Canadian actor Christopher Plummer, who achieved iconic status through his role as Captain von Trapp in ‘The Sound of Music’, has passed away. He turned 91. In 2012 he won an Oscar for best supporting actor in ‘Beginners’.
“Chris was an extraordinary man, who loved and respected his profession very much with the help of great old-fashioned manners, self-mockery and the music of his words,” said manager Lou Pitt. “He was a National Treasure who really enjoyed his Canadian roots. Because of his art and his humanity, he touched all our hearts. His storied life will endure for generations to come. He will be with us forever. ”According to his wife, Elaine Taylor, Plummer died of head trauma after a fall.
Plummer had an extraordinary track record. He was perhaps best known for his role as Captain Von Trapp in ‘The Sound of Musical’. He acknowledged this himself: “I can’t avoid the role. For a long time it drove me crazy, but I have taken peace with it. It annoyed me at first. Then I thought: ‘Don’t those people see other films? Is this the only one they’ve ever seen? ‘ It wasn’t even supposed to be a movie of mine, I just wanted to point them to other movies they should see. But I am very grateful for that film, to director Robert Wise, a true gentleman, and Julie Andrews, who is still an incredible friend. I was probably terrible to work with because I was so mad they wouldn’t let me sing. I had worked so hard on that, but they dubbed me.
He has also appeared in ‘Insider’, ‘A Beautiful Mind’ and ‘Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country’. He himself won an Oscar in 2012 for his role in ‘Beginners’. At the age of 83, he became the oldest actor to ever win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. One of his big mistakes in his career was his rejection of the role of Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, a role that catapulted Ian McKellen to the highest Hollywood regions. Plummer was also active on stage. He has won two Tony Awards in his career.
He himself was quite proud of his long and well-filled career. “I’ve done things that I’m really proud of,” he told The Guardian in 2018. “I’ve managed to complete the cycle of great, classic roles. I’ve played them all, some more than one. times. ” And he also loved the acting itself: “Acting is never boring. We all chug from time to time because it can be hard work, but it is never boring. Never.” He didn’t want to retire: “No, never. I don’t want to,” he said a year ago. “There are too many great things to do.”
He leaves behind his wife Elaine and a daughter, Amanda Plummer, whom he had with his first wife.