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Daily Living

5 Best Places to Buy Cheap Balloons & Party Decor

There aren't as many stores with helium tanks as you'd think.

Costco customers wait in long checkout lines with full carts
News

7 Harsh Truths Costco Employees Want You to Know

They've seen it all and have some advice to share about your common warehouse complaints—but brace yourself, it may sting.

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Wellness

If You're Over 48, Your Weight Could Lead to Poor Brain Health

A study found a link between waist-to-hip ratio and worsening brain connectivity.

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See the Surviving Von Trapp Children From “The Sound of Music” Now

Two of the former child actors sadly passed away in recent years.

Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and the von Trapp children in "The Sound of Music"
John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Considering that it's a multiple Oscar winner that airs on TV every December, there's a good chance that you're very familiar with the story and the songs from The Sound of Music. But, have you kept up with the actors from the classic film? Alongside Julie Andrews as Maria and Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp, The Sound of Music starred seven young adult and child actors as a the von Trapp children: Charmain Carr as Liesel, Nicholas Hammond as Friedrich, Heather Menzies as Louisa, Duane Chase as Kurt, Angela Cartwright as Brigitta, Debbie Turner as Marta, and Kym Karath as Gretl.


After appeared in the 1965 movie, some of the child stars continued working as actors, while some went down different career paths. Today, five of the actors are still around, while two sadly passed away in recent years. Read on to find out more about the real actors behind the von Trapp children.

READ THIS NEXT: This Former Child Star Just Revealed How She Lost Her $17 Million Fortune.

The cast has suffered loses in recent years.

Julie Andrews and the von Trapp children in "The Sound of Music"Bettmann / Getty Images

Two of the actors who played von Trapp children in The Sound of Music have died in the past five years. Carr passed away in 2016 at 73 years old, and Menzies died in 2017 at 68. Then, last year, Plummer died at the age of 91. The remaining cast members were able to reunite earlier this year at an event for Andrews.

Nicholas Hammond as Friedrich

Nicholas Hammond at AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Julie Andrews in June 2022Tinseltown / Shutterstock

Nicholas Hammond played the second oldest child (behind Liesl) in the von Trapp family, Friedrich von Trapp. He continued acting as a child star, and as an adult, he became known for playing another iconic character: Spider-Man. Hammond starred on The Amazing Spider-Man TV series in the late 1970s.

The 72-year-old is still acting today, though not as frequently. His most recent movie role was in 2019's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Duane Chase as Kurt

Duane Chase at AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Julie Andrews in June 2022Tinseltown / Shutterstock

Kurt was played by Duane Chase, now 71, who set off on a different career path after his brief stint as a child actor. According to Parade, he received a master's degree in geology and went on to work as a computer software analyst and designer for a geological software company.

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Angela Cartwright as Brigitta

Angela Cartwright at AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Julie Andrews in June 2022DFree / Shutterstock

Angela Cartwright played Brigitta von Trapp. Unlike some of her fellow Von Trapp siblings, she had made a name for herself before The Sound of Music—namely, for being one of the stars of the 1960s series The Danny Thomas Show. Following the movie, she starred on the series Lost in Space.

Cartwright is not acting as much these days as she did in the past, but she did appear on an episode of Netflix's Lost in Space reboot in 2019. Aside from acting, the 70-year-old is an artist, who sells her work and jewelry online.

Debbie Turner as Marta

Debbie Turner at AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Julie Andrews in June 2022DFree / Shutterstock

The second youngest von Trapp was played by Debbie Turner, who stepped away from performer after the film. The 66-year-old is now a floral designer for weddings and other events. She also designs Sound of Music inspired scarfs, which she sells on her website.

Kym Karath as Gretl

Kym Karath at AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Julie Andrews in June 2022DFree / Shutterstock

Finally, there's the youngest von Trapp kid, Gretl, who was played by Kym Karath. Now 64, she continued acting throughout the '60s and '70s, and appeared on episodes of shows including Lassie, Family Affair, The Brady Bunch, and The Waltons. According to a 2013 interview with Parade, Karath became focused on being an advocate for children with special needs, after welcoming a son with special needs herself.

The living cast members reunited earlier this year.

Debbie Turner, Angela Cartwright, Julie Andrews, Nicholas Hammond, Kym Karath, and Duane Chase attend the AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Julie Andrews in June 2022Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for AFI

In June 2022, all five of the actors who played the von Trapp kids got together to support Andrews when she received the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award. At the event, they came out from the audience to sing "Do-Re-Mi" to their onscreen governess-turned-mother. The entire group—with Plummer, Carr, and Menzies—had previously reunited in 2010 on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

"We do keep in touch, but not on a really regular basis," Andrews toldToday afterward. "I mean, Christmases, maybe birthdays, and certainly get-togethers, but we just bonded so hard that I think we're family anyway."

helium birthday balloons

5 Best Places to Buy Cheap Balloons & Party Decor

After 40 years in business, Party City announced in December that it would be closing all of its remaining U.S. stores. The company had accumulated nearly $1 billion in debt and filed for bankruptcy in Jan. 2023. Along with the pandemic (when no one was hosting parties) and rising inflation, executives said the helium shortage was part of the reason for the downturn. If you've ever been inside a Party City, you know just how robust their balloon business was—and this has left many wondering where to buy balloons now. That's why we've rounded up the best stores for party decor and cheap balloons.

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Costco is a beloved warehouse full of bulk buys and discounts on everything from groceries to electronics, furniture, prescriptions, and more. Americans love it, which is why the retailer is meeting demand with big expansion plans this year, including 29 new locations opening by August.

That said, whether you're a new member, thinking about joining, or have been a loyal fan for years, there are a few things you should know about shopping at the warehouse if you'd like each experience to be an enjoyable one. For that intel, you should listen to Costco employees. These seasoned warehouse experts have seen it all while working at the registers, behind the deli counter, inside the food court, or outside in the parking lot or at the gas station—and they have some harsh truths to share about your common complaints. By taking their advice—even though it may sting—you can navigate the aisles quicker, checkout faster, and even save some money. Read on to learn the harsh truths from Costco employees that will make you a smarter customer.

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If You're Over 48, Your Weight Could Lead to Poor Brain Health

For many people on a weight loss journey, shedding pounds is all about achieving a health goal. Most people typically use the threat of heart disease or diabetes as top reasons to slim down since being overweight can put someone at increased risk for both. However, there may be yet another reason to reduce your waistline: New research has linked excess weight to poor brain health.

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Names like Generation X and Generation Z are likely familiar to most of us—but do you know about the Silent Generation or the Lost Generation? There's a lot to learn about how each generation got its nicknames and when each generation starts and ends. So let's get started with a full breakdown of how these classifications started and who belongs where.

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Ross and Ollie's Bargain Outlet Announce Expansion Plans

The outlook for a lot of the retail industry isn’t exactly rosy at the moment. Major players like Kohl’s are scrambling to regain momentum after reporting a drop in sales and a dismal forecast for the coming year. Others, like JOANN, are closing up all of their shops nationwide and going out of business. But it’s not all doom and gloom out there: Some companies are actually ramping up business and getting ready to increase their footprint. This includes Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Ross, both of which have announced major expansion plans for the upcoming year.

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