Charmian Carr
Carr in Evening Primrose (1966)
Born
Charmian Anne Farnon

(1942-12-27)December 27, 1942
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedSeptember 17, 2016(2016-09-17) (aged 73)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, Singer
Years active1964–1967
Known forLiesl von Trapp in The Sound of Music
Spouse
Jay Brent
​
​
(m. 1967; div. 1991)​
Children2
Websitecharmiancarr.com

Charmian Carr (born Charmian Anne Farnon; December 27, 1942 – September 17, 2016) was an American actress best known for her role as Liesl, the eldest von Trapp daughter in the 1965 film version of The Sound of Music.

Early life

Carr was born Charmian Anne Farnon in Chicago, Illinois, the second child of vaudeville actress Rita Oehmen and musician Brian Farnon.[1] The couple divorced in 1957.[2] She had two sisters, both actresses (Shannon Farnon and Darleen Carr). Her family moved to Los Angeles when she was 10.[3] While a student at San Fernando High School, graduating in 1960,[4] Carr was a cheerleader and played basketball and volleyball. "She had never had a singing lesson and had never tried to act" before she was signed to be in The Sound of Music.[2]

The Sound of Music

Carr was attending San Fernando Valley State College, studying speech therapy and philosophy,[5] and working for a doctor,[2] when her mother arranged for her to audition for a role in The Sound of Music. Rita Farnon had not asked Charmian if she wanted to audition for the part, but Charmian was sure her mother would consider getting a part in a film more important than earning a college degree.

In a newspaper article published November 9, 1964, Carr related the story behind the tryout as follows:

I was going to college and getting extra spending money by modeling in fashion shows in one of the stores. One of the girls who modeled with me knew that Robert Wise, producer-director of The Sound of Music had been conducting a four-month search for someone to play the part of 16-year-old Liesl. My friend, without my knowing it, sent in my picture and explained in a note that I sang and danced. I received a call from Mr. Wise to come for a tryout. It took me completely by surprise.[3]

Director Robert Wise thought Farnon was too long a surname paired with Charmian. After he had given her a list of single syllable surnames, she chose Carr.[6] She won the role of Liesl over Geraldine Chaplin, Kim Darby, Patty Duke, Shelley Fabares, Teri Garr, Mia Farrow and Lesley Ann Warren.[7] The film was on the whole a very happy experience for her. However, during the filming of her dance scene with Rolf in the gazebo, the costumers had forgotten to put no-slip pads on her shoes. She slid through a window of the gazebo, and she "had to complete the scene in agony."[8]

Later life

In 1965, Carr worked with Van Johnson on a pilot for a television program, Take Her, She's Mine.[2] Carr then appeared in Evening Primrose, a one-hour musical written by Stephen Sondheim, which aired on ABC Stage 67 in 1966.[9] During the same year Carr accepted the Golden Globe award for best picture, musical or comedy on behalf of Robert Wise. [10] The following year, she married dentist Jay Brent, and left show business; they divorced in 1991. She and Jay had two daughters, Jennifer and Emily. Later she became the grandmother of Emma and Derek.[11]

Carr owned an interior design firm, Charmian Carr Designs, in Encino, California, and wrote two books, Forever Liesl and Letters to Liesl.[12] She reunited with many of her co-stars from The Sound of Music on The Oprah Winfrey Show in October 2010 to celebrate the film's 45th anniversary.[13] In 2014, Carr recorded "Edelweiss" with the great-grandchildren of the von Trapps on the album Dream a Little Dream by the von Trapps and Pink Martini.[14]

Death

Carr died in Los Angeles on September 17, 2016, from complications related to frontotemporal dementia at the age of 73.[15]

Filmography

Year Title Role Type
1965The Sound of MusicLiesl von TrappFeature film
1965Take Her, She's MineTV-series pilot
1966Evening PrimroseElla HarkinsTV-series episode

References

  1. ↑ Carr & Strauss 2001, p. 205.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hopper, Hedda (March 7, 1965). "In Hollywood". Valley Morning Star. Harlingen, Texas. p. A7. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Real-Life Cinderella Story Makes Actress Of Therapist". Times Recorder. Zanesville, Ohio. November 9, 1964. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Classmates - Find your school, yearbooks and alumni online". secure.classmates.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  5. ↑ Hopper, Hedda (March 20, 1964). "Looking At Hollywood". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. 20. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Idato, Michael (September 19, 2016). "Charmian Carr, Liesl in The Sound of Music, dies aged 73". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  7. ↑ Carr, Charmian; Strauss, Jean A. S. (March 15, 2001). Forever Liesl: A Memoir of the Sound of Music. New York: Penguin. p. 24. ISBN 978-0140298406. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Liesl at 64 going on 70". The Daily Telegraph. London. December 26, 2007. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  9. ↑ Piepenburg, Erik (October 25, 2010). "'60s Sondheim TV Show Is Now on (Legal) DVD". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Golden Globe Award, 1966 - Excerpts - P. 2". YouTube.
  11. ↑ Shearer, Lloyd (June 3, 1973). "Intelligence Report". Oakland Tribune Parade. p. 189. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Sound of Music 'Liesl' actress Charmian Carr dies". BBC News. September 18, 2016. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  13. ↑ Pilkington, Ed (October 28, 2010). "The Sound of Music cast reunite". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Dream A Little Dream". Pink Martini. February 14, 2014. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Charmian Carr, Liesl von Trapp in 'The Sound of Music' Film, Dies at 73". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 18, 2016. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.

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