Christopher Plummer, the Hollywood legend best known for playing Captain Georg Von Trapp in the iconic 1965 movie The Sound of Music died on Friday at his home in Connecticut with his wife of 53 years Elaine Taylor by his side. He was 91 years-old.

“Chris was an extraordinary man who deeply loved and respected his profession with great old fashion manners, self deprecating humor and the music of words,” his manager and friend Lou Pitt told The New York Post. “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.”

Born in 1929 in Toronto, Plummer caught the acting bug in high school, and he rose to fame for his talent at handling Shakespearean roles. He will always be remembered by fans, however, for starring alongside Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. 

In 2009, Plummer revealed that he and Andrews had remained close friends over the years.

“I’m very fond of Julie,” he told NPR.” “That’s the nicest thing that came out of that film for me. We have a true and great friendship. She’s an extraordinary woman, professional. I’m grateful to the film in many ways because it was such a success. It is not my favorite film, of course, because I do think it borders on mawkishness.”

In 2010, at 82 years of age, Plummer became the oldest person to ever win an Oscar when he won for his work in Beginners. 

After turning 91 back in December, Plummer defiantly said that he would never retire.

“I would rather die right on stage doing my craft,” Plummer told Closer Weekly days after his birthday. He added with a laugh that, “Nobody retires in our profession. We just go on until we drop. And acting — learning all those lines — helps keep [the brain] alive.”

“I’ve done more interesting stuff in the last five or six years than I’ve done all my life in the theater,” he added. “I don’t feel old. Never retire. Don’t want to. There [are] too many wonderful things to do.”

Rest in peace, Christopher Plummer.