Legendary Actor, Christopher Plummer dies at 91

Christopher Plummer, who featured in The Sound of Music, won an Oscar for Beginners and was nominated for All the Money in the World and The Last Station, died peacefully today at his home in Connecticut, his family confirmed. Elaine Taylor, his wife and true best friend for 53 years, was by his side.

Born Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer in Toronto in December 1929, Plummer grew up in Montreal as an only child and was exposed to the arts by his mother at an early age.

He first studied the piano before devoting himself to acting, having decided that playing the piano professionally “was very lonely and very hard work”.

He made his debut on the New York stage in 1954’s The Starcross Story alongside the actress Mary Astor. It ran for just one performance – but did not stop him landing more stage work and then leading roles.

 Star Trek actor George Takei called the    actor a “giant of stage and screen”, adding: “Rest in eternal music, Captain Von Trapp.”

Sound of Music co-star Dame Julie Andrews said in a statement to the PA news agency: “The world has lost a consummate actor today and I have lost a cherished friend.

 Film-maker Mike Mills, who directed Plummer in Beginners has also released a statement. “It was a great honor to work with Christopher, to be in conversation with such a dedicated artist,” he wrote. “In his 80s when we met, I marveled at his intense curiosity, hunger to make something vulnerable, and his need to challenge himself. Christopher was both dignified and mischievous, deeply cultured and always looking for a good laugh.”

 The actor was married three times. He and his first wife Tammy Grimes, are the parents of actress Amanda Plummer.