Christopher Plummer Biography (1929?-)

Full name, Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer; born December 13, 1929 (some sources say 1927), in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; son of John (a university secretary) and Isabella Mary (maiden name, Abbott) Plummer; married Tammy Lee Grimes(an actress), 1956 (divorced, 1960); married Patricia Audrey Lewis (a journalist), May 4, 1962 (divorced, 1967); married Elaine Regina Taylor (a dancer and actress), c. 1970; children: (first marriage) Amanda (an actress). Addresses: Agent: Andrea Eastman, International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1934.

Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor
Birth Details: December 13, 1929?; Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Walt Murdock, Wind across the Everglades, 1958
Joe Sheridan, Stage Struck, Buena Vista, 1958
Commodus, The Fall of the Roman Empire, Paramount, 1964
Baron von Trapp, The Sound of Music, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1965 released as Sing-a-long Sound of Music, 1990
Raymond Swan, Inside Daisy Clover, Warner Bros., 1966
Eddie Chapman, Triple Cross (also known as La fantastique histoire vrai d'Eddie Chapman), Warner Bros./Seven Arts, 1967
Field Marshal Rommel, The Night of the Generals (also known as La nuit des generaux), 1967
Title role, Oedipus the King, Universal, 1968
Sir James Quentin, Nobody Runs Forever (also known as The HighCommissioner), Cinerama, 1968
Squadron leader Colin Harvey, The Battle of Britain, United Artists, 1969
Atahualpa, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, National General, 1969
Lord Foppington, Lock Up Your Daughters!, Columbia, 1969
Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, Waterloo, Paramount, 1970
Himself, Impromptu Balear, 1971
Detective Sergeant Jim Henderson, The Pyx (also known as The Hooker Cult Murders and La Lunule), Cinerama, 1973
Statue, The Happy Prince, 1974
Major Alastair Wimbourne, Conduct Unbecoming, Allied Artists, 1975
Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Would Be King (also known as Rudyard Kipling's The Man Who Would Be King), Allied Artists, 1975
Sir Charles Litton, The Return of the Pink Panther, United Artists, 1975
Arch-Duke Ferdinand, Atentat u Sarajevu (also known as Assassination in Sarajevo, The Day That Shook the World, and Sarajevskiatentat), Yugoslavija Film, 1976
Sinclair, Aces High, EMI, 1976
Captain Behounek, Uppdraget (also known as The Assignment),Svenska Filminstitutet, 1977
Deverell, The Disappearance, 1977
John Seaton, International Velvet, United Artists, 1978
Harry Reikle, The Silent Partner (also known as L'argent de labanque), EMC Film, 1978
James Hatcher, Highpoint, New World Pictures, 1979
Emperor of the Galaxy, Starcrash (also known as The Adventuresof Stella Starr, Female Space Invaders, Stella Star, and Scontri stellare oltre la terza dimensione), New World Pictures, 1979
Paul Sellinger, Hanover Street, Columbia, 1979
Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, Riel, 1979
Sherlock Holmes, Murder by Decree (also known as Sherlock Holmes: Murder by Decree), Avco-Embassy, 1980
William Fawcett Robinson, Somewhere in Time, Universal, 1980
Narrator, Being Different, Astral Films, 1981
Joseph, Eyewitness (also known as The Janitor), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1981
Professor Lakos, The Amateur, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1981
Robert "Bob" Blair, Dreamscape, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1984
Leo Argyle, Ordeal by Innocence, Cannon, 1985
Fitzroy Wynn/Roberto Terranova, Jatszani Kell (also known as Lily in Love and Playing for Keeps), New Line Cinema, 1985
Narrator, J. W. Morrice, 1985
Knox, The Boy in Blue, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1986
Mr. Roalvang, The Boss' Wife, TriStar, 1986
Voice of Henri, An American Tail, Universal Pictures, 1986
Reverend Jonathan Whirley, Dragnet, Universal, 1987
John Robertson Yeats, I Love N.Y., Manley, 1987
Narrator of English version, L'homme qui plantait des arbres (alsoknown as The Man Who Planted Trees), Les Films du Paradoxe, 1987
Narrator, The Gnomes' Great Adventure (also known as The Worldof David the Gnome: Volume 1 and The World of David the Gnome: Young Doctor Gnome), 1987
Voice of Metamorphosis, Light Years (also known as Gandahar), Miramax, 1988
Ernst Kestner, Souvenir, Palisades, 1988
Paris Catalano, Nosferatu in Venice (also known as Vampire in Venice and Nosferatu a Venezia), Medusa, 1988
Edmund Beaumont, Shadow Dancing, Shapiro Glickenbaus, 1988
Stage Fright, 1988
Tom, Kingsgate, Thomas Howe Releasing, 1989
Doctor Satorius, Mind Field (also known as Flashback and Mindfield), Image Organization, 1989
Homeless gent, Where the Heart Is, Buena Vista, 1990
Dr. John Alcore, Red-Blooded American Girl (also known as LifeReach), Prism, 1990
Voice of the Grand Duke, Rock-a-Doodle, Goldcrest, 1991
General Chang, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Paramount,1991
Colonel Garland Vaughn, Firehead, American International PicturesHome Video, 1991
Martin Yahl, Money, Odyssey, 1991
Howard, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, Warner Bros., 1991
Naples O'Rorke, Impolite, Well Mannered Films, 1992
Chaplain Gill, Malcolm X, Warner Bros., 1992
Raymond Alden, Wolf, Columbia, 1994
Ivan Getz, Crackerjack, Excalibur Pictures/North American Pictures/Worldvision, 1994
Detective John Mackey, Dolores Claiborne, Columbia, 1995
Dr. Leland Goines, Twelve Monkeys, Universal, 1995
Reverend Carlyle, Skeletons, Skeleton Productions, 1996
Narrator, Lost over Burma: Search for Closure (documentary), 1997
Voice of Barnaby Crookedman, Babes in Toyland (animated), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists Home Entertainment, 1997
Ulrich Steiner, Hidden Agenda (also known as Secret Agenda), Spartan Home Entertainment, 1998
Mr. Caruthers, The Clown at Midnight, Hallmark Entertainment, 1998
Holmes, Blackheart, 1998
Mike Wallace, The Insider, Buena Vista, 1999
Hump Hinton, The Dinosaur Hunter, Credo Releasing, 2000
Abraham Van Helsing and Matthew Van Helsing, Dracula 2000 (also known as Dracula 2001 and Wes Craven Presents Dracula 2001), Dimension Films/Miramax, 2000
Lucky Break, Paramount/Miramax, 2001
A Beautiful Mind, Universal, 2001
Robert Lecker, Full Disclosure, First Look Pictures Releasing, 2001
Stage Appearances
Cymbeline, Canadian Repertory Theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, 1948
Faulkland, The Rivals, Canadian Repertory Theatre, 1950
Old Mahon, The Playboy of the Western World, Bermuda Repertory Theatre, 1952
Anthony Cavendish, The Royal Family, Bermuda Repertory Theatre, 1952
Ben, The Little Foxes, Bermuda Repertory Theatre, 1952
Duke Manti, The Petrified Forest, Bermuda Repertory Theatre, 1952
Father, George and Margaret, Bermuda Repertory Theatre, 1952
Hector Benbow, Thark, Bermuda Repertory Theatre, 1952
Bernard Kersal, The Constant Wife, Bermuda Repertory Theatre, 1952
(Broadway debut) George Phillips, The Starcross Story, Royale Theatre, 1954
Manchester Monaghan, Home Is the Hero, Booth Theatre, New York City, 1954
Jason, Medea, International Festival, Sarah Bernhardt Theatre, Paris, 1955
Count Peter Zichy, The Dark Is Light Enough, American National Theatre Academy Theatre, New York City, 1955
Earl of Warwick, The Lark, Longacre Theatre, New York City, 1955
Mark Antony, Julius Caesar, American Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, CT, 1955
Ferdinand, The Tempest, American Shakespeare Festival, 1955
Title role, Henry V, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Stratford, Ontario, Canada, then Assembly Hall Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1956
Narrator, L'histoire du soldat, City Center Theatre, New York City, 1956
Lewis Rohnen, Night of the Auk, Playhouse Theatre, New York City,1956
Title role, Hamlet, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, 1957
Sir Andrew Agueckeek, Twelfth Night, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, 1957

Nickles, J. B., American National Theatre and Academy Theatre, 1958
Leontes, The Winter's Tale, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, 1958
Bardolph, Henry IV, Part I, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, 1958
Benedick, Much Ado about Nothing, Stratford Shakespeare Festival,1958
Philip the Bastard, King John, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, 1960
Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, 1960
(London debut) King Henry II, Becket, Aldwych Theatre, 1961
Benedick, Much Ado about Nothing, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-on- Avon, England, 1961
Title role, Richard III, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1961
King Henry II, Becket, Aldwych Theatre, then Globe Theatre, London, 1961
Title role, Cyrano de Bergerac, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, 1962
Title role, Macbeth, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, 1962
Title role, Arturo Ui, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York City, 1963
Francisco Pizarro, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, American National Theatre and Academy Theatre, 1965
Mark Antony, Antony and Cleopatra, Stratford Shakespeare Festival,1967
Jupiter and Amphitryon, Amphitryon 38, National Theatre Company, New Theatre, London, 1971
Danton, Danton's Death, National Theatre Company, New Theatre, 1971
Title role, Cyrano (musical), Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN, then Palace Theatre, New York City, 1973
Anton Chekov, The Good Doctor, Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York City, 1973
Lovers and Madmen, Opera House, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, 1973
Love and Master Will, Opera House, Kennedy Center, 1975
Edgar, Drinks before Dinner, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public/Newman Theatre, New York City, 1978
Title role, Henry V, American Shakespeare Festival, 1981
Iago, Othello, Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1982
Parade of Stars Playing the Palace, Palace Theatre, New York City,1983
Peccadillo, Royal Poinciana Playhouse, Palm Beach, FL, 1985
Title role, Macbeth, Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York City, 1988
Narrator, A Christmas Carol, Hudson Theatre, New York City, 1990
Spooner, No Man's Land, Roundabout Theatre, New York City, 1993 then Criterion Theatre, New York City, 1994
John Barrymore, Barrymore, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, 1996 then Music Box Theatre, New York City, 1997
A Shakespearean Tribute to the Late Sir John Gielgud, Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York City, 2000
Appeared in the solo show A Word or Two, Before You Go.
Major Tours
Gerard, Nina, U.S. cities, 1953
Title role, Macbeth, U.S. cities, 1988
John Barrymore, Barrymore, U.S. cities, beginning 1997.
Also appeared in The Dark Is Light Enough, U.S. cities.
Stage Work
Creator (with Michael Lankester) of concert versions of Ivan the Terrible, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Peer Gynt.
Television Appearances
Movies
(Television debut) Montano, Othello, CBC (Canada), 1951
The Doll's House, BBC (England), 1964
Prisoner of Zenda, BBC, 1964
Prince and the Pauper, 1957 then BBC, 1964
Brian, The Shadow Box, ABC, 1980
Jacques Burrifous, Desperate Voyage, CBS, 1980
Duke Royal, When the Circus Came to Town, CBS, 1981
Tony Wendice, Dial "M" for Murder, NBC, 1981
Colonel Herbert Kappler, The Scarlet and the Black (also known asThe Vatican Pimpernel and Scarlatto e nero), CBS, 1983
Dr. Carl Forrester, Prototype, CBS, 1983
Voice, The Velveteen Rabbit, 1985
Voice, Rumpelstiltskin, 1986
Sir Giles Staverly, A Hazard of Hearts, CBS, 1987
Grand Duke Ivan, A Ghost in Monte Carlo, TNT, 1990
Sir Charles, the British ambassador, Young Catherine, TNT, 1991
The First Circle, CBC, 1991
Mal Wexler, Danielle Steel's Secrets (also known as Secrets), NBC, 1992
Harry Weldon, Liar's Edge, Showtime, 1992
John Klaxon, Harrison Bergeron (also known as Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron), Showtime, 1995
Wilfred Fransiscus, We the Jury, USA Network, 1996
Wakeman, The Conspiracy of Fear, HBO, 1996
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winchell, HBO, 1998
Miniseries
Roscoe Heyward, Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers (also known as The Moneychangers), NBC, 1976
Herod Antipas, Jesus of Nazareth (also known as Gesu di Nazareth), NBC, 1977
Reginald "Reggie" Vanderbilt, Little Gloria ... Happy at Last, NBC, 1982
Archbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese, The Thorn Birds, ABC, 1983
Armand DeVilliers, Crossings, ABC, 1986
Lord Jack Cruze, Spearfield's Daughter, syndicated, 1986
Narrator, Celebrate the Century, Cable News Network, 1999
Sir David Maxwell-Fyfe, Nuremberg, TNT, 2000
F. Lee Bailey, American Tragedy, CBS, 2000
Specials
Soldier Kenneth Boyd, "Little Moon of Alban," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1958
Dr. Jack Richardson, "Johnny Belinda," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC,1958
Torvald Helmer, "A Doll's House," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1959rebroadcast on The Golden Age of Television, PBS, 1981
Captain Brassbound, "Captain Brassbound's Conversion," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1960
Prince Albert, "Time Remembered," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1961
Title role, "Cyrano de Bergerac," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1962
Title role, Macbeth (broadcast of performance at Stratford Shakespeare Festival), televised by satellite transmission, 1962
Title role, Hamlet (also known as Hamlet at Elsinore), BBCand syndicated, 1964
Witness to Yesterday, syndicated, 1974
Quentin, After the Fall, NBC, 1974
Himself, Arthur Miller on Home Ground, 1979
Guest, Parade of Stars, ABC, 1983
Narrator, "Jerusalem: Within These Walls," National Geographic Specials, PBS, 1986
Narrator, Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind, TNT, 1988
Narrator, Madeline: The Musical (also known as Madeline), HBO, 1988
Narrator, "The Boy Who Planted Trees," Long Ago and Far Away, PBS,1989
Host, narrator, and Vladimir Nabokov, Nabokov on Kafka, PBS, 1989
Narrator, Madeline's Christmas, The Family Channel, 1990
Narrator, Madeline and the Bad Hat, The Family Channel, 1991
Narrator, Madeline and the Gypsies, The Family Channel, 1991
Narrator, Madeline in London, The Family Channel, 1991
Narrator, Madeline's Rescue, The Family Channel, 1991
Narrator, The Year of the Generals, CBS, 1992
Series
Host, Playdate, 1961-1962
Alexander Addington, Counterstrike (also known as Counter Strike, Strike Force, and Force de frappe), USA Network, 1990
Episodic
"The Gathering Night," Summer Studio One, CBS, 1953
"Dark Victory," Broadway Television Theatre, syndicated, 1953
"The Riddle of Mayerling," Suspense, 1953
"The Dashing White Sergeant," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1954
"The King's Bounty," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1955
Christian de Neuvillette, "Cyrano de Bergerac," Producers' Showcase, NBC, 1955
"A Thief There Was," Appointment with Adventure, CBS, 1956
"Even the Weariest River," The Alcoa Hour, NBC, 1956
Title role, "Oedipus Rex," Omnibus, ABC, 1956
Miles Hendon, "The Prince and the Pauper," DuPont Show of the Month, CBS, 1957
Thomas Mendip, "The Lady's Not for Burning," Omnibus, NBC, 1958
"Prince Ore Test," Omnibus, NBC, 1959
Agamemnon and Orestes, "The Orestia," Omnibus, CBS, 1959
Mike Connor, "The Philadelphia Story," DuPont Show of the Month, NBC, 1959
"After Hours," Sunday Showcase, NBC, 1960
"Autocrat and Son," Our American Heritage, NBC, 1960
Rassendyl, "The Prisoner of Zenda," DuPont Show of the Month, CBS,1961
Front Page Challenge, 1962 and 1973
Narrator, "Clytemnestra," Dance in America (also known as GreatPerformances), PBS, 1979
Jonathan Lawrence, "Shakespeare," The Cosby Show, NBC, 1987
Alfred Stieglitz, "Marriage: Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz" (alsoknown as "An American Place," "The Eleventh Hour," and "O'Keeffe and Stieglitz"), American Playhouse, PBS, 1991
Other
Don Juan in Hell (also known as Play of the Month: Don Juan inHell), 1971
Dr. Sherman, The Spiral Staircase, 1975
Sherlock Holmes, Silver Blaze, 1979
Classic Fairy Tales, 1982
The Tin Soldier, 1986
Reader's Digest: Children's Classics, 1986
The Music Box Ballerina, 1987
Clifton Lawrence, Sidney Sheldon's A Stranger in the Mirror (alsoknown as A Stranger in the Mirror), ABC, 1993
The Little Crooked Christmas Tree, 1993
George Hees, The Arrow, CBC, 1997
Archbishop Hume, Possessed, Showtime, 2000
Norman Thayer, On Golden Pond, CBS, 2001
Harry Peters, Night and Day, BBC, 2001
Radio Appearances
Performed Shakespearean roles for Canadian radio broadcasts.
RECORDINGS
Taped Readings
Narrator, E. T. A. Hoffman-Tchaikovsky Nutcracker, Caedmon, 1985
Narrator, High Spirits, 1990
Narrator, Ivan the Terrible, 1994
Also reader for a recording of Henry V.
Video Games
General Chang, Star Trek: Klingon Academy, 2000
WRITINGS
Television Specials
(With others) Nabokov on Kafka, PBS, 1989

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

New York Times, March 9, 1982
Saturday Night, November, 1998, p. 111
Variety, January 3, 2000, p. 57

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