Charmian Carr, most famous for playing Liesl Von Trapp in the classic 1965 musical “The Sound of Music,” died Saturday at the age of 73.
She died following complications from a rare form of dementia, according to a family statement.
Carr played the oldest von Trapp child in the Oscar-winning musical, who memorably sang the duet “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.”
On Sunday, the studio issued a statement expressing sadness at her passing: “To the generations of The Sound of Music fans around the world, she was Liesl. To us she was ‘Charmy,’ a beloved member of the Fox family for more than 50 years. A true talent as well as a kind, gentle person she’ll be greatly missed but forever remain in our hearts.”
Carr was 21 when she performed in “The Sound of Music,” which went on to win five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Robert Wise.
She was born Chicago in 1942 and moved outside of Los Angeles as a young teen. Her mother was vaudeville actress Rita Oehmen and her father was musician and orchestra leader Brian Farnon.
Carr’s only other screen acting credit is the 1966 TV movie “Evening Primrose,” a Stephen Sondheim musical in which she starred opposite Anthony Perkins.
After leaving Hollywood, she went on to run an interior design company in California.
Carr wrote two autobiographical books: 2000’s “Forever Liesl,” in which she recounted her time filming “The Sound of Music” and 2001’s “Letters to Liesl,” which chronicled fan mail she got for the beloved musical.
Carr is survived by brothers and sisters, two children, a niece, and four grandchildren.
The Sound of Music lost a beloved member of the family w/ the passing of Charmian Carr. She will be forever missed. pic.twitter.com/ehqec4uWrr
— 20th Century Studios (@20thcentury) September 18, 2016