Frank Sinatra was a big fan

Murder, She Wrote had a living legend among its fans. Lansbury told the Daily Mirror in 2016, “Frank Sinatra and his wife invited my husband and I for dinner. He proceeded to ask me all about the show and how we put it together. It turned out he was a huge fan. I mean, Frank Sinatra! I was very touched to realize it gave him some sense of entertainment to watch this silly show.”

4. Lansbury sometimes resented the show

Lansbury told The New York Times in 1985 that she didn’t always enjoy being the star of Murder, She Wrote. She said, “It takes up my whole life. It’s totally non-stop, the shooting, and I have no time for home life or socializing or relaxing. When I’m not working, I’m sleeping. On the one hand, I love the success and am enjoying that tremendously. On the other, I resist this takeover that it represents of my life.”