The seven young actors who became part of cinematic history when they were cast as the von Trapp children in Rogers & Hammerstein 's The Sound Of Music in 1965 have grown to become lifelong friends in the fifty years since the famous film 's release . Known as The SoM 7 , they formed their own sort of family over the months of making the musical . Their parents befriended one another as the young performers traveled to Austria for filming , and the actors themselves have remained close for decades . 'We 're beyond friends . We 're second family , ' said Kym Karath , who played the youngest von Trapp , Gretl . 'As adults , we were deeply bonded , so our lives have really interwoven with each other . ' As The Sound Of Music celebrates its 50th anniversary , here 's a look at what the SoM 7 are doing now : . The 1965 Oscar-winning film adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical The Sound Of Music , starring Julie Andrews and the actors who played the von Trapp children , is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year . The seven young actors who became part of cinematic history when they were cast as the von Trapp children in Rogers & Hammerstein 's The Sound Of Music have grown into lifelong friends ( 2012 photo ) Chairmian Carr , who played the role of Liesl , is now 72 and sells custom furniture that she designs . LIESL : Now 72 , Charmian Carr played the eldest von Trapp daughter and has published two books about her experience making the film : Forever Liesl and Letters To Liesl . She maintains a website where she sells the custom furniture she designs , as well as autographed photos from her Sound of Music days . Carr lives in Southern California and regularly sees her Sound Of Music sisters . Angela Cartwright , who played the role of Brigitta , is now 62 and works as a photographer , painter and writer in Los Angeles . BRIGITTA : Angela Cartwright , who started performing at age 3 , went on to star in the TV series Lost in Space and Make Room for Granddaddy after playing Brigitta in The Sound Of Music . She traded acting for other artistic pursuits after having children . Now 62 , Cartwright works as a photographer , painter and writer in Los Angeles . Her most recent book was released last year : Styling The Stars : Lost Treasures From The Twentieth Century Fox Archive . Duane Chase played the role of Kurt , in the film . Now 64 , he worked as a software engineer and is now considering retirement . KURT : Duane Chase , who played little brother Kurt von Trapp , continued acting until his teens , including an appearance in the 1966 Kurt Russell film , Follow Me , Boys ! Chase switched gears in college , earning a bachelor 's and master 's degree in geology and working as a software engineer . Now 64 , he recently went on sabbatical and is considering retirement . He lives near Seattle with his wife and their two cats . Nicholas Hammond played Friedrich in the film and at 64 now lives in Australia where he works as an actor , writer and director . FRIEDRICH : For Nicholas Hammond , who portrayed the eldest von Trapp son , The Sound Of Music came early in a still-thriving entertainment career . Hammond continued to collect film and TV credits as he pursued an English literature degree at Princeton . Now 64 , he lives in Australia and works as an actor , writer and director . Kym Karath was only 5 years old when she played Gretl . Now 56 , she is returning to her entertainment career as an actress and writer . GRETL : Kym Karath was only 5 years old when she played Gretl von Trapp . She quit acting for high school and college at USC , and focused on parenting rather than performing when her son was born with disabilities . Along with other parents , Karath helped establish the Aurelia Foundation , which provides services for special-needs individuals once they finish high school . Now 56 , Karath is returning to her entertainment career as an actress and writer . Heather Menzies played Louisa , in the film . Now 65 , she runs the nonprofit organization she established after her husband died from a rare form of cancer . LOUISA : The Sound Of Music was Heather Menzies-Urich 's first movie . She continued acting after she wed actor Robert Urich , but stopped when their children were born . Now 65 , Menzies-Urich runs the nonprofit organization she established after her husband died from a rare form of cancer . The Robert Urich Foundation provides funding for cancer research and to help families relocate for specialized treatment . Debbie Turner played Marta and the 58-year-old now runs her own floral-design business in Minnesota . MARTA : Debbie Turner was as much an athlete as an actress as a child , and she opted for sports after playing Marta von Trapp . A lifetime of skiing earned the 58-year-old a knee replacement earlier this year . Turner owns a floral-design business in Minnesota . She recently was called on to provide flowers for a wedding in Salzburg , Austria , at a palace that inspired the sets of The Sound Of Music . The 1965 Oscar-winning film adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical The Sound Of Music , staring Christopher Plummer as the children 's father , above , is celebrating turning 50 this year .
The 1965 Oscar-winning film adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical The Sound Of Music is celebrating turning 50 this year . The actors who starred as the von Trapp children have remained close friends over the five decades since they traveled to Austria together . 'We 're beyond friends . We 're second family , ' said Kym Karath , who played the youngest von Trapp , Gretl .