'Mary Poppins' Original Cast: Then & Now

"Mary Poppins" is a Disney musical film released in 1964. The movie was awarded with a total of five Oscars. The story centers around the "Banks" family, led by the busy banker "George Banks" and his wife "Winifred", who is not busy at all with the family's household. Therefore "Winifred" is also committed otherwise and the children are shepherded by a nanny in the meantime. Since the last nanny had been absolutely overwhelmed with the two children "Jane" and "Michael" a new nanny is hired. "Mary Poppins" is the one who takes up the job, taking the two children under her wing.

"Mary Poppins" and the hedonistic "Bert" are good friends. Together, they show the children "Michael" and "Jane" what the real life looks like and how to respectfully deal with your fellow human beings.

Julie Andrews had the international breakthrough with her impressive portrayal of the world's most famous nanny "Mary Poppins". She's a highly successful actress and starred in countless movies – including The Sound of Music The Princess Diaries or Tooth Fairy. Furthermore Andrews lent her voice to numerous productions like Shrek or Enchanted. Over the years, Julie Andrews received quite a few prizes, including three Golden Globes and also an Oscar for her "Mary Poppins" performance. In recent years, Julie Andrews established herself as a successful children's book writer as well.

Mary Poppins is one of the most popular musical movies in the world still to this day. The film was a huge success mostly due to the musical performance. It was awarded with an Oscar for the Best Original Song and one for Best Original Score as well.

Dick van Dyke played the role of the chimney sweep "Bert". Like many other actors, Dick started his acting-career on a theatre stage until he was featured in his first movie Bye Bye Birdie in 1963. Since then, Dick van Dyke has featured in countless films and series like Night at the Museum and Columbo. Van Dyke also became famous by the television series The Dick Van Dyke Show or Diagnosis: Murder...

Matthew Garber played the role of "Michael Banks" alongside his colleague Karen Dotrice, who played his sister "Jane" in "Mary Poppins". Three years later, the dream team was reunited in the movie The Gnome-Mobile. Unfortunately, Matthew Garber died at the age of just 21 in 1977. The speculations about the reason for his early death went on for many years. Then in 2005, Matthew Garber's brother revealed in an interview that Matthew had contracted hepatitis on a trip to India and it eventually caused his early passing...

Karen Dotrice played the role of the cute little "Jane Banks" and it should be her most famous role. She was discovered as a theatre actress at the age of just four. In 1984, she withdrew completely from the film business to take care of her three children.

The "Banks" family is a typical example for the upper middle class in England. Resulting from that "Michael" and "Jane" grow up in a sheltered environment. "Mary Poppins" wants to show the children that one needs to work hard to afford such a privileged way of life. Therefore, she convinces the family man "George Banks" to take his children to a trip to his work. However, this ends in utter chaos...

Glynis Johns and David Tomlinson starred in Mary Poppins as "Winifred Banks" and her husband "George Banks".

David Tomlinson started his acting career at the theatre and conquered the movie industry five years later. During the second World War, he had to interrupt his career since he was drafted. After the war, he resumed his career as an actor and starred in Tom Jones as well as the popular Bedknob and Broomsticks. The actor died in 2000, at the age of 83.