Christopher Plummer, the distinguished Canadian actor best known for his role as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, has died at the age of 91.
According to reports, Plummer died peacefully at his home in Connecticut with his wife Elaine Taylor at his side.
He won an Oscar in 2012 for the film Beginners and was also nominated for The Last Station in 2010 and All the Money in the World in 2018.
In the latter film he replaced Kevin Spacey, whose performance as billionaire J Paul Getty was removed.
His many other films included The Man Who Would Be King and Knives Out.
Along with becoming the oldest person to win an Oscar, Plummer also won a pair of Emmys and two Tonys during a nearly 70-year career.
Lou Pitt, his longtime friend and manager of 46 years, said; “Chris was an extraordinary man who deeply loved and respected his profession with great old fashion manners, self deprecating humor and the music of words.
“He was a National Treasure who deeply relished his Canadian roots. Through his art and humanity, he touched all of our hearts and his legendary life will endure for all generations to come. He will forever be with us.”
Born Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer in Toronto in December 1929, Plummer grew up in Montreal as an only child and was exposed to the arts by his mother at an early age.
He first studied the piano before devoting himself to acting, having decided that playing the piano professionally “was very lonely and very hard work”.
He made his debut on the New York stage role in 1954’s The Starcross Story alongside the actress Mary Astor. It ran for just one performance – but did not stop him landing more stage work and then leading roles.
Plummer made his film debut in 1958’s Stage Struck, directed by Sidney Lumet. He was nominated for a Tony the following year and eventually won the award in 1974 for playing Cyrano de Bergerac.
He won his second in 1997 for playing fellow actor John Barrymore in Barrymore.
The actor was married three times. He and his first wife Tammy Grimes, are the parents of actress Amanda Plummer.
CNN
