'The Sound of Music' Trap Colonel Role Earns Global Fame
Outstanding Performance in 'Beginners'... Oscar's Oldest Winner, Renowned Actor
Christopher Plummer, the actor who played Captain von Trapp in the film 'The Sound of Music (1965),' passed away on the 5th (local time) at his home in Connecticut, USA. He was 91 years old. According to The New York Times, his death was influenced by a past accident where he fell and hit his head. His wife Elaine Taylor, who was nursing him, was by his side at the time of his passing.
He was a veteran actor who appeared in over 100 Hollywood films. His breakthrough role was in 'The Sound of Music.' The film is based on the true story of the von Trapp family choir, who fled their homeland Austria to escape Nazi Germany during World War II. The Captain von Trapp portrayed by Plummer heals his emotional wounds after meeting the lively governess Maria (played by Julie Andrews), and after many trials and tribulations, the whole family escapes to Switzerland.
He received acclaim for his sweet guitar playing and deep voice in the song 'Edelweiss.' He quickly rose to stardom and was active both on screen and stage. However, he was not fond of the role, considering it stiff and one-dimensional. In a 2007 interview with the Associated Press, he recalled, "The process of trying to appear realistic was painful." Regarding the fame he gained afterward, he confessed, "Being a star is definitely an extremely tiring and restrictive job." Nevertheless, in later official appearances, he admitted to being arrogant and praised 'The Sound of Music' as an excellent family musical.
He was the great-grandson of former Canadian Prime Minister John Abbott. Born in 1929 in Toronto, Canada, he nurtured his dream of becoming an actor while attending high school in Montreal before making his Broadway debut in productions such as 'Hamlet,' 'King Lear,' and 'Henry V.' Even after succeeding as a film actor, he consistently performed on stage, winning two Tony Awards for the musicals 'Cyrano' in 1974 and 'Barrymore' in 1997.
His film debut was in Sidney Lumet's 'Stage Struck' (1958). With his sharp gaze and dignified voice, he displayed a serious charm in various works including Anthony Mann's 'The Fall of the Roman Empire' (1964), John Huston's 'The Man Who Would Be King' (1975), Bob Clark's 'Murder by Decree' (1979), Michael Mann's 'The Insider' (1999), and Michael Hoffman's 'The Last Station' (2009).
He is the oldest recipient of an Academy Award in the United States. In Mike Mills' 'Beginners' (2010), he delivered a powerful performance as Hal, a father who reveals he is gay after the death of his wife, earning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2012 at the age of 82. During his acceptance speech, he famously said, "Oscar, you are only two years older than me. Where have you been all my life?" which attracted much attention.
In 2017, he was also the oldest acting nominee at the Academy Awards at age 88 for Ridley Scott's 'All the Money in the World.' Originally, Kevin Spacey, who played J. Paul Getty, was replaced due to sexual misconduct allegations, and Plummer joined late to flawlessly complete all scenes. Director Scott praised him highly, saying, "Plummer is an actor who can handle any role he is given."
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