What You Didn't Know About Christopher Plummer's Wife
As the news of Shakespearean actor Christopher Plummer's death hits the world, fans can't help but reminisce over this extraordinary man's life. Perhaps best known for his role in The Sound of Music as Captain von Trapp, those who knew Plummer well — and were familiar with his work — knew that he loved the art of acting more than anything (via Variety).
But, in addition to being in love with his profession, he also had various love interests come and go during his lifetime. Plummer was married a total of three times. His first marriage was to Tammy Grimes, and together, they had a daughter — future Tony Award winner Amanda Plummer. After a four-year marriage and subsequent divorce, Plummer married journalist Patricia Lewis; the couple eventually divorced after five years. Three years later, Plummer married actress Elaine Taylor: a union that would last for over 50 years, up until Plummer's death on Feb. 5 (via Biography).
Elaine Taylor was a Bond Girl
Christopher Plummer met his future third wife on the set of the 1969 film Lock Up Your Daughters in Ireland; the two married a year later. Sources say that Plummer had a thing for redheads, which worked out perfectly as Taylor was required to color her hair red for the film (via The Sun). Elaine Taylor had an extensive career as an actress, but is perhaps best known as being a Bond Girl in the 1967 version of Casino Royale. She joins a long list of Bond Girls, including Jacqueline Bisset, Barbara Bouchet, and Alexandra Bastedo, all of whom were chosen and celebrated for their classic beauty, fighting spirits, and acting prowess (via Heavy).
But Taylor isn't only a fantastic actress, no — in fact, she's a gourmet chef that specializes in French cooking. Plummer couldn't help but gush over his personal chef of a wife, saying in a 2017 interview, "Well, I have a wife, who is a terrific cook. She knows how to cook organic food fantastically so I'm taken care of as far as the kitchen is concerned... She started French cooking and... it's delicious" (via YouTube).
Taylor helped Plummer break his drinking problem
Christopher Plummer famously drank a lot. He says in 1969 when he and Elaine Taylor met, he was at the height of his drinking problem. "I was drinking like mad at the time," he confessed. "There was no reason for me to drink as I was making quite a lot of money, but I felt I wasn't doing the kind of things I'd rather be doing. I was between marriages and I realized I mustn't be alone and I needed someone. Then I met Elaine" (via the Daily Mail).
In Plummer's memoir, In Spite of Myself, he wrote, "Elaine had now completed her role in the movie and was on her way back to London for yet another engagement — a busy and popular lady. I felt absolutely empty and as despondent as anyone could be. As she was leaving, I told her I was going to miss her dreadfully and hoped she would let me see her in London. 'All right, but on one condition,' she warned, 'that you cut down on the booze'" (via Heavy).
Indeed, Taylor had a large role in helping Plummer break his unhealthy obsession with alcohol. Taylor allegedly gave Plummer an ultimatum, threatening to break up with him if he didn't quit. "I was rather a petulant and angry drunk, so I gave the hard stuff up in the '70s and I've been a happy wino ever since! My wife got me out of a real mess," he gushed.