Following five days of unveilings for its long-anticipated editorial cartoonist stamps, Canada Post has unexpectedly announced its next issue will come on Oct. 13 in honour of late Canadian actor Christopher Plummer.
Plummer died on Feb. 5 at the age of 91. Nine years earlier, he became the oldest actor to receive an Oscar for his role in the film Beginners—an honour since taken by Anthony Hopkins earlier this year for his role in The Father. Plummer’s six-decade acting career – on both the screen and stage – is perhaps best remembered for his performance as Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music, which held the distinction as the highest-grossing film of all time for five years after its release.
“Chris was an extraordinary man who deeply loved and respected his profession with great old fashion manners, self-deprecating humour and the music of words,” Lou Pitt, the late actor’s manager and long-time friend, said in a statement to CBC News following Plummer’s death. “He was a national treasure who deeply relished his Canadian roots. Through his art and humanity, he touched all of our hearts and his legendary life will endure for all generations to come. He will forever be with us.”
Plummer also took on many leading roles at Ontario’s Stratford Festival, where he delivered his stunning debut performance in 1956 for Henry V. More recently, at the age of 80, he played Prospero in The Tempest.
In addition to his Oscar, Plummer won two Tonys and two Emmys.
You can read Plummer’s CBC obituary here. Rolling Stone, BBC, the New York Times and the Washington Post also published obituaries.
OCT. 13 LIVE UNVEILING
People can watch the live unveiling via Canada Post’s Facebook page as it’s broadcast from Toronto’s Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre next Wednesday at 11 a.m. (ET).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only invited guests can attend the in-person unveiling.
Some of the invited guests include:
- Plummer’s wife Elaine Taylor Plummer;
- Pitt, the late actor’s manager and long-time friend;
- Des McAnuff, a director and long-time friend of Plummer;
- former CBC broadcast journalist Peter Mansbridge, who will serve as the master of ceremonies;
- Beth Hanna, the CEO of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre;
- Anthony Wilson-Smith, the chair of Canada Post’s Stamp Advisory Committee and president and CEO of Historica Canada; and
- Franco Chirichella, Canada Post’s chief digital officer.