The Sound Of Music Cast: Where Are The Von Trapp Kids Now? (60th Anniversary Update 2025)
Few films in cinematic history maintain the enduring magic and global appeal of The Sound of Music. Released in 1965, the movie adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical quickly became a cultural phenomenon, turning its cast—from the legendary Dame Julie Andrews to the seven relatively unknown child actors—into Hollywood royalty. As of December 2025, the film is celebrating its 60th anniversary, a bittersweet milestone that sees the remaining members of the iconic cast reflecting on their enduring bond and the movie’s monumental legacy.
This article dives deep into the lives of the original The Sound of Music film cast, providing the most current and up-to-date information on their careers, personal lives, and recent reunions, including a look at the exciting projects Dame Julie Andrews is directing and the 2025 activities of the surviving Von Trapp children. The film’s lasting impact is not just in its music, but in the unbreakable family it created behind the scenes.
The Sound of Music Principal Cast: A Complete Biography and Profile
The core cast of The Sound of Music features some of the biggest names in cinema history and a group of child actors whose lives were forever changed by the experience. This list provides a snapshot of the main cast, their roles, and their current status as of late 2025.
- Julie Andrews (Maria): Born October 1, 1935. Role: Maria Augusta von Trapp. Status: Active as an actress, director, and author.
- Christopher Plummer (Captain von Trapp): Born December 13, 1929. Role: Captain Georg von Trapp. Status: Deceased (February 5, 2021).
- Eleanor Parker (Baroness Schraeder): Born June 26, 1922. Role: Baroness Elsa von Schraeder. Status: Deceased (December 9, 2013).
- Richard Haydn (Max Detweiler): Born March 10, 1905. Role: Max Detweiler. Status: Deceased (April 25, 1985).
- Charmian Carr (Liesl von Trapp): Born December 27, 1942. Role: Liesl (Age 16). Status: Deceased (September 17, 2016).
- Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich von Trapp): Born May 15, 1950. Role: Friedrich (Age 14). Status: Active actor, writer, and director based in Australia.
- Heather Menzies-Urich (Louisa von Trapp): Born December 3, 1949. Role: Louisa (Age 13). Status: Deceased (December 24, 2017).
- Duane Chase (Kurt von Trapp): Born August 12, 1950. Role: Kurt (Age 11). Status: Retired from acting; works as a geologist and forester.
- Angela Cartwright (Brigitta von Trapp): Born September 9, 1952. Role: Brigitta (Age 10). Status: Active photographer, artist, and author.
- Debbie Turner (Marta von Trapp): Born September 5, 1956. Role: Marta (Age 7). Status: Floral designer and entrepreneur.
- Kym Karath (Gretl von Trapp): Born August 4, 1958. Role: Gretl (Age 5). Status: Active in the film's anniversary events and interviews.
Dame Julie Andrews and the Remaining Cast’s Current Triumphs (2025)
While the film’s 60th anniversary is a time for remembrance, the surviving cast members, especially the star, Dame Julie Andrews, and the remaining Von Trapp children, continue to achieve remarkable success in their respective fields, proving that the hills are still very much alive with the sound of their work.
Julie Andrews: Directing, Voice Work, and A 2025 Emmy Win
Julie Andrews, the beloved Maria, has transitioned into a highly respected director, author, and voice actress. In 2025, she won the Emmy for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for her role as Lady Whistledown in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, proving her voice remains one of the most iconic in entertainment.
Beyond her voice work, Andrews has been actively involved in theatre. She is directing a revival of The Great American Mousical, which features new orchestrations and scenes. Furthermore, as she approaches her 90th birthday, a new celebratory documentary, Julie Andrews at 90: In Her Own Words, has been released, chronicling her extraordinary career from the stage to the screen.
Her dedication to children's literature also continues, with her popular book series written alongside her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, maintaining her connection with new generations of fans.
The Surviving Von Trapp Children: Salzburg Tours and New Films
The actors who played the younger Von Trapp siblings—Nicholas Hammond, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, and Kym Karath—have maintained an unusually close bond, often referring to themselves as a true family. Their recent activities center around the film's 60th anniversary and their enduring careers:
- Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich): The eldest boy, Nicholas Hammond, is a prolific actor, writer, and director based in Sydney, Australia. Most recently, he appeared in the 2025 film The Travellers, directed by Bruce Beresford. He also frequently appears at fan conventions across Australia and beyond, including Supanova 2025, to meet fans of the film and his later work in Spider-Man.
- Angela Cartwright (Brigitta): A multi-talented artist, Angela Cartwright has carved out a successful career as a photographer, visual artist, and author, moving away from traditional acting. In a special nod to the film's anniversary, she is hosting a "Travel Quest" tour to Salzburg, Austria, and Bavaria in April/May 2025, where she will share her personal memories of shooting the movie on location.
- Duane Chase (Kurt): Duane Chase is the most notable example of an actor who completely left the industry. He pursued his passion for the natural world, graduating with a degree in geology and dedicating his life to forestry and geology work in Washington State. While he participates in reunions, his professional life remains rooted in the sciences.
- Kym Karath (Gretl): The youngest sibling, Kym Karath, has been very active in recent years, giving interviews about the film's lasting impact. She has hinted that a documentary about the cast's lasting friendship and the making of the film is currently in the works, making her a key figure in the 60th-anniversary celebrations.
- Debbie Turner (Marta): Debbie Turner, who played the third-youngest, Marta, became a successful floral designer and entrepreneur in Colorado. She channels her creativity into her business, occasionally participating in cast reunions to celebrate the film.
The Sound of Loss: Remembering Christopher Plummer and the Von Trapp Sisters
The 60th anniversary is marked with a sense of loss, as several of the main cast members have passed away, including the patriarch, Christopher Plummer, and two of the Von Trapp daughters, Charmian Carr and Heather Menzies-Urich. Their legacies remain central to the film's story.
Christopher Plummer’s Enduring Legacy
Christopher Plummer, who played the stern but ultimately loving Captain Georg von Trapp, passed away in February 2021 at the age of 91. Plummer famously had a complex relationship with the film, often referring to it as "The Sound of Mucus" early in his career due to its saccharine nature. However, in later years, he embraced its success, acknowledging that the film gave him a career that allowed him to pursue the classical roles he loved. His Oscar win in 2012 for Beginners solidified his reputation as a great of the stage and screen, far beyond the confines of Captain Von Trapp.
The Loss of Liesl and Louisa
The cast suffered the loss of two of the older Von Trapp sisters in quick succession. Charmian Carr, who played the eldest, Liesl ("I am sixteen going on seventeen"), passed away in 2016 at the age of 73 from complications related to a rare form of dementia.
Heather Menzies-Urich, who played Louisa, passed away on Christmas Eve in 2017 at the age of 68 after a battle with brain cancer. Both actresses maintained close ties with their co-stars and participated in numerous reunions over the decades. Their passing has made the remaining children's reunions even more poignant, with the actors often sharing memories of their late "sisters."
Behind-the-Scenes Secrets and Lasting Topical Authority
The film's 60th anniversary has brought to light several fascinating, lesser-known facts that highlight the challenging and often chaotic production, adding to the film's topical authority and historical context.
- The "Do-Re-Mi" Helicopter Problem: The famous opening sequence of Maria spinning on the Austrian mountainside was notoriously difficult to film. The downdraft from the camera helicopter repeatedly knocked Julie Andrews to the ground. She later recalled swallowing "half of Austria" in dirt and grass during the numerous takes.
- The Boat Scene Disaster: The scene where the Von Trapp children fall out of the boat was a genuine accident. Kym Karath (Gretl) nearly drowned after swallowing a significant amount of water. It was Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich) who pulled her to safety, a moment that cemented the real-life bond between the young actors.
- The Real Maria's Rights Sale: Maria von Trapp sold the rights to her life story for a modest sum, far less than what the film eventually earned. This financial decision later became a point of contention and a cautionary tale in Hollywood history.
The enduring success of The Sound of Music is a testament not only to the timeless music and story but also to the authentic, lifelong connections forged among its cast. As the remaining stars celebrate the 60th anniversary in 2025, their shared history and current accomplishments ensure that their story—and their music—will continue to resonate for decades to come.
Detail Author:
- Name : Ms. Vivian Donnelly
- Username : aliya17
- Email : aiyana79@brown.org
- Birthdate : 1975-09-16
- Address : 729 Wehner Road Suite 545 West Shannyhaven, OR 53367-7941
- Phone : +1-830-859-6304
- Company : Hills-Wilkinson
- Job : Occupational Therapist Assistant
- Bio : Qui ea error molestias nemo. Vel similique et sint aut. Illo veniam et enim velit sed ut quos earum.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/koss2011
- username : koss2011
- bio : Delectus quaerat eum quod dolore reiciendis iusto. Et placeat odit minus libero. Velit provident sed deserunt voluptas.
- followers : 125
- following : 728
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/koss2000
- username : koss2000
- bio : Possimus dolore nihil placeat qui.
- followers : 6617
- following : 530
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/deron_id
- username : deron_id
- bio : Blanditiis dignissimos nisi rerum consectetur omnis dolore qui.
- followers : 3650
- following : 663
