Matthew Garber, the British child actor best known for playing Michael Banks in Disney's 1964 film Mary Poppins , died at age 21.

Cause of Death

Garber contracted hepatitis in 1976 while traveling overland in India, likely from eating contaminated or "bad meat," according to his family. The infection spread to his pancreas, leading to hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis—a severe, often fatal inflammation. He passed away on June 13, 1977, at Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, London, and was cremated three days later at St. Marylebone Crematorium.

Rumors and Family Clarification

Early rumors circulated about drug use or alcohol contributing to his hepatitis, but his younger brother Fergus firmly denied this in a 2005 Mail on Sunday interview, attributing it solely to poor food hygiene during his travels. No evidence supports the drug claims, and sources consistently highlight the travel-related infection as the trigger.

Career Context

Garber starred alongside Karen Dotrice in three Disney films: Mary Poppins , The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963), and The Gnome-Mobile (1967). He retired from acting at 13 to pursue biology studies at university but stepped away from the spotlight entirely after his India trip.

Lasting Legacy

Fans still mourn his early loss, with online discussions resurfacing periodically—often tying back to Mary Poppins viewings or Disney nostalgia. His story underscores travel risks in the 1970s, when foodborne illnesses like hepatitis were harder to treat.

TL;DR: Died at 21 from pancreatitis caused by hepatitis contracted via bad meat in India; family refutes drug rumors.

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