Charmian Carr seemed like she was on the road to stardom after her bewitching portrayal of eldest daughter Liesl in The Sound of Music. Despite her good looks and obvious talent, the actress never managed to produce another hit. She had small parts in Take Her, She’s Mine, and Evening Primrose, a television musical written by the legendary Steven Sondheim.
Not long after, Carr decided to quit show-business and open her own interior design company in Encino, California. She looked back on the role of Liesl fondly and wrote two novels based on her knowledge of the character, titled Forever Liesl and Letters to Liesl. Sadly, Charmian Carr passed away in 2016 from complications of dementia at the age of 76.
Debbie Turner as Marta von Trapp
Before she got the part of Marta von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Debbie Turner already had acting experience doing commercials and television shows with her siblings. After the release of the film, Debbie quit acting to focus on her education. As an adult she fostered an interest in interior design and eventually opened her own company, called “Debbie Turner Originals”, which specializes in event planning and floral decoration.
The company was given title of “Preferred Florist” for the 2008 Republican National Convention, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Although she decided not to pursue a career in the entertainment filed, Debbie is still in touch with her Sound of Music cast mates and has reunited with them for some TV appearances.
Kym Karath as Gretl von Trapp
Kym Karath played the youngest of the seven von Trapp children, Gretl, and who could forget her? She began acting at the incredible age of three and appeared in Spencer’s Mountain, The Thrill of It All, and Good Neighbor Sam. While talking with Ellen DeGeneres Julie Andrews said about Karath: “[The children] were all lovely.
However, the youngest one was probably the most difficult for me, because she was just a tad heavy in those days. Today, she is this amazing gorgeous looking Monroe-esque young lady.” Considering the source, that is a pretty amazing compliment.
Eleanor Parker As The Baroness von Schrader
Eleanor Parker was the Academy Award nominated actress who played the sophisticated yet cold Baroness von Schrader, Captain von Trapp’s devious fiancée in the film. Parker received Oscar nominations for her roles in the films Detective Story and Interrupted Melody, but her role in The Sound of Music is the one generations of fans cannot forget.
Eleanor Parker passed away in 2013 from complications of pneumonia, at a ripe 91 years old, just four days before NBC aired their live version of the musical. When he heard of her passing, Christopher Plummer, who played Captain von Trapp said, “I hardly believe the sad news for I was sure she was enchanted and would live forever.”
Breaking Up The Band
The von Trapp family had many years of success as a traveling singing troupe, but by 1955 they decided to disband. The children, who were now all grown up, wanted to pursue their own interests. Four of the von Trapp daughters went to New Guinea in 1956 to perform missionary work, with daughter Maria deciding to remain there as a missionary for the next 30 years.
Rupert von Trapp became a physician while Agathe von Trapp moved to Maryland and became a kindergarten teacher. Werner von Trapp became a farmer and Hedwig von Trapp worked as a music teacher. The other children married, settled down and had children of their own.