Sally Ann Howes, who starred in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and My Fair Lady, has died aged 91, her family has confirmed.
The Tony Award-winning actress first appeared on screen aged 12, and enjoyed a career that spanned six decades.
Sally Ann Howes was best known for playing the role of Truly Scrumptious in the 1968 musical film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, opposite Dick Van Dyke.
She made her Broadway debut replacing Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady, and went on to perform in other Broadway productions including Kwamina, Brigadoon (Tony Nomination), What Makes Sammy Run?, and James Joyce’s The Dead (Drama Desk Award).
She also appeared in several off-Broadway productions, including Brigadoon and A Little Night Music, and regionally in Dear World at Goodspeed in Connecticut.
In 1990, she debuted her one-woman show, From This Moment On, at the Edinburgh Festival and at a benefit for the Long Island AIDS Association at the John Drew Theatre in East Hampton, New York.
In addition to her work on stage, Howes had several guest-starring roles on television, including Mission: Impossible, Marcus Welby, M.D., Branigan, and The Men From Shiloh.
Other projects include her narrations of Cubby Broccoli, The Man Behind Bond on the release of the DVD Diamonds Are Forever in 2000, The Making of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Musical (2002), and her appearance in the documentary, After They Were Famous – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2004).
Her son, the artist Andrew Hart Adler, confirmed the news to the Press Association news agency on Wednesday.
He shared an old photograph of the two of them together, saying she was now reunited with her husband of 48 years, Douglas Rae, who died earlier this year.
The London-born actress and singer Sally Ann Howes “died peacefully in her sleep” her nephew Toby Howes posted on Twitter.
Actress Emma Williams was among those paying tribute, describing Howes as “the original and best Truly Scrumptious”.
“She was the epitome of class, a generous and kindly soul who offered the sweetest words of advice and support to me when I met her. I will forever be grateful,” Williams said.
Fellow actress Caroline Sheen called her “a glorious inspiration”.