You know that feeling when you hear a single piano chord and suddenly you're standing on an Austrian hilltop? That's the power of the 1965 film. But honestly, when we talk about who played in Sound of Music, people usually just think of Julie Andrews and maybe Christopher Plummer if they’re feeling fancy. There is so much more to it. The casting of this movie was a literal lightning-in-a-bottle moment that almost didn't happen the way we remember it.
The hills were alive, sure. But the set was also full of growing kids, a lead actor who nicknamed the movie "The Sound of Mucus," and a debutante who had never filmed a movie in her life.
The Woman Who Saved 20th Century Fox
Julie Andrews wasn't even the first choice for some people at the studio. Can you imagine? Before she became Maria Kutschera (later von Trapp), producers were looking at stars like Shirley Jones or Anne Bancroft. But Walt Disney actually played a huge role here. He let the Sound of Music producers see some early footage of Mary Poppins before it was released. The second they saw her, the deal was basically sealed.
She was young. She was vibrant. Most importantly, her voice had that crystal-clear, four-octave range that made songs like "The Lonely Goatherd" seem easy, even though they’re a vocal nightmare. Andrews brought a specific kind of "tomboyish" energy to Maria that balanced out the sugary sweetness of the script. If Maria had been too delicate, the movie would have collapsed under its own weight.
The Captain Who Didn't Want to Be There
Then there’s Christopher Plummer. He played Captain Georg von Trapp with such a stern, icy exterior that it made the eventual "Edelweiss" moment hit like a freight train. But behind the scenes? Plummer was kinda miserable. He was a "serious" stage actor who thought the movie was too sentimental.
He famously ate and drank his way through filming in Salzburg to cope with his boredom, which led to his costumes having to be let out. Honestly, that grumpiness actually helped his performance. It made the Captain’s transformation from a whistle-blowing disciplinarian to a loving father feel earned rather than forced. Interestingly, his singing was mostly dubbed by Bill Lee, though Plummer did actually record his own vocals—the filmmakers just decided Lee’s voice was a better "fit" for the era’s musical style.
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The Seven Von Trapp Children: Where Are They Now?
The kids are usually what people search for when they ask who played in Sound of Music. They weren't just background actors; they were the heart of the film.
Charmian Carr played Liesl. She was 21 playing 16, and she had never acted professionally before. She won the role over hundreds of other girls, including Mia Farrow! Carr’s performance in "16 Going on 17" remains a masterclass in youthful elegance, despite the fact that she actually injured her ankle during the gazebo scene and had to finish it in a bandage.
Nicholas Hammond was Friedrich. He later became the first live-action Spider-Man in the 1970s TV series. During filming, he grew so much that he was taller than Liesl by the end, so he had to stand in holes or go without shoes to look younger.
Heather Menzies (Louisa) was a natural spitfire. She later starred in the cult classic Piranha and remained close with the cast until her passing in 2017.
Duane Chase played Kurt. He left acting shortly after the film to pursue a career in geology and forestry. It’s a classic "Hollywood to real world" pivot.
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Angela Cartwright was Brigitta. You probably recognize her from Lost in Space. She was already a seasoned pro by the time she got to Salzburg.
Debbie Turner (Marta) took a different path, eventually starting her own floral design business.
Kym Karath played little Gretl. She was only five years old. During the boat tipping scene, she couldn't swim, and she famously threw up on Heather Menzies after swallowing too much lake water.
The "Other" Adults You Might Have Forgotten
We have to talk about Eleanor Parker. She played the Baroness Elsa von Schraeder. In any other movie, she’d be the villain, but Parker played her with such sophistication and dignity that you actually feel a little bad for her when she realizes the Captain is in love with the governess. She doesn't scream; she just exits with grace. It’s a brilliant bit of acting.
And then there’s Richard Haydn as Max Detweiler. He provided the cynical, witty comic relief that the movie desperately needed. His chemistry with Parker and Plummer gave the "adult" scenes a layer of social commentary about the encroaching Nazi occupation that the younger viewers might miss.
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Peggy Wood played the Mother Abbess. Her rendition of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" is legendary, though like Plummer, her singing was assisted by a playback singer (Margery McKay). Wood received an Academy Award nomination for the role, providing the moral compass for Maria’s journey.
Why This Specific Cast Worked
It wasn't just about talent. It was about the chemistry of a group of people stuck in Austria during a very rainy summer. The "kids" became a real family unit. Julie Andrews acted as a mentor to them, and that bond translates onto the screen. When you see them huddled together during the thunderstorm for "My Favorite Things," that's not just acting. They actually liked each other.
The film also featured real-life Broadway veterans and character actors who filled out the edges. Portraying the darker side of the story were actors like Ben Wright (Herr Zeller), who brought the terrifying reality of the Anschluss to the forefront. The contrast between the Von Trapp family's harmony and the rigid, cold presence of the Third Reich is what gives the movie its stakes. Without that tension, it's just a movie about a nun who likes to sing.
The Real People vs. The Actors
It’s worth noting that the real Maria von Trapp actually had a cameo in the film! You can see her walking in the background during "I Have Confidence." However, the real family was quite different from the actors who played in Sound of Music. The real Captain was reportedly much kinder and less stern than Plummer’s version, while the real Maria was often the disciplinarian. Hollywood flipped the script to make the narrative more dramatic, and clearly, it worked.
What to Do Next if You're a Fan
If you want to dive deeper into the world of the Von Trapps, skip the basic trivia sites and go straight to the source material.
- Read "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers" by the real Maria von Trapp. It's wild to see how much the movie changed for the sake of pacing.
- Watch "The Rodgers & Hammerstein Cinematic Collection" to see how the lighting and sound design of this era compared to other musicals like The King and I.
- Track down the 40th Anniversary reunion footage. Seeing the "children" as adults sitting with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer is one of the most heartwarming bits of Hollywood history you'll ever find. It confirms that the bond you see on screen was 100% authentic.
The casting was a gamble. A stage star, a Shakespearean grump, and seven random kids. But decades later, we’re still talking about them because they didn't just play characters—they created a cultural landmark.