The Oscar-winning actor was widely known for “The Sound of Music.”
By Marisol Bo-oc | 08:44 AM February 06, 2021
Canadian actor Christopher Plummer, perhaps best known for his role in “The Sound of Music,” has died. He was 91.
The Oscar winner died at his home in Connecticut with Elaine Taylor, his wife and best friend of 53 years, by his side, his manager confirmed to ABC News.
Plummer is best known for starring opposite Julie Andrews in “The Sound of Music.”
Plummer, who began his career on stage, made his film debut in 1958’s “Stage Struck” and went on to a successful movie career that spanned more than six decades.
He was a veteran stage star who won two Tony Awards among his nine nominations.
He earned his first Oscar nomination in 2010 for playing Leo Tolstoy in “The Last Station.”
Two years later, at 82, he won the Academy Award for best supporting actor in “Beginners.”
He had two other nominations, one for famously replacing Kevin Spacey in the 2017 film, “All The Money In The World”—after it had already been shot.
Other films on his long resume include “Inside Daisy Clover,” “The Man Who Would Be King,” “The Insider,” “Up” and the TV mini-series, “The Thorn Birds.”
But Plummer remained best known to film audiences as the patriarch of the singing von Trapp family, starring alongside Julie Andrews in the 1965 hit musical “The Sound of Music.”
Actress Julie Andrews gave the following statement:
“The world has lost a consummate actor today and I have lost a cherished friend. 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.”
On a Facebook post, actress Anne Hathaway shared her memories wprking with Plummer.
“You were so kind to me when we worked on Nicolas Nickelby. I was 19, you were you; I was shaking in my Victorian boots, you were calm, steady, generous and so, so funny.
” It felt so special when it was you who handed me my Oscar a decade later. I was still the one shaking in my shoes; somehow you were still keeping me steady just with your formidable, warm, loving presence.
” In between you played Lear–my heart still pounds thinking of all the poetry you captured–and you conjured the performance of a lifetime in Beginners. Before all that, you were already a legend so many times over. I hope you felt all the love you created.
“Rest In Peace, Christopher Plummer. I love the way you lived, and the art you gave–both have inspired me to no end. I’m so happy to have gotten to spend time with you, and am so grateful for the memories.”