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.
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.[citation needed]
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 accepts the Golden Globe award for best picture, musical or comedy on behalf of Robert Wise. [10] The following year, she married a 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]
^ abcdHopper, Hedda (March 7, 1965). "In Hollywood". Valley Morning Star. Harlingen, Texas. p. A7. from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Real-Life Cinderella Story Makes Actress Of Therapist". Times Recorder. Zanesville, Ohio. November 9, 1964. p. 6. from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Classmates - Find your school, yearbooks and alumni online". secure.classmates.com. from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^Hopper, Hedda (March 20, 1964). "Looking At Hollywood". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. 20. from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^Idato, Michael (September 19, 2016). "Charmian Carr, Liesl in The Sound of Music, dies aged 73". The Sydney Morning Herald. from the original on September 20, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
^Carr, Charmian; Strauss, Jean A. S. (March 15, 2001). Forever Liesl: A Memoir of the Sound of Music. New York: Penguin. p. 24. ISBN978-0140298406. from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
^"Liesl at 64 going on 70". The Daily Telegraph. London. December 26, 2007. from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
^Piepenburg, Erik (October 25, 2010). "'60s Sondheim TV Show Is Now on (Legal) DVD". The New York Times. from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
^"Golden Globe Award, 1966 - Excerpts - P. 2". YouTube.
^Shearer, Lloyd (June 3, 1973). "Intelligence Report". Oakland TribuneParade. p. 189. from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Sound of Music 'Liesl' actress Charmian Carr dies". BBC News. September 18, 2016. from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
^Pilkington, Ed (October 28, 2010). "The Sound of Music cast reunite". The Guardian. London. from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
^"Dream A Little Dream". Pink Martini. February 14, 2014. from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
^"Charmian Carr, Liesl von Trapp in 'The Sound of Music' Film, Dies at 73". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 18, 2016. from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
External links
Media related to Charmian Carr at Wikimedia Commons
charmian, carr, born, charmian, anne, farnon, december, 1942, september, 2016, american, actress, best, known, role, liesl, eldest, trapp, daughter, 1965, film, version, sound, music, carr, evening, primrose, 1966, borncharmian, anne, farnon, 1942, december, 1. 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 Charmian CarrCarr in Evening Primrose 1966 BornCharmian Anne Farnon 1942 12 27 December 27 1942Chicago Illinois U S DiedSeptember 17 2016 2016 09 17 aged 73 Los Angeles California U S OccupationActressYears active1964 1967Known forLiesl von Trapp in The Sound of MusicSpouseJay Brent m 1967 div 1991 wbr Children2Websitecharmiancarr wbr com Contents 1 Early life 2 The Sound of Music 3 Later life 4 Death 5 Filmography 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditCarr 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 EditCarr 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 citation needed 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 EditIn 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 accepts the Golden Globe award for best picture musical or comedy on behalf of Robert Wise 10 The following year she married a 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 EditCarr died in Los Angeles on September 17 2016 from complications related to frontotemporal dementia at the age of 73 15 Filmography EditYear Title Role1965 The Sound of Music Liesl von Trapp1966 Evening Primrose Ella HarkinsReferences Edit Carr amp Strauss 2001 p 205 a b c d 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 a b 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 Classmates Find your school yearbooks and alumni online secure classmates com Archived from the original on December 24 2021 Retrieved December 24 2021 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 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 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 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 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 Golden Globe Award 1966 Excerpts P 2 YouTube 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 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 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 Dream A Little Dream Pink Martini February 14 2014 Archived from the original on June 28 2015 Retrieved July 4 2015 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 External links Edit Media related to Charmian Carr at Wikimedia Commons Official website Charmian Carr at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charmian Carr amp oldid 1150970303, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
