Legendary actor Christopher Plummer died at the age of 91, and the heart of the cinematic world has a hole in it. He won many accolades, including two Tonys, two Emmys and an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his performance in 2011’s “Beginners” from writer and director Mike Mills. At 82, he became the oldest winner of a competitive Oscar in an acting category, surpassing Jessica Tandy for “Driving Miss Daisy.”
Not done making history, he was nominated for an Oscar for 2017’s “All the Money in the World” from director Ridley Scott. At 88, the role made Plummer the oldest Academy Award nominee for acting ever.
With a career that started with Sidney Lumet’s “Stage Struck” in 1958, Plummer didn’t garner Academy attention until 2010 for his turn as Tolstoy in Michael Hoffman’s “The Last Station” opposite Helen Mirren. He was one of the rare stories in Hollywood where an actor of his stature takes off with such ferocity well into his 60s and 70s. He never let up.
With more than 100 films to choose from, here are the 10 best performances of his career. Any list that includes a master such as Plummer is obviously subjective, and there is always an argument to be made for other inclusions or a higher ranking for those that are mentioned.
Honorable mentions: “Oedipus the King” (1968), “Rock-A-Doodle” (1991), “12 Monkeys” (1996), “Inside Man” (2006), “Barrymore” (2011)