‘Sound Of Music’ Silenced: Christopher Plummer – Captain Von Trapp – Dead At 91

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The entertainment world was mourning the loss of a legend Friday with the death of Christopher Plummer, the Oscar-winning actor who graced stage and screen for seven decades, but is best remembered for portraying Captain Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music.”

Plummer, 91, died peacefully Friday morning at his home in Connecticut, with his wife Elaine Taylor at his side, according to his management team.

“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,” Plummer’s manager and longtime friend Lou Pitt said in a statement. “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.”

Plummer was a three-time Oscar nominee, winning in 2012 for his supporting role in “Beginners.” He was also nominated for a supporting actor prize in 2010 for “The Last Station,” and most recently in the same category in 2018 for “All the Money in the World,” a last-minute performance replacing Kevin Spacey, who was pulled from the film over misconduct allegations.

That nod made Plummer the oldest performer to ever be nominated for an Oscar.

Despite his long and celebrated career, Plummer is forever remembered as Captain Von Trapp in the enduring musical “The Sound of Music,” opposite Julie Andrews. Plummer frequently lamented the role, once calling the film “awful” and overly sentimental. But he could never escape the connection, and he sank his hands and feet in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in conjunction with a 2015 screening of the film.

Los Angeles’ Center Theatre Group paid tribute to Plummer, saying he “led an extraordinary career.”

“We were truly lucky to have had him join us on the Ahmanson Theatre stage for such inspiring plays as `A Word or Two’ and `Barrymore.’ So long, farewell, Mr. Plummer,” the CTG imparted in a Twitter post.

Actor Elijah Wood reacted on Twitter, saying, “What a legend.”

Television producer Phil Rosenthal wrote, “Truly one of the world’s greatest. I had the thrill of seeing his Iago opposite James Earl Jones’ Othello. Unforgettable. Rest in peace, sir.”

Actor Lou Diamond Phillips called Plummer “truly one of the greats.”

“A giant in his own time. Inspirational on so many levels but even more so because of his commitment to artistry and the craft even into his twilight years.”

George Takei, who crossed paths with Plummer with the acting legend’s performance as a Klingon commander in “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,” wrote, “The Sound of Music is a sad one today as Christopher Plummer has left us today. He was a giant of stage and screen, winner of an Academy Award for `Beginners’ … Rest in eternal music, Captain Von Trapp.”

‘Sound Of Music’ Silenced: Christopher Plummer – Captain Von Trapp – Dead At 91 was last modified: February 5th, 2021 by Contributing Editor

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