for many. It follows the story of Maria, played by Julie Andrews, who leaves a convent in Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer, and a lot of singing and dancing (which is nothing short of delightful, might I add) ensues. The 1965 film won five Oscars, including Best Picture.
And now, in sad news, an actor who played one of the von Trapp children has passed away during the time of year the film is rewatched by many families across the world. Heather Menzies-Urich, who played the third-eldest child Louisa, has died aged 68 on
Eve.
Louisa, of course, was one of the cheekier children, having placed spiders in the bed of the previous governess, and at first tricking Maria by telling her that her name is Brigitta.
The Canadian-born actor was just 14 years old during the filming of the movie.
The estate of The Sound of Music creators, Rodgers and Hammerstein, were the ones to announce her death to the public. Menzies-Urich died on Christmas Eve surrounded by her family after she was diagnosed with brain
only one month ago.
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Her eldest child Ryan Urich told TMZ: "She was an actress, a ballerina and loved living her life to the fullest.
"She was not in any pain but, nearly 4 weeks after her diagnosis of terminal brain cancer, she had enough and took her last breath on this earth at 7:22pm."
She has two daughters who also precede her, named Allison and Emily, whom she had together with her husband
and fellow actor Robert Urich, who had the three children together. He died in 2002 aged 55, also from cancer.
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Nicholas Hammond, who played Louisa's older brother Friedrich in the film, tweeted his own condolences for the late actress. "A very sad day for all members of the Sound of Music family," he wrote, tagging fellow costars of the film. "We loved our dear sister Heather very much."
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Rodgers and Hammerstein president, Ted Chapin, remarked: "Heather was part of the family. There is really no other way to describe the members of the cast of the movie of The Sound Of Music.
"Heather was a cheerful and positive member of the group, always hoping for the next gathering. We are all lucky to have known her, and she will happily live on in that beautiful movie. We will miss her."
The actress had no acting experience before landing the role, but the film launched her into a career of acting in various television films and series, including Logan’s Run, TJ Hooker and The Bob Newhart Show.
It's a little over a year since Charmian Carr died, who played the oldest von Trapp daughter Liesl. It's a sad loss, but everyone will remember Menzies-Urich fondly. Time for me to go and rewatch The Sound of Music, I think.
