Christopher Plummer was born in 1929 in Canada. He was classically trained in the art of stage acting, and shortly after his time in school, he made his acting debut with a role in Stage Struck. Following his first role, Christopher landed a job as lead actor at Britain’s National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, which he considered to be a huge honor. As time passed, he turned down roles that would have put his name in lights, opting instead to take smaller roles in lesser-known films. In 1965, Christopher took to the hills in the role of Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music and never looked back.
Since 1965, Christopher has appeared in hundreds of movies, documentaries, animated films, news programs and talk shows. Having appeared in so many different types of broadcast, it is no surprise that Christopher is the proud recipient of various Tony Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, Primetime Emmys, an Independent Spirit Award and a Golden Globe.
Up until 2012, Christopher had the reputation of being the finest actor of the post-World War II period who didn’t have an Academy Award. But at the age of 82, he won his first, for his supporting role in a small, German film called Beginners, playing Hal Fields, an elderly, gay father living with terminal cancer. Fifty-three years after his breakout role in Stage Struck, Christopher had finally earned Hollywood’s top honor. When he stood to thank the academy, though grateful, he joked, “At birth I was already rehearsing my Academy acceptance speech, but it was so long ago I’ve forgotten it.” At 82, he has become the oldest person to win an Academy Award. With this award, he joined an elite group consisting of nine actors who have won the Triple Crown of Acting – an Academy Award, an Emmy, and a Tony.
It’s incredible what people can accomplish later in life. Christopher Plummer is living proof that life doesn’t have to slow down as you age. With an Academy Award now under his belt, it’s fair to say that he is still as celebrated as he was decades ago.
Melanie Marzillo
Research & Community Education
Chicago Skilled Nursing
Chicago Senior Living