Sound of Music’s Heather Menzies-Urich dies at 68

Canadian native actress, who starred as Louisa Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, has died at the age of 68.

The news was confirmed Christmas Day by the Rodgers and Hammerstein estate, the representatives of musical creators Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.

“Heather was part of ‘the family.’ There is really no other way to describe the members of the cast of the movie of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. And of ‘the kids,’ Heather was a cheerful and positive member of the group, always hoping for the next gathering. We are all lucky to have known her, and she will happily live on in that beautiful movie. We will miss her.”

Best known for her role as Louisa in the 1965 film adaptation the third oldest von Trapp sibling, Menzies-Urich began acting when she was 13 on the TV series My Three Sons. Other acting credits include Hawaii and Longan’s Run. 

Her on screen sibling, Kym Karath who played Gretel von Trapp also paid tribute to the late actress, writing on Twitter, “I am filled with infinite sadness tonight. My precious friend and SOM sister Heather Menzies passed away this evening.”