Sally Ann Howes, best known for starring in the children's movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, has died age 91.
In a statement on Twitter, nephew Toby Howes confirmed his "beloved Aunty" died peacefully in her sleep in Florida on Sunday (local time).
"My brother and I thought Sally Ann might hold on until the Christmas screening of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as this would have greatly appealed to her mischievous side," Mr Howes said.
Howes played Truly Scrumptious in the 1968 film, which was co-written by Roald Dahl and based on the novel by the same name that was written by James Bond author Ian Fleming.
Her performance opposite Mary Poppins actor Dick Van Dyke in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cemented her legacy in film history.
While the movie did not perform well at the box office, it has become a classic beloved by generations and was adapted into a stage production in the early 2000s.
As Truly Scrumptious, the love interest of Van Dyke's widow inventor character, Howes was a radiant presence on screen.
The iconic scene in which Howes is disguised as a wind-up music doll was filmed in a single take despite its challenging timing.
"That's my favourite," Howes recalled in an interview with Rosie O'Donnell.
"I did it on the set and I was a bit nervous about it because it was a huge thing with about 150 extras and everything and they put me up on this little box and off I went, and I got it in one!"
'You are finally with Douglas'
Born in England in 1930, Sally Ann Howes was the daughter of famous English entertainer Bobby Howes and actress Patricia Malone.
She was cast in her first movie, Thursday's Child, at age 12 and went on to have an established stage career.
Howes found stardom in 1958 in playing Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady — a role she also took over from Julie Andrews.
In 1963, Howes was nominated for a Tony Award for best actress in the musical Brigadoon.
She was cast as Truly Scrumptious after the role was turned down by Andrews, who had then already appeared in Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music.
Howes married composer Richard Adler in 1958 and adopted his two sons Andrew and Christopher. The couple divorced in 1966.
Howes later married Douglas Rae and the pair remained together until Rae's death earlier this year.
Andrew Adler shared a photo on Instagram of him and Howes together in 1967 with the caption: "You are finally with Douglas. All my memories of you live on".