Christopher Plummer, a Canadian actor whose career spanned seven decades in film, television, and theatre, died Friday at the age of 91.
He died at his home in Weston, Connecticut, after suffering complications from a fall, his family announced in a statement, adding Plummer “died peacefully at his home in Connecticut with his wife Elaine Taylor at his side.”
Plummer enjoyed varied roles ranging from the film “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” to the voice of the villain in 2009′s “Up” and as a canny lawyer in Broadway’s “Inherit the Wind,” according to AP News.
However, he was best known for his role as Baron von Trapp in a 1965 musical drama film The Sound of Music, opposite Julie Andrews who played Baronin Maria von Trapp.
In a statement, Andrews said, “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.”
Helen Mirren, Plummer’s co-star in The Last Station, said, “He was a mighty force both as Man and Actor. He was fearless, energetic, courageous, knowledgeable, professional and a monument to what an actor can be.”
In 2012, Plummer won a supporting actor Oscar for his role as Hal Fields in Beginners.
The actor performed most of the major Shakespeare roles, including Hamlet, Iago, Othello, Prospero, Henry V and a staggering King Lear at Lincoln Center in 2004, according to AP News.
He also won two Tony Awards. In 1974, he won Tony Awards for the best actor for playing the title role in Cyrano and in 1997, for his portrayal of John Barrymore in Barrymore. Furthermore, Plummer won two Emmys.
Plummer was given Canada’s highest civilian honor when he was invested as Companion of the Order of Canada by Queen Elizabeth II in 1968, and was inducted into the American Theatre’s Hall of Fame in 1986, per AP News.
Plummer married three times. His first wife was the actress Tammy Grimes, whom he married in 1956. Their marriage lasted four years, and they had a daughter together, the actress Amanda Plummer. Plummer then married journalist Patricia Lewis in 1962 and got divorced in 1967. Three years later, Plummer married actress Elaine Taylor in October 1970. Plummer and Elaine lived together in Weston, Connecticut. Plummer had no children with his second and third marriages.
