ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 14

People & Places

Obit

An actor’s actor Plummer got 3rd act worth singing about By Lindsey Bahr t’s one of the great Hollywood ironies that Chris- Itopher Plummer didn’t like the film that made him a legend. He was an actor’s actor and had cut his teeth doing Shakespeare. “The Sound of Music,” he thought, was sentimental shlock. And he wasn’t alone - reviews at the time were famously terrible. Then, like a personal curse, it would go on to be- come a universally beloved classic. He’d played Henry V and Hamlet and yet Captain von Trapp, he said in 1982, followed him around “like an al- batross.” But even Plummer, who died Friday at the age of 91, lived long enough to soften a bit. And why wouldn’t he? He also got to enjoy something that so few actors do: A genuine third act with terrifi c roles as “60 Minutes” correspondent Mike Wallace in Michael Mann’s “The Insider,” a widower who comes out later in life in Mike Mills’ “Beginners” and, most recently, a slain mystery writer in Rian Johnson’s who- dunnit “Knives Out.” He got Plummer three Academy Award nomi- nations in one decade and, at age 82, would become the oldest actor to ever win an Oscar (for “Beginners”). He still holds that title. “You’re only two years older than me, darling. Where have you been all my life?” he said to his Os- car in 2012. “When I fi rst emerged from my moth- Christopher Plummer poses for a portrait on July 25, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Plummer, the dashing award-winning actor who played Captain von Trapp in the er’s womb, I was already rehearsing my Academy film ‘The Sound of Music’ and at 82 became the oldest Academy Award winner in history, has died. He was 91. Plummer died Friday morning, Feb 5, at his home thank you speech. But it was so long ago, mercifully in Connecticut with his wife, Elaine Taylor, by his side, said Lou Pitt, his longtime friend and manager. (AP) for you I’ve forgotten it.” Dapper and dashing with an aristocratic air, Plummer could have been a leading man without the talent. With it he was a star with a character ac- Obituary tor’s spirit, which he later would attribute his lon- gevity to. “I’m thrilled that I turned into a character actor quite early on. I hated being a poncey leading man,” The oldest Academy Award acting winner in history he told Vanity Fair in 2015. “You really start to worry about your jawline. Please.” Voice ‘Sound of Music’ star Plummer dies Born in Toronto in 1929, Plummer was the great grandson of Canadian Prime Minister John Abbott NEW YORK, Feb 6, (AP): Christopher and fell for the theater at a young age. Classically Plummer, the dashing award-winning trained, he was a self-proclaimed snob about the actor who played Captain von Trapp in Andrews, Evans, Mirren, Shatner pay stage and resisted the allure of the big screen for a the fi lm “The Sound of Music” and at time. As if to prove his own point, his fi rst few fi lms 82 became the oldest Academy Award are not well-remembered. Then came “The Sound acting winner in history, has died. He ‘tribute’ to legendary actor Plummer was 91. of Music.” It didn’t help that he got the added blow NEW YORK, Feb 6, (AP): Reac- Trudeau in a statement. that his singing voice was going to be dubbed in the Plummer died Friday morning at tions to the death at 91 of Oscar “What an unbelievable loss. Few fi nal fi lm. his home in Connecticut with his wife, winner and “Sound of Music” star careers have such longevity and “The only reason I did this bloody thing was so I Elaine Taylor, by his side, said Lou Christopher Plummer: impact. One of my favorite memo- could do a musical on stage on fi lm!” he said. But Pitt, his longtime friend and manager. “The world has lost a consummate ries from Knives Out was playing he did get a lifelong friendship with Julie Andrews This photo shows Eric Church per- Over more than 50 years in the in- actor today and I have lost a cher- piano together in the Thrombey forming at the 2016 Stagecoach dustry, Plummer enjoyed varied roles ished friend. I treasure the memories house between set ups. He was a out of the deal. Festival in Indio, Calif, on April 29, He retreated to the theater for a time, which would ranging from the fi lm “The Girl With of our work together and all the hu- lovely man and a legendary talent.” 2016. Church will join forces to sing the Dragon Tattoo,” to the voice of the mor and fun we shared through the — Chris Evans, who co-starred be a refrain through his life. He won Tony Awards the national anthem at the Super villain in 2009s “Up” and as a canny years. My heart and condolences go with Plummer in 2019’s “Knives for Cyrano and Barrymore and would even get to Bowl, Feb 7, where Grammy-winning lawyer in Broadway’s “Inherit the out to his lovely wife, Elaine, and his Out,” on Twitter. go back to Shakespeare, as King Lear, later in life. singer H.E.R. will perform ‘America Wind.” In 2019 he starred as murdered daughter, Amanda.” — Plummer’s “RIP to Christopher Plummer, a Over his six-decade career, his screen credits the Beautiful.’ (AP) mystery novelist in Rian Johnson’s “Sound of Music” co-star Julie An- living legend who loved his craft, would prove wildly diverse. He was in “Malcolm whodunnit “Knives Out” and in the TV drews, in a statement. and was an absolute gentleman. X” and “Must Love Dogs.” He was a Klingon in a suspense drama series “Departure.” “He was a mighty force both as So lucky to have shared a set with “Star Trek” and Tolstoy in “The Last Station,” Rud- But it was opposite Julie Andrews Man and Actor. He was an actor him.” — “Knives Out’ director Rian yard Kipling in “The Man Who Would Be King” Variety as von Trapp in 1965 that made him in the 19th century meaning of the Johnson, via Twitter. and Captain Newport in “The New World.” a star. He played an Austrian captain word-his commitment to his profes- “My heart is broken, my dear Chris. “For a long time, I accepted parts that took me who must fl ee the country with his sion. His art was total, theater be- I feel your loss deep inside. How lucky WINNIPEG, Manitoba: A judge on ing a constant and the most impor- was I having you next to me in what’s to attractive places in the world. Rather than shoot- folk-singing family to escape service tant part of the totality of his drive bveen one the best experiences of my ing in the Bronx, I would rather go to the south of Friday denied bail to Canadian fashion in the Nazi navy, a role he lamented mogul Peter Nygard, who was arrested in to engage with storytelling. He was career.” — “Knives Out” star Ana de France, crazed creature than I am,” he told The As- was “humorless and one-dimension- fearless, energetic, courageous, Armas on Instagram. December on US charges that alleging he al.” Plummer spent the rest of his life sociated Press in 2007. “I sacrifi ced a lot of my ca- sexually abused women and girls he lured knowledgeable, professional and a “Chris Plummer knew every act- reer for nicer hotels and more attractive beaches.” referring to the fi lm as “The Sound of monument to what an actor can be. ing trick in the book — and many with promises of opportunities in fashion Mucus” or “S&M.” Plummer was also a legendary “hard-fi sted” and modeling over the last 25 years. A Great Actor in the truest sense.” that weren’t even in the book.” — drinker, alongside similarly inclined friends like That means Nygard, 79, will await his “We tried so hard to put humor — Helen Mirren, who co-starred Taylor Hackford, who directed Jason Robards, Richard Harris and Peter O’Toole. extradition hearings in jail. Nygard was into it,” he told The Associated Press with Plummer in his Oscar-nomi- Plummer in 1995’s “Dolores Clai- arrested in December in Winnipeg and in 2007. “It was almost impossible. It nated role of Tolstoy in “The Last borne,” in a statement. “Our intention was that we should be if were to be Station,” in a written statement. “He was what I call a friend. What called men. We must drink as much as we can. And faces nine counts in the Southern District was just agony to try to make that guy of New York. not a cardboard fi gure.” “Mr Plummer was a timeless ac- is the definition of a friend? Some- if we can still get through Hamlet the next day with- tor who entertained millions around body you know intimately whose out a hitch, that made you a man, my son,” he told Justice Shawn Greenberg said she Acclaimed has concerns about a history of Nygard the world and inspired many to pur- every breath and every thought that Terry Gross in 2008. “You weren’t worth anything not showing up to court and using em- A GIF of the captain ripping a Nazi sue the arts. A true gentleman and is so much like yours or can a friend unless you could.” ployees to tamper with evidence. fl ag became a popular meme in recent a consummate professional, his be someone whose life is intertwined presence both on and off the stage near and afar with great gaps of time Memoir Defense lawyer Jay Prober argued in years, and gave Plummer a new does court last week that his client’s health is of fame. will be thoroughly missed. On be- between meetings? That was the kind A little Fernet-Branca laced with creme de at risk behind bars. half of all Canadians, I extend my of friend Chris Plummer was to me.” The role catapulted Plummer to deepest condolences to his family, — William Shatner, who starred with menthe was his preferred “pick me up” before go- The defense had proposed an in-home stardom, but he never took to lead- ing on stage after an especially heavy night. But, security guard and 24-hour video surveil- his friends, and his many fans.” — Plummer in “Star Trek VI: The Undis- ing men parts, despite his silver hair, Canadian Prime Minister Justin covered Country,” on Twitter. he warned, stick to one. Two or three and “you’re lance to monitor Nygard if he was released. good looks and ever-so-slight English drunk again.” Federal lawyers told the court that accent. He preferred character parts, He slowed down in later years and would write Nygard has the means to fl ee and that the considering them more meaty. His new relationship. Trek” — as a Klingon, no less. But about his own antics in his acclaimed memoir “In charges he faces in the US are too serious memoir in 2012 was titled “In Spite of “Too many people in the world are Plummer had other reasons than the Spite of Myself.” Plummer had decided that he to allow for his release. (AP) Myself.” unhappy with their lot. And then they scripts in mind. ❑ ❑ ❑ was going to “keep crackin’” since “retirement Plummer had a remarkable fi lm re- retire and they become vegetables. “For a long time, I accepted parts in any profession is death.” And he did, marking NASHVILLE, Tenn: Hall of Fame naissance late in life, which began with I think retirement in any profession that took me to attractive places in his turn in “The Insider,” from 1999, as a turn- songwriter Jim Weatherly, who wrote his acclaimed performance as Mike is death, so I’m determined to keep the world. Rather than shooting in the ing point. “Midnight Train to Georgia” and other Wallace in Michael Mann’s 1999 fi lm crackin’,” he told AP in 2011. Bronx, I would rather go to the south “Then the scripts improved. I was upgraded! hits for Gladys Knight, Glen Campbell “The Insider,” continued in fi lms such Plummer in 2017 replaced Kevin of France, crazed creature than I am,” Since then, they’ve been fi rst-class scripts,” he told and Ray Price, has died. He was 77. as 2001’s “A Beautiful Mind” and Spacey as J. Paul Getty in “All the he told AP in 2007. “And so I sacri- the AP at the time. “Not all successful, but worth The Nashville Songwriters Hall of 2009s “The Last Station,” in which he Money in the World” just six weeks fi ced a lot of my career for nicer hotels doing.” Fame said in a release on Friday that played a deteriorating Tolstoy and was before the film was set to hit theat- and more attractive beaches.” Weatherly’s family confi rmed his death nominated for an Oscar. ers. That choice that was officially In 2017 in the thick of the fi rst #MeToo revela- on Wednesday at his home in Brent- The Canadian-born actor per- “He was a mighty force both as validated in the best possible way for formed most of the major Shake- tions, he made headlines when he replaced a dis- wood, Tennessee. Man and Actor,” Helen Mirren, his the film — a supporting Oscar nomi- graced Kevin Spacey as J. Paul Getty in Ridley Weatherly, who was also a star co-star in “The Last Station,” said in nation for Plummer, his third. “I was speare roles, including Hamlet, Iago, Scott’s “All the Money in the World” just six weeks quarterback for Ole Miss in the 1960s, a statement Friday. “He was fearless, just hopeful that at my age, my mem- Othello, Prospero, Henry V and a before the fi lm was set to hit theaters. Not only did wrote a number of hits for Gladys Knight energetic, courageous, knowledgeable, ory would serve me,” he said at the staggering “King Lear” at Lincoln the rush recall the energy of the theater for him, it & The Pips, including “(You’re the) professional and a monument to what time. “I had to learn my lines very Center in 2004. He was frequent star also proved professionally fruitful: The role got him Best Thing That Ever Happened To an actor can be.” quickly.” at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival his third Oscar nomination. Me,” “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be in Canada. the First to Say Goodbye)” and “Where In 2012, Plummer won a supporting Director Ridley Scott said he had “a And although he retained some of that charming actor Oscar for his role in “Beginners” wonderful experience” with Plummer “I’ve become simpler and simpler Peaceful Waters Flow.” with playing Shakespeare,” he said arrogance to the end, Plummer was also a man capa- “We were just made for each other. as Hal Fields, a museum director who on the fi lm. “What a guy. What a tal- ble of evolving, even about “The Sound of Music.” We grew our lives together. I’m gonna becomes openly gay after his wife of ent. What a life,” Scott said in a state- in 2007. “I’m not as extravagant as I “As cynical as I always was about ‘The Sound of miss him terribly and love him always,” 44 years dies. His loving, fi nal rela- ment. used to be. I don’t listen to my voice so Music,’” Plummer told Vanity Fair, “I do respect Knight said in a post on Twitter. tionship becomes an inspiration for his There were fallow periods in his ca- much anymore. All the pitfalls of play- that it is a bit of relief from all the gunfi re and car Gladys Knight & The Pips won son, who struggles with his father’s reer — a “Pink Panther” movie here, a ing the classics — you can fall in love chases you see these days. It’s sort of wonderfully, Grammy Awards for their performances of death and how to fi nd intimacy in a “Dracula 2000” there and even a “Star with yourself.” old-fashionedly universal.” “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “Neither Plummer entered his 80s worried about what he’d One of Us” in 1974. Weatherly helped be able to accomplish, but a few years in he had put write hit country songs like “A Lady Like You” by Glen Campbell, “Where Do I Put those worries aside. Her Memory” by Charley Pride, “Roses Levine Daniel. She said he died from Engaging and quick-witted, Levine “I’m enjoying myself very much. And in my 80s, and Love Songs” by Price and “Someone diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. She was best known for his call-in radio I had another career. I’m very happy about that. It’s Else’s Star” by Bryan White. (AP) and brother Jeremy were with him when shows. His banter with callers was often gone better than most other decades have,” he said ❑ ❑ ❑ he died. entertaining whether the discussions in 2018. “I played everything in the theater. I still “He fought so hard for so long, and revolved around problems with the Indi- would like to do something else in the theater, of CLEVELAND: Les Levine, a longtime went out on his own terms,” she said. ans’ bullpen or if the Browns could fi nd a course. But I’ve played all the great parts. And not broadcaster and the self-proclaimed Levine, a fi xture of Cleveland sports starting quarterback. too shabbily. Now I want the same great parts, if “voice of truth and reason” when it for more than 50 years, continued to One of the staples of Levine’s shows came to analyzing Cleveland’s sports work for several years following his Par- were his “How Come Quickies,” innocu- I can, on the screen. And so far, yes. I’ve played teams, has died. He was 74. kinson’s diagnosis. He was open about ous questions that led to puns. The only marvelous characters.” (AP) His death Wednesday night was his struggles with the disease and vowed rule was the question had to begin with, announced by his daughter, Dr Jamie that it wouldn’t slow him. Nygard Weatherly “How come.” (AP)