Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, Christopher Plummer lived among an eclectic group of relatives who inspired his growing creative talents. Plummer began acting in high school and went on to train for the theatre with the Canadian Reparatory Company in Ottawa.
He began his professional career in Canadian theatre and radio in the late 1940s, performing in both English and French and made his Broadway debut in 1954. Plummer has performed numerous roles at the Stratford Festival of Canada and London’s West End. His portrayal of the tragic king in the Broadway-staged production of Stratford’s King Lear inspired the New York Times to call him, “the most accomplished classical actor in North America.”
Widely known for his role as Captain Von Trapp in the classic blockbuster The Sound of Music, his later film work includes outstanding performances in films including Murder by Decree, The Silent Partner, The Insider, A Beautiful Mind and The Last Station. It was this last role that finally brought him recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences when he was nominated as Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Plummer remains one of the most respected and honoured actors performing in the English language. He’s won two Emmy Awards out of six nominations stretching 46 years from 1959 and 2005, and one Genie Award in five nominations from 1980 to 2004. For his stage work, Plummer has racked up two Tony Awards on six nominations, the first in 1974 as Best Actor (Musical) for the title role in Cyrano and the second in 1997, as Best Actor (Play), in Barrymore.
In 2012, Plummer won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his part in Beginners, making him the oldest actor to ever receive an Academy Award. In 2017, Plummer’s phenomenal talent was on full display when he was called upon to take up the role of J. Paul Getty in All the Money in the World, filming in just nine days and earning an Oscar nomination for his performance. Plummer is still a sought-after performer in his 80’s – age has neither diminished his workload nor his energy.
Plummer was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1968. He was given an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from New York’s Juilliard School and is the recipient of a lifetime achievement award by the Governor-General of Canada. In 1986, he was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.
