Christopher Plummer death: Julie Andrews remembers 'cherished friend' as von Trapp children bid adieu to 'dad'
Christopher Plummer had a brilliant second coming late in his career with films like 'Knives Out' and 'Beginners' in 2012. For the latter, he won an Oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal as Hal Fields, a museum director who becomes openly gay after his wife of 44 years dies. Plummer also replaced Kevin Spacey as J Paul Getty in 'All the Money in the World' and won his third supporting Oscar nomination. He had also been nominated for n Oscar for 2009′s 'The Last Station'.
However, he will forever and always be remembered in popular consciousness as the silver-haired "Captain", the authoritarian widower in 'Sound of Music' with seven children who falls in love with Maria, the nun-turned-governess, played by Julie Andrews.
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Cast members of 'Sound of Music' post moving tributes
“The world has lost a consummate actor today and I have lost a cherished friend," said Andrews, 85, to the press. “I treasure the memories of our work together and all the humor and fun we shared through the years. My heart and condolences go out to his lovely wife Elaine, and his daughter Amanda.”. Others who were part of the "von Trapp family", who are still alive, also took to social media to express their sorrow.
Debbie Turner, who played Marta in 'The Sound of Music', posted on Facebook: "Today we mourn the loss of my film daddy, Christopher Plummer. He was always very kind to me, though 'in Character' while we were filming. We had a love-respect for him as we knew he was the authority of the family von Trapp. I am honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him and be his film daughter. Rest in Peace, daddy." Turner recently had been in the news for her face masks that resembled the fabric of key costumes in the film.
Kym Karath who played Gretl, the youngest von Trapp child, wrote on Twitter: "Deeply saddened to hear of Chris Plummer’s passing. He was a lovely, brilliantly talented man, with a wickedly witty sense of humor. And he was extremely sweet to me. I will miss him."
Angela Cartwright, who played Brigitta, posted on Instagram: "A sad day to hear of Christopher’s passing.. What a full and long life. He was so very talented. You will always be my Captain. Rest In Peace." She included for an off-camera moment with the Captain, Plummer himself, looking very much like a fatherly-daughter duo, dressed in their "folk singer" clothes from the climactic moments from the end of the film when they are making their escape from Nazi soldiers.
Deeply saddened to hear of Chris Plummer’s passing. He was a lovely, brilliantly talented man, with a wickedly witty sense of humor. And he was extremely sweet to me. I will miss him.
— Kym Karath (@KymKarath) February 5, 2021
The official Twitter handle for "The Sound of Music' film also shared a note about Plummer's legacy "We're saddened to hear of Christopher Plummer’s passing. His legacy as our Captain will live on in THE SOUND OF MUSIC forever. Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this time," said the tweet, along with a clip of him singing the patriotic "Edelweiss" song from the film.
We're saddened to hear of Christopher Plummer’s passing. His legacy as our Captain will live on in THE SOUND OF MUSIC forever. Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this time.♥️ pic.twitter.com/hDV3q1opzJ
— The Sound of Music (@SoundofMusic) February 5, 2021
The clip also featured Charmian Carr singing with him. Carr, who played Liesl, the eldest von Trapp daughter, passed away on September 17, 2016. Heather Menzies-Urich, who portrayed Louisa von Trapp, followed her a year later, on December 24, 2017
Plummer embraced 'Sound of Music' legacy late in life
Plummer was famously not a fan of the film himself, once describing it as an "albatross". However, in March 2015, Christopher Plummer reunited with Julie Andrews for the 50th anniversary of their film to talk about it. Plummer said at the time, "As cynical as I always was about 'The Sound of Music', I do respect that it is a bit of relief from all the gunfire and car chases you see these days. It’s sort of wonderfully, old-fashionedly universal. It’s got the bad guys and the Alps; it’s got Julie and sentiment in bucketloads. Our director, dear old Bob Wise, did keep it from falling over the edge into a sea of treacle. Nice man. God, what a gent. There are very few of those around anymore in our business.”
Much to fans' delight, Christopher Plummer would also admit that he had a big ol' crush on Julie Andrews even though they shot together for only around 11 days or so in Austria in an interview with Diane Sawyer soon after the anniversary event. He told her that they “should have ended up together” but added, “there was no time because she had her children with her, which was most inconvenient.”