Nine of Christopher Plummer's best film performances – from 'Knives Out' to 'The Sound of Music'

The versatile, Oscar-winning actor's career spanned 68 years

Three of Christopher Plummer's most recognisable roles, in 'All the Money in the World', 'Up' and 'Sound of Music'. 

Canadian actor Christopher Plummer has died aged 91.

The celebrated actor's film career spanned seven decades, with more than 200 acting credits to his name, dating back to 1953.

He took on roles in a number of Shakespeare plays, including Hamlet, Othello and Henry V; but was best-known for his performances in Sound of Music, A Beautiful Mind, and Beginners.

Plummer worked into his 90s, taking on four roles in 2019, including Knives Out, The Last Full Measure, Cliffs of Freedom and the TV series Departure.

Most recently, he leant his voice to a character in animated film, Heroes of the Golden Masks.

Here we look back at nine of Plummer's most memorable roles:

1. Captain Von Trapp in 'The Sound of Music' (1965) 

It is impossible not to start with The Sound of Music; 56 years since its release, the film is as beloved today as it was when it first hit cinemas. The role that made him a star, featuring opposite Julie Andrews, Plummer plays Captain Von Trapp, who falls in love with kind-hearted nun, Maria (Andrews).

2. Hal in 'Beginners' (2010) 

In the film that won Plummer his Oscar, the actor starred opposite Ewan McGregor as Hal, a father who comes to realise he had not been living his authentic life for 75 years. A touching watch that weaves together flashbacks and present moments for Oliver (McGregor) in the years after his father's death.

3. Sherlock Holmes in 'Murder By Decree' (1979) 

Plummer's celebrated turn as the most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, was widely praised by fans and critics. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous characters Holmes and Dr Watson investigate murders committed by Jack the Ripper and discover a conspiracy to protect the killer.

4. Rudyard Kipling in 'The Man Who Would Be King' (1975)

Based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling, Sean Connery and Michael Caine play Danny Dravot and Peachy Carnehan, two former British soldiers who travel to the isolated land of Kafiristan. The pair are revered as rulers of the land, but they can't keep the deception up forever. Plummer plays Kipling in the classic movie.

5. J Paul Getty in 'All the Money in the World' (2017)

Plummer took over from Kevin Spacey in the Getty family biopic by Ridley Scott. The fast-paced story details the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, 16, (Charlie Plummer) and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother (Michelle Williams) to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty (Plummer) to pay the ransom.

6. Mike Wallace in 'The Insider' (1999) 

This examination of corporate corruption saw Plummer star as 60 Minutes' journalist Mike Wallace. The fictionalised account of a true story, retells the making of a 60 Minutes piece about Jeffrey Wigand, a whistleblower in the tobacco industry.

7. Charles Muntz in 'Up' (2009) 

Plummer lent his voice to a number of animated characters, but the most popular has to be Disney / Pixar classic, Up. He plays explorer Charles F Muntz, who is idolised by a young Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner), who grew into the elderly protagonist of the family film.

8. Harlan Thrombey in Knives Out (2019) 

This ensemble cast murder mystery was a 2019 hit, with Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon and Toni Collette all taking on roles. Plummer plays Harlan Thrombey, the head of an eccentric family, who dies on the night of his 85th birthday, leading to a winding whodunit.

9. William Fawcett Robinson in 'Somewhere in Time' (1980)

A cult classic romantic movie, Plummer plays William Fawcett Robinson, manager of beautiful model and actress Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour). A Chicago playwright, Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) uses self-hypnosis to travel back in time to 1912, to meet and woo Elise. A twist on the classic period romance film.

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Read more: 

Eight of Sir Sean Connery's best film performances – from 'Goldfinger' to 'The Untouchables'

9 stars who turned down major movie roles: From ‘McDreamy’ to Neo

'Sound of Music' star Christopher Plummer dies at 91

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