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Christopher Plummer Biography

Birth Name:Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer

Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer, Music department

Fast Facts

  • In 2012, he became the oldest person to receive an Academy Award
  • In 1968 he received one of Canada's highest civilian honors, being invested as Companion of the Order of Canada
  • Has received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts at The Julliard School
  • After studying to be a concert pianist, he developed a love for the theater at an early age, taking up acting after seeing the 1944 film "Henry V․"
  • After performing as Mr․ Darcy in his high school's production of "Pride and Prejudice," he caught the attention of theatre critic Herbert Whittaker and was cast in a production of "La Machine Infernale" at the Montreal Repertory Theatre
  • Quote: "Too many people in the world are unhappy with their lot․ And then they retire and they become vegetables․ I think retirement in any profession is death, so I'm determined to keep crackin'․"
  • Best known for his role as Captain Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music․"
  • Upon receiving his Oscar in 2012 at the age of 82, he made a comment in his acceptance speech stating that he is only two years younger than the Academy, and that he has been waiting for this his whole life

Awards

  • 1966Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama: nominated
  • 1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series: winner
  • 1978Etrog-Best Performance by a Lead Actor (Feature): nominated
  • 1980Genie-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1982Genie-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1983Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special: nominated
  • 1992Gemini-Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role: nominated
  • 1993Genie-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1994Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Voice-Over Performance: winner
  • 1996Gemini-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series: nominated
  • 1998Annie-Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
  • 1999BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1999LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1999NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1999SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2000CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2000Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2000NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2000OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2000OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama: nominated
  • 2001ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 2001Video Premiere Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2001Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2002NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
  • 2003Genie-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2004Genie-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2007Best Ensemble Cast-: winner
  • 2007Best Actor-: winner
  • 2009Gemini-Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series: nominated
  • 2009Genie-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2010Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: nominated
  • 2010Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2010Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2010Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
  • 2010Gemini-Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series: nominated
  • 2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2011ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 2011CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2011Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: winner
  • 2011Hollywood Film Award-Supporting Actor of the Year: winner
  • 2011HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011IFJA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011ICP Award-Best Supporting Performance: winner
  • 2011KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011NBR Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2011SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2011SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011TFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011UFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011VVFP Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2012Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012ACTRA Toronto Award-Outstanding Performance - Male: winner
  • 2012Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 2012EDA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012COFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012Dorian Award-Film Performance of the Year: nominated
  • 2012Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: winner
  • 2012Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2012ICS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2012INOCA-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2012IOFCP Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2012IFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012ALFS Award-Supporting Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2012NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2012NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2012Special Jury Prize for Artistic Merit-: winner
  • 2012Modern Master Award-: winner
  • 2012VFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2014WFCC Award-Best Screen Couple: nominated
  • 2015VFCC Award-Best Actor in a Canadian Film: nominated
  • 2016ACTRA Toronto Award-Outstanding Performance - Male: winner
  • 2016Canadian Screen Award-Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2016Jury Prize-Best Actor: winner
  • 2016WFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2017The BAM Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2018Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2018Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2018BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2018Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2018HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2018NCFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble of the Decade: nominated
  • 2020OFTA Film Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2021Canadian Screen Award-Best Supporting Actor, Drama: winner
  • 2023Canadian Screen Award-Best Supporting Performer, Drama: winner