When she was just nine years old, Debbie Turner had a starring role in what would become one of the most famous films of all time.
Growing up in the city of Arcadia in Los Angeles, in 1964 the young actress was cast in the role of Marta von Trapp in The Sound of Music.
Released the following year, the film was based on the 1959 stage musical of the same name by Rodgers and Hammerstein, which itself was based on a memoir about the Trapp family singers by Maria von Trapp.
Set in Salzburg, Austria and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, the movie was a fictional retelling of Maria’s experiences as a governess to seven children and her eventual marriage to their father, Captain Georg von Trapp, before the family were then forced to flee the Nazis following the annexation of Austria in 1938.
Although The Sound of Music received mixed reviews from critics, it was a box office hit – becoming the highest-grossing film ever by the following year.
It also won five Oscars – including for best picture and best director, with the film now considered one of the best movies of all time.
The movie sent Julie’s career soaring, however for some of the child stars – it was a different story.
Alongside Debbie, the other von Trapp siblings were played by Charmian Carr (Liesl), Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich), Heather Menzies (Louisa), Duane Chase (Kurt), Angela Cartwright (Brigitta), and Kym Karath (Gretl).
At the time of being cast in the film, Debbie was known for appearing in TV commercials.
Although some of her co-stars on to pursue careers in Hollywood, she instead appeared in one other film and then left the entertainment industry altogether.
In a recent interview, the former child star explained how she’d later become a florist – which had seen her decorate palaces and even the White House.
‘I was a floral designer for many years. I’ve designed weddings. I even designed one in the Leopoldskron Palace in Salzburg many years ago,’ she told People.
‘I’ve done some really nice weddings. I have been a decorator for the White House for Christmas.
‘That was a really neat experience — probably one of the most physically gruelling and cool things I’ve ever done.’
In a recent chat with the same publication, Debbie also explained how her decision to leave Hollywood was ‘not really by choice’.
Recalling meetings with movie executives, she explained: ‘I’d go in interviews and they’d go, “Oh, so you were in The Sound of Music?”. And then it’s like, I don’t know if I got put on a pedestal or I got thrown out the side – I don’t know,’ she shared.
With limited acting opportunities, she didn’t have much choice other than leave the industry, simply because, as she put it: ‘I just didn’t get jobs.’
Despite this, she went on to carve out a successful career as a floral designer.
One of her highlights was helping prepare the White House for the holiday season in 2017, which was a week-long process.
‘It was me and 149 other designers that they put to task to do all these things to make the magic of Christmas at the White House happen. So, I was just thrilled to be a part of that,’ she explained.
However, while decorating a huge tree (known as the ‘People’s Tree’), Debbie faced a near miss. ‘I had to go up on scaffolding. I almost fell and killed myself,’ she said, but adding that the overall experience of the job was ‘really cool’.
Despite her notable projects, Debbie is now looking towards retirement.
‘My husband retired this past year and I thought, “Well, I don’t need to keep doing this”,’ she said.
Describing working as a wedding florist as ‘taxing’, Debbie said she struggled with how it was so physically demanding. ‘I love designing, but I just turned 69, and it’s like, “I’m getting too old for this stuff. So, I’m kind of pulling back,’ she went on. Instead, she was ready to turn her attention to having ‘grandkids time’.
Debbie has been married to her husband Rick Larson since 1980. They share four children and 10 grandchildren.
Although it’s been decades since she appeared on screen (the other film she appeared in was 1979’s North Dallas Forty), Debbie was asked about whether she’d consider a return to acting.
Her response: ‘Probably one of the reasons I’m not in Hollywood movies anymore is they don’t make movies that I’d want to ever be in,” she admits. So, it would have to have certain qualities about it that would fit with where I’m at. If it’s wholesome and it’s a great story. Great actors, something like that. Yeah, look, I’d consider it.’
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