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Heather Menzies

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Heather Menzies
Menzies in Logan's Run (1977)
Born
Heather Margaret Brotherston Menzies

(1949-12-03)December 3, 1949
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedDecember 24, 2017(2017-12-24) (aged 68)
Carrying Place, Ontario, Canada[1]
Occupation(s)Actress, model, activist
Years active1964–1990
Spouses
John Cluett
​
​
(m. 1969; div. 1973)​
​
​
(m. 1975; died 2002)​
Children3

Heather Menzies Urich (December 3, 1949 – December 24, 2017)[2] was a Canadian actress. She was known for her roles as Louisa von Trapp in the 1965 film The Sound of Music and Jessica 6 in the TV series Logan's Run.[3]

Early life

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Heather Margaret Brotherston Menzies[4] was born in Toronto on December 3, 1949, to Scottish parents[5][6] who had left the United Kingdom for Canada after the war.[7] Her father was a struggling artist. By Menzies' 14th birthday, she had lived in Vancouver, Miami, London, and Southern California. She had a younger sister, Sheila, and an older brother, Neil, who died in 2019.[5]

Menzies was a graduate of John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California, in 1967, and she studied at Falcon Studio's University of the Arts.[8]

Career

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Menzies' first appearance on-screen was in 1964, when she appeared in the TV series The Farmer's Daughter.[2] She was cast in The Sound of Music as Louisa, the third-oldest of the von Trapp children, at age 14, with no prior acting experience.[citation needed] Menzies sang "So Long, Farewell" and the "Lonely Goatherd" in the film. In the rowboat scene, Heather rescued Kym Karath, who played Gretl and couldn't swim.[9]

Menzies went on to appear in a number of television series such as Alias Smith and Jones, T. J. Hooker, Dragnet, Room 222, Bonanza, Marcus Welby, M.D., Vega$, and The Bob Newhart Show. She starred as Jessica 6 in the short-lived TV series Logan's Run.[9] In addition, Menzies appeared in Hawaii,[2] How Sweet It Is!,[10] Hail, Hero!,[10] Piranha,[2] and Endangered Species.[2]

Menzies was featured in Playboy magazine during 1973 in a pictorial titled "Tender Trapp", in reference to her The Sound of Music role.[citation needed] She was later cast in four television films: The Keegans,[11] James Dean,[12] Tail Gunner Joe,[13] and Captain America.[14]

Personal life

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Menzies married John Cluett in 1969 and divorced him in 1973. She married Robert Urich in 1975. Urich and Menzies first met in 1974 while filming a commercial in which they "got married."[5][15] They adopted three children. After Urich's death in 2002 of a rare form of cancer,[16] Menzies established the Robert Urich Foundation[17][18] and spent most of her time in her last years devoted to the organization, which raises money for cancer research and support for cancer patients.[19]

Death

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Menzies-Urich was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in November 2017.[20] She died on December 24, 2017[21] surrounded by her children and family members.[22] According to her son Ryan Urich, “She was an actress, a ballerina and loved living her life to the fullest. 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.”[23]

Filmography

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TV and Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1964–1965 The Farmer's Daughter Nancy Beth 3 episodes
1964 My Three Sons Mona Episode: The Ballad of Lissa Stratmeyer
1965 The Sound of Music Louisa Musical drama film produced and directed by Robert Wise [24]
1966 Hawaii Mercy Bromley Epic drama film directed by George Roy Hill [25]
1967–1969 Dragnet Various roles 5 episodes
1968 How Sweet It Is! Tour Girl Comedy film directed by Jerry Paris [26][10]
1969 Hail, Hero! Molly Adams Based on the novel of the same name by John Weston [10]
The High Chaparral Beth "Elizabeth" Roberts Episode: The Little Thieves
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes Extra * Comedy film directed by Robert Butler * Uncredited
Room 222 Girl in Newspaper Office Episode: Funny Boy
1970 Bonanza Martha Thornton Episode: Thornton's Account
To Rome With Love Andrea Episode: Beautiful People
1971 The Smith Family Janie Bradford Episode: Cindy
Alias Smith and Jones Annabel Episode: The Girl in Boxcar #3
1972 Outside In Chris Drama film directed by Allen Baron and G. D. Spradlin [27]
1973 Sssssss Kristina Stoner
The Bob Newhart Show Debbie Borden Episode: Not with My Sister You Don't
1974 Doctor Dan Joyce Morgan TV movie
Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Sally Waite Episode: The Break In
1975 S.W.A.T. Sheri Episode: Time Bomb
1976 Barnaby Jones Melinda Marks Episode: Fraternity of Thieves
The Keegans Brandy Keegan TV movie
James Dean Jan TV movie
1977 Tail Gunner Joe Logan TV movie
The Six Million Dollar Man Alison Harker Episode: Fires of Hell
1977–1978 Logan's Run Jessica Main Role
1978 Piranha Maggie Mckeown Satirical B horror film directed by Joe Dante [28]
1978–1979 The Love Boat Various roles 2 episodes
1979–1981 Vega$ Victoria Ballinger / Charlotte Henderson / Lisa 3 episodes
1979 Captain America Dr. Wendy Day TV movie
1982 Endangered Species Susan Science fiction film directed and co-written by Alan Rudolph [29]
T.J. Hooker Dr. Kincaid Episode: "A Kind of Rage"
Gavilan Dr. Katherine Maitland Episode: "Pirates"
1987 Spenser: For Hire Miss Westmore Episode: "The Road Back"
1990 American Dreamer Episode: "A Face in the Cloud"

References

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  1. ^ "'Sound of Music' actress Heather Menzies-Urich dies at 68". The Trentonian. Associated Press. 26 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e McNary, Dave (December 25, 2017). "'Sound of Music' Actress Heather Menzies-Urich Dies at 68". Variety. Los Angeles: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  3. ^ French, Megan (December 25, 2017). "Celebrity Deaths in 2017: Stars We've Lost". Us Weekly. New York City: American Media, Inc. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  4. ^ "Ancestry Library Edition". www.ancestrylibrary.com.
  5. ^ a b c Reilly, Sue (October 23, 1978). "Actress Heather Menzies' Bets Ride on Husband Bob Urich, a Winner on TV in Vega$". People. United States: Time Inc. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  6. ^ Us Weekly (December 25, 2017). "'Sound of Music' Actress Heather Menzies-Urich Dead at 68". MSN. United States: Microsoft. Retrieved December 25, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ Fletcher, Bernie (29 June 2015). "Heather Menzies-Urich talks about The Sound of Music". BeachMetro.
  8. ^ "Heather Menzies, 68". Classic Images (512): 46. February 2018.
  9. ^ a b Gregory, Julia (December 25, 2017). "Sound of Music actor Heather Menzies-Urich dies aged 68". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c d Strause, Jackie (December 25, 2017). "Heather Menzies-Urich, Star of 'Sound of Music,' Dies at 68". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles: Eldridge Industries. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  11. ^ "The Keegans". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  12. ^ "James Dean". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  13. ^ "Tail Gunner Joe". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  14. ^ "Captain America". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  15. ^ Armstrong, Richard (November 27, 2017). "Interview with Heather Menzies Urich'". Classic Film & TV Cafe. United States. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  16. ^ McNary, Dave (2017-12-25). "'Sound of Music' Actress Heather Menzies-Urich Dies at 68". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  17. ^ Yan, Holly; Chan, Stella (December 25, 2017). "'Sound of Music' actress Heather Menzies-Urich dies at 68". ABC News. New York City: ABC. Associated Press. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  18. ^ "Heather Menzies-Urich, actress in 'The Sound of Music,' dies at 68". Washington Post. Associated Press. 2017-12-27. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  19. ^ Levin, Gary (December 25, 2017). "Heather Menzies-Urich, who played a von Trapp sister in 'The Sound of Music,' dies at 68". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Company. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  20. ^ "Heather Menzies-Urich, The Sound of Music's Louisa von Trapp, dies". BBC News. London: BBC. December 25, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  21. ^ Yan, Holly; Chan, Stella (December 25, 2017). "'Sound of Music' star Heather Menzies Urich dies at 68". CNN. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  22. ^ McNary, Dave (2017-12-25). "'Sound of Music' Actress Heather Menzies-Urich Dies at 68". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  23. ^ McNary, Dave (2017-12-25). "'Sound of Music' Actress Heather Menzies-Urich Dies at 68". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  24. ^ "The Sound of Music". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  25. ^ "Hawaii". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  26. ^ "How Sweet It Is!". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  27. ^ "Outside In". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  28. ^ "Piranha". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  29. ^ "Endangered Species". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
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