‘Sound of Music’ star dies one month after brain cancer diagnosis

Heather Menzies-Urich, an actor who is known for playing Louisa von Trapp in the Sound of Music, has died.

According to her son Ryan Urich, she died on Christmas Eve in Frankford, Ontario, Canada.

Menzies-Urich, 68, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer a month ago.

“She was an actress, a ballerina and loved living her life to the fullest,” Urich said.

“She was not in any pain but, nearly four weeks after her diagnosis of terminal brain cancer, she had enough and took her last breath on this earth at 7:22 pm.”

At 14 and with little acting experience, Menzies-Urich was cast as the third-oldest von Trapp child in the 1964 movie which won five Academy Awards.

Rodgers and Hammerstein, creators of the musical, have paid tribute to the late actress.

Ted Chapin, Rodgers and Hammerstein president, said: “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.

“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.”

Menzies-Urich also starred in movies such as ‘Hawaii’, ‘The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes’, ‘Piranha’ and ‘Endangered Species’.

She had three children with actor, Robert Urich, who died in 2002.