Where are they now: the kids from 'The Sound of Music'

Has it really been over 50 years since the von Trapp family do-re-mi'd right into our hearts?

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy

Updated: 1:21 PM EDT Sep 8, 2017

By Samantha Escobar

Slideshow

14 photos

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy

Where are they now: the kids from 'The Sound of Music'

1 of 14

THEN: Charmian Carr

THEN: Charmain Carr

A college student attending San Fernando Valley State College, Carr had no idea her life would change with one audition — all because a friend sent her picture to producer Robert Wise. The unknown actress beat out big names like Mia Farrow, Sharon Tate, and Geraldine Chaplin for the role of the eldest von Trapp sister, kind and caring 16-year-old Liesl.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

2 of 14

NOW: Charmian Carr

NOW: Charmain Carr

Since The Sound of Music, Carr left the show business for the most part, but later on, appeared in Mad Men and cropped up at reunions with her fellow von Trapp family alums. Sadly, at the age of 73 of complications from a rare form of dementia.

PHOTO: htvapps.com

3 of 14

THEN: Nicholas Hammond

THEN: Nicholas Hammond

Though he was just 15 when he played the eldest son, Friedrich Von Trapp, Hammond was one of the most experienced actors on set, having already appeared in Lord of the Flies and on Broadway.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

4 of 14

NOW: Nicholas Hammond

NOW: Nicholas Hammond

After playing Friedrich, Hammond went on to portray superhero Peter Parker — a.k.a. Spider-Man — in The Amazing Spider-Man during the late '70s. He maintains strong friendships with all of his fellow von Trapp siblings, calling them his "best friends in the world." How sweet is that?

PHOTO: htvapps.com

5 of 14

THEN: Heather Menzies

THEN: Heather Menzies

Louisa, one of the middle von Trapp sisters, was played by 16-year-old Heather Menzies, a relatively unknown-till-then Canadian-American actress.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

6 of 14

NOW: Heather Menzies

NOW: Heather Menzies

Post-Sound of Music, Menzies continued acting and enjoyed some success in the industry, turning up in several films throughout the '60s and '70s including How Sweet It Is!, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, and Piranha. She also popped up on TV in the '80s, appearing on cop drama T.J. Hooker.

PHOTO: HTVAPPS.COM

7 of 14

THEN: Duane Chase

THEN: Duane Chase

The youngest son, Kurt, was portrayed by 15-year-old Duane Chase, who went on to join the United States Forest Service shortly after the film was released.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

8 of 14

NOW: Duane Chase

NOW: Duane Chase

Since his days singing a falsetto "good-bye" to a room full of partygoers, Chase took a totally different career route. Now, he's designing computer software, but he has made occasional appearances with his cast mates.

PHOTO: htvapps.com

9 of 14

THEN: Angela Cartwright

THEN: Angela Cartwright

Little Angela Cartwright starred as the delightfully honest Brigitta von Trapp, a.k.a. the fifth child in the family. She was just 13 when The Sound of Music premiered, but had already appeared in several films and television shows by the time she was cast.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

10 of 14

NOW: Angela Cartwright

NOW: Angela Cartwright

Cartwright went on to appear in numerous television shows, including Lost In Space during the late '60s. The sci-fi show was eventually turned into a film 30 years later, which Cartwright made a cameo in.

PHOTO: htvapps.com

11 of 14

THEN: Debbie Turner

THEN: Debbie Turner

At 9 years old, child actress Debbie Turner played Marta, the second-youngest child in the von Trapp family.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

12 of 14

NOW: Debbie Turner-Larson

THEN: Debbie Turner-Larson

After the film premiere in 1965, Turner opted to exit the entertainment industry and instead complete her education. She became an interior designer and, eventually, an event planner, founding her own floral and event design company. In 2010, she appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show for the 45th anniversary of the movie.

PHOTO: htvapps.com

13 of 14

THEN: Kym Karath

THEN: Kym Karath

Gretl, the totally adorable and youngest von Trapp kid, was played by seven-year-old Kym Karath. Don't let her young age fool you — she wasn't inexperienced at the industry. At just 3, Karath started her career in Spencer's Mountain, starring Henry Fonda and Veronica Cartwright. Interestingly, Cartwright's young sister Angela played Brigitta von Trapp alongside Karath.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

14 of 14

NOW: Kym Karath

NOW: Kym Karath

Since playing young Gretl, Karath went on to appear in several big-name television series, including The Brady Bunch, All My Children, and even in an episode of Lost In Space — the same show castmate Angela Cartwright later starred in.

PHOTO: htvapps.com

Next slideshow

Costco Library Shed Dupes

4 photos

Next slideshow

Costco Library Shed Dupes

4 photos

1 of 14

THEN: Charmian Carr

THEN: Charmain Carr

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Charmian Carr

NOW: Charmain Carr

PHOTO: htvapps.com

THEN: Nicholas Hammond

THEN: Nicholas Hammond

Though he was just 15 when he played the eldest son, Friedrich Von Trapp, Hammond was one of the most experienced actors on set, having already appeared in Lord of the Flies and on Broadway.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Nicholas Hammond

NOW: Nicholas Hammond

PHOTO: htvapps.com

THEN: Heather Menzies

THEN: Heather Menzies

Louisa, one of the middle von Trapp sisters, was played by 16-year-old Heather Menzies, a relatively unknown-till-then Canadian-American actress.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Heather Menzies

NOW: Heather Menzies

PHOTO: HTVAPPS.COM

THEN: Duane Chase

THEN: Duane Chase

The youngest son, Kurt, was portrayed by 15-year-old Duane Chase, who went on to join the United States Forest Service shortly after the film was released.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Duane Chase

NOW: Duane Chase

PHOTO: htvapps.com

THEN: Angela Cartwright

THEN: Angela Cartwright

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Angela Cartwright

NOW: Angela Cartwright

PHOTO: htvapps.com

THEN: Debbie Turner

THEN: Debbie Turner

At 9 years old, child actress Debbie Turner played Marta, the second-youngest child in the von Trapp family.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Debbie Turner-Larson

THEN: Debbie Turner-Larson

PHOTO: htvapps.com

THEN: Kym Karath

THEN: Kym Karath

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Kym Karath

NOW: Kym Karath

PHOTO: htvapps.com

1 of 14

THEN: Charmian Carr

THEN: Charmain Carr

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Charmian Carr

NOW: Charmain Carr

PHOTO: htvapps.com

THEN: Nicholas Hammond

THEN: Nicholas Hammond

Though he was just 15 when he played the eldest son, Friedrich Von Trapp, Hammond was one of the most experienced actors on set, having already appeared in Lord of the Flies and on Broadway.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Nicholas Hammond

NOW: Nicholas Hammond

PHOTO: htvapps.com

THEN: Heather Menzies

THEN: Heather Menzies

Louisa, one of the middle von Trapp sisters, was played by 16-year-old Heather Menzies, a relatively unknown-till-then Canadian-American actress.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Heather Menzies

NOW: Heather Menzies

PHOTO: HTVAPPS.COM

THEN: Duane Chase

THEN: Duane Chase

The youngest son, Kurt, was portrayed by 15-year-old Duane Chase, who went on to join the United States Forest Service shortly after the film was released.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Duane Chase

NOW: Duane Chase

PHOTO: htvapps.com

THEN: Angela Cartwright

THEN: Angela Cartwright

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Angela Cartwright

NOW: Angela Cartwright

PHOTO: htvapps.com

THEN: Debbie Turner

THEN: Debbie Turner

At 9 years old, child actress Debbie Turner played Marta, the second-youngest child in the von Trapp family.

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Debbie Turner-Larson

THEN: Debbie Turner-Larson

PHOTO: htvapps.com

THEN: Kym Karath

THEN: Kym Karath

PHOTO: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

NOW: Kym Karath

NOW: Kym Karath

PHOTO: htvapps.com

Where are they now: the kids from 'The Sound of Music'

Has it really been over 50 years since the von Trapp family do-re-mi'd right into our hearts?

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy

Updated: 1:21 PM EDT Sep 8, 2017

By Samantha Escobar

Where are they now: the kids from 'The Sound of Music'

Has it really been over 50 years since the von Trapp family do-re-mi'd right into our hearts?

Share

Share

Where are they now: the kids from 'The Sound of Music'

THEN: Charmian Carr

NOW: Charmian Carr

THEN: Nicholas Hammond

NOW: Nicholas Hammond

THEN: Heather Menzies

NOW: Heather Menzies

THEN: Duane Chase

NOW: Duane Chase

THEN: Angela Cartwright

NOW: Angela Cartwright

THEN: Debbie Turner

NOW: Debbie Turner-Larson

THEN: Kym Karath

NOW: Kym Karath

THEN: Charmian Carr

NOW: Charmian Carr

THEN: Nicholas Hammond

NOW: Nicholas Hammond

THEN: Heather Menzies

NOW: Heather Menzies

THEN: Duane Chase

NOW: Duane Chase

THEN: Angela Cartwright

NOW: Angela Cartwright

THEN: Debbie Turner

NOW: Debbie Turner-Larson

THEN: Kym Karath

NOW: Kym Karath

THEN: Charmian Carr

NOW: Charmian Carr

THEN: Nicholas Hammond

NOW: Nicholas Hammond

THEN: Heather Menzies

NOW: Heather Menzies

THEN: Duane Chase

NOW: Duane Chase

THEN: Angela Cartwright

NOW: Angela Cartwright

THEN: Debbie Turner

NOW: Debbie Turner-Larson

THEN: Kym Karath

NOW: Kym Karath

Share

Related Content