Hollywood favourite The Sound of Music has bought joy to several viewers around the globe with its heartwarming storyline, outstanding character portrayal and catchy tunes.
The 1965 American musical was produced and directed by Robert Wise, and starred actress Julie Andrews in the leading role.
Based on the 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by writer Maria von Trapp, the film focused on the life of free-spirited Maria von Trapp and how the nun became the governess and mother of seven young children after she fell in love with their widower father.
After the theatrical release that lasted four and a half years, and two successful re-releases the film successfully grossed $283 million admissions worldwide and earned a total worldwide gross of $286 million.
But since the award-winning movie hit theatres around the world, many have questioned where the iconic stars from the classic flick are now. Daily Star has taken a detailed look.
Julie Andrews as Maria von Trapp
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Legendary actress, Julie Andrews played the iconic role of Maria in the film.
The postulant-turned-governess quickly developed a special relationship with Captain Von Trapp’s children and found love with the family’s stern patriarch.
Julie gained a Golden Globe for her role in The Sound Of Music.
The star’s career continued to flourish as she appeared in films Thoroughly Modern Millie, Victor Victoria and the Princess Diaries over the next several decades.
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Julie continued to collect awards for her roles in film, TV and theatre throughout the years and scooped up an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, four more Golden Globes, three Grammys, two Emmys and a Screen Actors Guild lifetime achievement award.
The star was also married twice and went on to have two children.
In 1997, tragedy struck for the Broadway actress when she discovered she had a lesion on her vocal cords.
Julie was advised by medics to undergo surgery for her issue and was told she would still be able to sing in a matter of weeks.
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But unfortunately, Julie was left with scarred vocal cords after her operation which unfortunately ruined her ability to sing.
In 1999, the actress filed a lawsuit against the doctors after she claimed she wasn’t informed of the risks.
Although surgeons tried to restore her vocals, in 2015, Julie said: “It’s nothing that is going to grow back.”
Despite the complications, Julie continued to work in the entertainment industry and recently voiced Lady Whistledown on the first season of Shonda Rhimes’ hit Netflix period piece Bridgerton, in late 2020.
Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp
(Image: Bettmann Archive)
Award-winning Actor Christopher Plummer had a very successful career after he played the head of the household Captain von Trapp.
The actor went on to appear in a number of films including The Man Who Would Be King, The Return of the Pink Panther, Malcolm X, 12 Monkeys and Syriana, to name just a few.
In his 80s, Christopher continued to break records having become the oldest actor to receive an Academy Award nomination at the of 88, for his work in All the Money in the World, in 2018.
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He was also was the oldest performer to become an Oscar winner after he took home a best supporting actor trophy for his work in 2011 film Beginners, at age 82.
Christopher was married three times and had one daughter Amanda Plummer.
But on February 5, 2021, at the age of 91, Christopher sadly passed away.
Confirming his death his family revealed he died two-and-a-half weeks after a fall that resulted in a blow to the head.
Charmian Carr as Liesl von Trapp
Charmian Carr played the eldest daughter of the von Trapp family. She was 23 years old at the time despite portraying the age of a 16 year old girl going on 17.
Shortly after the film’s release, the actress decided to hang up her performing boots and quit acting altogether.
She then went on to live a relatively normal life away from the limelight.
During the 60s the star also found love.
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And in 1967, the actress married a dentist and they had two daughters Jennifer and Emily.
The former Hollywood star started working in interior design, opening her own firm, Charmian Carr Designs.
In the years 2000 and 2001, she went on to write two books, both a nod to her famous role, Forever Liesl and Letters to Liesl
In September 2016, Charmian sadly passed away at the age of 73 from complications of dementia.
Nicholas Hammond as Friedrich von Trapp
(Image: The Sound of Music)
Young child actor Nicholas Hammond played the eldest son Friedrich von Trapp in the movie.
After the heightened success from The Sound of Music, the actor continued to work in the entertainment industry and went on to have a successful career.
Nicholas took on roles on popular series The Brady Bunch, The Waltons Dallas and the soap opera General Hospital.
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Later on in his career, he starred in TV series The Amazing Spider-Man during the 1970s and appeared in a mini-series on Gallipoli in 2015.
In the 1980s, Nichola moved to Sydney where he still lives today with his Australian actress wife Robyn Nevin.
One of his most recent roles was in 2019 where he portrayed director Sam Wanamaker in the Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Heather Menzies as Louisa von Trapp
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Actress Heather Menzies took on the role of Louisa von Trapp at the age of 14 with no prior acting experience.
But the part inspired her to have a short-lived acting career once the film was released.
Luckily the star gained steady work in the entertainment industry shortly after.
Heather later appear in popular television shows in the ’60s and ’70s
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Ranging from Dragnet and The Bob Newhart Show to The Love Boat and Logan’s Run.
Later on in life, Heather went on to marry twice, first to John Cluett and second to Robert Urich, with whom she shares three children with.
In December 2017, the star tragically passed away after suffering with brain cancer. She was 68 at the time of death.
Duane Chase as Kurt von Trapp
Duane Chase was 11 years old when he took on the role of Kurt von Trapp in the Sound of Music.
Providing viewers with his charming personality and natural singing ability his character certainly shined through on screen.
Although he featured in a few roles after the film, he didn’t stay in the Hollywood circuit for very long and eventually went back to school.
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The star went on to study geology in college and settled into a career as a software engineer in his adult life.
At the moment Duane lives in Washington state with his wife and designs computer software for geologists and geophysicists.
He made his last public celebrity appearance in 2015, where he could be seen alongside his Sound of Music co-star Heather Menzies.
Angela Cartwright as Brigitta Von Trapp
(Image: The Sound of Music)
Actress Angela Cartwright was the only British cast member in the film playing the legendary role of daughter Brigitta Von Trapp.
Angela’s character had a great personality which was reflected well in the film.
After the success of the popular 60s movie, the young actress landed a part Lost in Space.
She also starred in popular shows like My Three Sons and Make Room for Granddaddy.
(Image: Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Despite her television appearances in the ’80s and lending her voice to a few children’s projects in the ’00s, Angela decided to pursue a career in photography.
Some of her work has been displayed at her studio in Studio City, Los Angeles.
The star also married her husband Steve Gullion in 1976 and went on to have two children, Jesse and Rebecca.
Debbie Turner as Marta von Trapp
Actress Debbie Turner was 6 years old when she took on the role of Marta von Trapp.
As one of the youngest cast members, the star gave a sweet portrayal to the role.
Just like some of her on-screen siblings, Debbie also decided to turn her back on Hollywood and went back to school.
After graduating from college, the former child star met her husband Rick Larson at a ski resort she was working at.
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The loved-up couple later tied the knot in the year 1980.
Debbie and her husband share four daughters together and she currently runs her own event design company called Debbie Turner Originals which is based in Minnesota.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Debbie sold masks to fans from the material made from costumes that were used on The Sound of Music.
Kym Karath as Gretl von Trapp
(Image: The Sound of Music)
Finally, the youngest sibling in the von Trapp family was played by actress Kym Karath who already had an established career as a child star.
The young star continued to pursue her acting career and appeared in Lost in Space,” “Lassie” and “The Brady Bunch during the 60s and 70s.
Having already had Hollywood in Hollywood, Kym offered a great character portrayal as Gretl in The Sound of Music.
The actress later studied humanities at the University of Southern California and moved to Paris for further studies and to begin a career in modeling.
At age of 26, she married Philippe L’Equilbec and had a son in 1991 named Eric.
Kym returned to acting in 2005 but The Sound of Music seems to be her most memorable role to date.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
