Charmian Carr, who played the role of Leisl in the film The Sound of Music, has passed away aged 73.
The actress passed away in California after suffering a rare form of dementia.
Carr filmed her much loved role as the eldest von Trapp daughter when she was 21 year old. She sang the song I am Sixteen going on Seventeen in the movie.
Prior to being cast in the film Carr had little singing or acting experience. She had been studying speech pathology and philosophy at college when she was cast in the role.
Her parents Rita Oehmen and musician Brian Farnon had background in vaudeville. The director of the film though her name Charmian Farnon had too many syllables for the film world and came up with her stage name Charmian Carr.
The actress secure the role of Leisl beating many more well known actresses for the part including Mia Farrow, Sharon Tate, Lesley Ann Warren and Patty Duke.
After The Sound of Music Carr appeared in a TV broadcast of the Stephen Sondheim musical Evening Primrose opposite Anthony Perkins.
Carr married a dentist and had two daughters, she left show businesses and opened a successful interior design firm in Los Angeles. Among her many clients was Michael Jackson.
In 2014 Carr recorded the song Edelweiss, a tune from The Sound of Music alongside the great grandchildren of Maria and Georg von Trapp and the band Pink Martini.
Carr is the first of the actors who played the von Trapp children to pass away. Fellow actress Kym Karath who played Gretl in the film posted a picture of her and Carr together and said she’s been like a sister through her whole life.
One of Charmian’s and many happy times together . She has been like a sister throughout my life . Excruciating . pic.twitter.com/IXPok2I1e4
— Kym Karath (@KymKarath) September 18, 2016
