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.
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The cast has suffered loses in recent years.
Bettmann / Getty ImagesTwo 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
Tinseltown / ShutterstockNicholas 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
Tinseltown / ShutterstockKurt 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
DFree / ShutterstockAngela 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
DFree / ShutterstockThe 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
DFree / ShutterstockFinally, 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.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for AFIIn 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."
