Christopher Plummer at his Hand and Footprint Ceremony held at TCL Chinese Theatre Imax in Hollywood, CA, March 27, 2015. Photo © 2015 Joe Martinez/ Picturelux – All Rights Reserved.
Actor Christopher Plummer has joined the pantheon of stars who have cast their hand and footprints in cement outside the illustrious TCL Chinese Theatre Imax in Hollywood, California (Friday March 27, 2015).
The 85-year-old, best known as Captain von Trapp in the classic film “The Sound of Music”, became the 281st person to be recognized with the honor.
Earlier this month, Plummer revealed to CBS News that he hasn’t always been as fond of the 1965 big-screen musical, which is celebrating its 50-year anniversary this month. In fact he is tired of talking about the film that made it’s debut so very long ago. “One doesn’t go on and on talking about other movies forever and ever,” he said. “You make them, you love doing them. You even may respect them, but you forget about them because life goes on and you’ve got other things to do. And every so often this thing raises its head…I’m so sick of hearing my own voice talking about it.”
He goes on to say, “I just didn’t particularly think my role was the most exciting thing I’ve ever had in my life,”…”I had been spoiled — I already played Hamlet and all those great parts in the theater in England and Canada and New York. And then suddenly to be faced with Captain Von Trapp, it didn’t sort of hold a candle somehow,” he continued laughing. “But I thought I would be a good boy and take my medicine. And besides ‘I’d like to be in musical…It would give me an idea of what it’s like to be in one.’ So, for all those reasons I went ahead.”
Nevertheless, Plummer admits that he has many fond memories of making the film and that looking back, it is a positive thing in his life.
To start things off at the ceremony, William Shatner, who appeared with Plummer in 1991’s “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” spoke about following Plummer at various intervals in his life, to New York and Los Angeles ” I would, I’d follow you anywhere… but, you’d have to go first.”
Also at the ceremony, actress Shirley MacLaine gave Plummer a congratulatory kiss and introduced the 85-year-old actor, calling him a longtime “compatriot” and friend. The two appeared together in “Elsa & Fred.”
The Canadian-born actor beamed as he held up his cement-covered hands during the casting of the hand and fooprints which was emceed by TCM co-host Ben Mankiewicz.
The ceremony was part of the TCM Classic Film Festival, which continues through Sunday and includes a celebration of the 50th anniversary of “The Sound of Music,” in which Plummer portrayed the head of the Von Trapp family.
Some of Plummer’s other notable film performances include roles in films such as “The Return of the Pink Panther” (1975), “Murder by Decree” (1979), “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” (1991), “A Beautiful Mind” (2001), “Nicholas Nickleby” (2002), “The New World” (2005), “Inside Man” (2006), “Up” (2009), “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (2009), and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (2011). He has notably portrayed several historical figures including Rudyard Kipling in “The Man Who Would Be King” (1975), Mike Wallace in “The Insider” (1999), and Leo Tolstoy in “The Last Station” (2009).
Plummer will next be seen playing a manager to Al Pacino’s aging rock star in next month’s “Danny Collins” and will also share the screen with John Travolta in the crime thriller “The Forger.”
Christopher Plummer Trivia per IMDB:
Grew up in the village of Senneville, Québec, Canada.
Schoolmates with jazz piano master Oscar Peterson.
He and his daughter Amanda Plummer both received Emmy nominations in 2005. She won, he didn’t.
Trained to become a concert pianist before turning his attention to acting.
Is only 13 years older than Charmian Carr who played his daughter in The Sound of Music (1965).
Turned down the role of Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, and admits to regretting that decision.
Is the only actor from The Sound of Music (1965) to meet the real Maria Von Trapp in Vermont as a child.
Is one of 9 actors to have won the Triple Crown of Acting (an Oscar, Emmy and Tony); the others in chronological order are Thomas Mitchell, Melvyn Douglas, Paul Scofield, Jack Albertson, Jason Robards, Jeremy Irons, Al Pacino and Geoffrey Rush.
Has appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: The Sound of Music (1965) and A Beautiful Mind (2001).
Has worked with both Obi-Wan Kenobis on film. Alec Guinness played his father in The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964), while Plummer later played father to Ewan McGregor in Beginners (2010).