The Canadian-born actor Christopher Plummer has died aged 91. Most famous for his role as Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Plummer made his British debut with the newly-formed RSC in 1961. He came to Stratford-upon-Avon from Stratford, Ontario, where he had played many Shakespeare leads including Hamlet, Henry V, Leontes, Mercutio, and Benedick. It was this last role he would reprise at Stratford, in Michael Langham’s production of Much Ado About Nothing, opposite Geraldine McEwen as Beatrice; followed by Richard III directed by William Gaskill and designed by Jocelyn Herbert.

It was Peter Hall’s second season as Artistic Director, and apart from As You Like It directed by Michael Elliott with a sparkling Vanessa Redgrave as Rosalind (she took over when Dorothy Tutin fell ill) the season was considered rather patchy, despite being joined by stars like John Gielgud and Edith Evans.

Peter Hall then directed Plummer as Henry II in Anouilh’s play Becket, with Eric Porter as Thomas Becket at the Aldwych then the Globe Theatre.

Plummer's career lasted for over six decades, with recent screen appearances including 2019's Knives Out, the television series Departure, and 2017's All the Money in the World, for which he received an Oscar nomination.