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Child stars of iconic movie reunite 60 years on for a holiday in Florence… but can you guess which beloved box office hit they starred in?

BBG News

In a memorable film, they played roles that grossed more than $100 million worldwide and produced some timeless, cherished songs.

This week, it was evident that the childhood co-stars from “The Sound of Music” have maintained a lasting bond, sixty years since they initially came together on set.

Five out of the seven child actors who portrayed Maria Von Trapp’s (portrayed by Julie Andrews) charges have moved from Salzburg to Florence, spending a vacation together, having been reunited.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I find myself reflecting on a heartwarming moment shared with four dear companions, reminiscent of the von Trapp family from “The Sound of Music.” The photo captures us in the picturesque Italian countryside, savoring bottles of wine and engaging in lively conversation. Kym Karath, the talented actress who portrayed Gretl in the iconic film, was among us. A truly special gathering, indeed!

Kym captioned her photo as, “The Sound of Music in Florence – it’s us five!” #SoundOfMusicInFlorence

Kym stood beside Nicholas Hammond (aged 75), the actor who portrayed Friedrich, the eldest von Trapp son; Duane Chase (74) who assumed the role of Kurt; Angela Cartwright (72), known for her character Brigitta; and Debbie Turner (68), who played Marta.

Regrettably, Heather Menzies-Urich, renowned for her role as Louisa, passed away in 2017 at the age of 68, and Charmian Carr, best known as the eldest sibling Liesl, died in 2016 at the age of 73.

It was reported that Christopher Pummer, who played the role of Captain von Trapp, a former naval officer and the father of the children in the story, passed away in 2021 at the age of 91.

In 2022, Kym enthusiastically praised the strong bond of friendship within the surviving group, saying: “Not only are we friends, but we’re like an extended family to each other. As adults, we’ve grown so close that our lives have become deeply interconnected.

The movie “The Sound of Music” achieved immense success, marking history as the first film to surpass $100 million in ticket sales. In today’s dollars, that equates to around 2.366 billion, making it one of the top ten highest-grossing films ever produced.

In 2022, Kym, Nicholas, Duane, Angela, and Debbie gathered together to celebrate their former on-screen governess and future stepmother, Julie Andrews, as she was honored with the American Film Institute’s top accolade for her distinguished film career at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

The director of The Sound of Music, Robert Wise, chose Andrews for the role of Maria only after he had seen footage of her from the still-unreleased film Mary Poppins.

When the actress who is now widely recognized was still unknown to viewers, having acted only in the unseen Mary Poppins and another unfilmed production. After viewing only a few minutes of Andrews’ footage, Wise instructed his screenwriter Ernest Lehman, “Let’s go sign this girl before someone else catches a glimpse of this film and snatches her up!

Meanwhile, Plummer initially found the role challenging and declined it several times. However, he eventually agreed after being assured that he could collaborate with Lehman to modify some of the Captain’s character traits as they were in the original 1959 stage musical.

1963 saw my involvement in an extraordinary casting process for the child actors, which spanned both the United States and England. Over two hundred hopefuls auditioned, each one eager to secure a role in this production. Notable names like Mia Farrow, Kurt Russell, and The Osmonds were among those who screen tested, but alas, our paths didn’t cross in this endeavor.

The filming process started at 20th Century-Fox studios in Los Angeles during the spring of 1964, but later shifted to Salzburg for the memorable outdoor sequences that are characteristic of this movie.

Previously recognized primarily for her work on Broadway, Julie Andrews experienced a significant surge in popularity following the debut of Mary Poppins in December 1964, with further acclaim coming only three months later from The Sound of Music.

The film’s child stars though had varying fortunes after the success of the movie.

Liesl, played by Charmian Carr

Charmian Carr portrayed Liesl, the eldest sibling in the von Trapp family, who was well-known for singing ’16 Going on 17′ and had a romantic interest in Rolf Gruber. However, Rolf ultimately turned to the Nazi party and ended up betraying the von Trapps.

While pursuing a dual major in speech therapy and philosophy at college, Charmian was given an opportunity to audition for the production of “The Sound of Music,” which was organized by her mother.

Later on, she collaborated with Van Johnson for a TV show’s pilot titled “Take Her, She’s Mine”, followed by her performance in a Stephen Sondheim musical called “Evening Primrose”.

After tying the knot with dentist Jay Brent (their marriage ended in 1991), she decided to leave Hollywood behind to devote time to her two daughters, Jennifer and Emily. Subsequently, she flourished as an interior designer. In due course, she embraced the role of grandmother to Emma and Derek.

She died from complications related to dementia in September 2016, aged 73.  

Brigitta, played by Angela Cartwright

American-raised Angela took on the part of 10-year-old Brigitta at age 13, having already built a strong foundation in acting during her childhood years.

At the age of three, she made her on-screen debut as Paul Newman’s daughter in the movie “Somebody Up There Likes Me”, and graced our television screens for seven seasons in the American sitcom “Make Room for Daddy”.

Following “The Sound of Music”, she persisted with her acting journey, appearing in the television shows “Lost in Space” and “Make Room for Granddaddy”.

After having her two children, Jesse and Rebecca Gullion, she chose to pursue different artistic paths instead of acting. For over three decades, she has been a photographer, with her work showcased at her Studio City, Los Angeles studio.

In 2019, she briefly appeared as Dr. Smith’s mother, Sheila Harris, in the third episode of the second season of the Netflix revival of Lost in Space, which premiered in 2018. It’s evident that acting ability is a familial trait, as her sister, Veronica Cartwright, is renowned for her work on The X-Files.

Kurt, played by Duane Chase

As a young lad of fifteen, I found myself stepping into the shoes of eleven-year-old Kurt von Trapp. This wasn’t just any role; it marked the beginning of my journey in the world of acting. I continued to tread this path throughout my teenage years, gracing the screen in the 1966 film “Follow Me, Boys!” starring Kurt Russell, and appearing regularly on the Western TV series “The Big Valley.” It was an incredible experience that laid the foundation for my career as a lifestyle expert today.

In college, Chase made a change in focus, acquiring both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in geology, while also pursuing a career as a software engineer.

He resides in Washington and has plans to go back to his occupation in the field of wildlife and forestry. His wife, Petra Maria, originally hails from Hamburg, Germany, where she practices as a licensed nurse.

Friedrich, played by Nicholas Hammond: Actor and television writer 

From that point on, Nicholas Hammond’s career in entertainment took off, starting with his role in The Sound of Music.

Or,

The Sound of Music marked the start of an impressive and successful journey in the world of entertainment for Nicholas Hammond.

In a more casual and conversational tone, one could say: People might recognize him most from his portrayal of Peter Parker in the TV show The Amazing Spider-Man, but film enthusiasts will never forget him for his role as 14-year-old Friedrich, who introduces himself as ‘unimaginable’ upon meeting Maria.

Following his portrayal of the eldest von Trapp son, he subsequently landed guest appearances in hit series like The Love Boat, Magnum, P.I., and Murder, She Wrote, in addition to a recurring role on Dallas.

In the year 2009, he first stepped into directorial roles for the play “Lying Cheating Bastard,” which he collaboratively scripted with magician James Galea.

Hammond resides in Australia together with his partner, the actress Robyn Nevin, and he pens scripts for Australian TV shows.

He also has an English degree from Princeton to his name.

2019 saw him take on the role of director Sam Wanamaker in Quentin Tarantino’s movie, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Gretl, played by Kym Karath

Five-year-old Karath stole hearts when she played the youngest von Trapp child Gretl.

After appearing in shows like ‘Lost In Space’ and ‘The Brady Bunch’, she shifted her focus from acting to parenting following the birth of her son Eric, who had special needs, after completing college at USC.

With the help of other parents, Karath played a key role in founding the Aurelia Foundation, an organization dedicated to offering support and resources for individuals with special needs after they complete their high school education.

In 2005, Karath restarted her profession in the entertainment industry as both an actress and writer. It’s worth noting that she still has a fear of water due to nearly drowning during the boat scene in The Sound of Music, as she didn’t know how to swim at the time.

Louisa, played by Heather Menzies-Urich

Heather Menzies-Urich made her film debut with “The Sound of Music,” and went on to have a thriving acting career, gracing both the big and small screens in productions like “Logan’s Run,” “S.W.A.T.,” and “The Love Boat.

In 1969, she got married to John Cluett, however, their marriage ended in 1973. Later on, in 1975, she tied the knot with actor Robert Urich, and together they welcomed three children into their family through adoption.

Menzie-Urich chose to stay out of the spotlight following Robert’s passing due to a unique type of cancer in 2002.

She established The Robert Urich Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports cancer research and assists families in moving for specialized treatments. During her later years, she devoted herself entirely to this cause.

Menzies-Urich was confirmed to have terminal brain cancer in November 2017, and she passed away on December 24, 2017, just 21 days following her 68th birthday.

Marta, played by Debbie Turner

As a youngster, Debbie excelled both as an athlete and an actress, but ultimately chose to pursue sports following her role as Marta von Trapp.

Prior to her role as the mischievous six (nearly seven) year-old character, she had already gained extensive experience as a commercial actress, appearing in advertisements for dolls, toys, vehicles, and various food products.

In my journey, I traded my skiing boots for design tools, transitioning from a passionate skier and mother of four into an interior designer. Now, I’m the proud owner of a flourishing floral design business nestled right here in the heart of Minnesota.

She was asked to deliver flowers for a wedding taking place at a palace in Salzburg, Austria, which served as inspiration for the film sets of “The Sound of Music.

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2025-07-15 14:21

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