Members of “The Sound of Music” cast reunite in 1973 in Beverly Hills. From left: Charmian Carr, Duane Chase, Heather Menzies, Nicholas Hammond, Julie Andrews, Angela Cartwright and Kym Karath. (Tony Rizzo photo)
By Tony Rizzo
HOLLYWOOD … For those of you lucky enough to visit Salzburg, Austria, see the church where the Von Trapps were married and pick edelweiss high in the Alps, your memories of the l965 film “The Sound of Music” are very special indeed. The rest of us must be content with impressions of the actors who played their roles so well.
Here’s what’s happened to the cast in the past 45 years:
Julie Andrews (Maria) is still very active at 74. She won an Oscar before “The Sound of Music,” for “Mary Poppins,” and received her third nod for “Victor/Victoria” in 1982. She still lives with her second husband, director Blake Edwards, and has written 23 children’s books. Her latest, “The Very Fairy Princess,” written with her daughter, Emma Walton, went to No. 1 on “The New York Times” bestseller list.
Christopher Plummer (Baron von Trapp), now 80, received his first Oscar nomination last year for “The Last Station.” He married his third wife, Alaine Taylor, in l970. They live in Connecticut.
Eleanor Parker (The Baroness), 88, married four times, has a son, Paul, from her third marriage and currently lives with her fourth husband, Raymond Hirsch.
Peggy Wood (Mother Superior) died in 1978 at the age of 86.
Richard Haydn (Max) died in 1985 at the age of 80.
Charmian Carr (Liesl), now 67, played opposite Anthony Perkins in the ’66 TV musical “Evening Primrose” by Stephen Sondheim. She wrote two books, “Forever Liesl” and “Letters to Liesl.” She has two daughters and divorced Jay Brent in 1971.
Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich), now 60, was in “The Lord of the Flies” and starred in mini-series “Moby Dick,” “On the Beach” and “Salem’s Lot.” He lives in Sydney, Australia, with Robyn Nevin.
Heather Menzies (Louisa), now 60, also acted with Julie Andrews in “Hawaii”. She never remarried after her husband, Robert Urich (“Spenser for Hire”), died in 2002. She has three children and two grandchildren and lives in Los Angeles.
Duane Chase (Kurt), now 59, stopped acting after high school and got his master’s degree in geology. He lives in Seattle.
Angela Cartwright (Brigitta), now 58, starred in the TV series “Make Room for Daddy” and “Lost In Space.” In ’79, she did “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure” and in 1998, a cameo in the film version of “Lost In Space.” In 1976, she married Steve Gullion; they have two children, Jesse and Rebecca.
Debbie Turner (Marta), now 54, moved to Chanhassen, Minn., in l985. She has four daughters with husband Richard Larson.
Kym Karath (Gretl), now 52, moved to Paris, got a degree in humanities and at 26 married Phillippe L. Equibec. They have a son, Eric.
Several special events are planned to celebrate the film’s 45th anniversary. On Friday, Oct. 29, you’ll be able to see the entire surviving cast of “The Sound of Music” live and in person on a very special episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” And on Nov. 2, the Blu-ray edition of the film will be released. Enjoy!
© 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.