Christopher Plummer's Spouse: The Actor Found Happiness with a Bond Girl after Two Failed Marriages

Revered for his acting prowess which consistently attracted praise from audiences and critics, Christopher Plummer became one of Hollywood's biggest household names. While his career spoke for itself, the late actor's love life was nothing short of a roller coaster.

The late film and theater giant Christopher Plummer captivated audiences and critics with his riveting performances for nearly seven decades. His career sailed smoothly, but his personal life wasn't as easy to navigate. He was born to Isabella Mary Abbott and John Orme Plummer on December 19, 1929, in Toronto, Canada.

Christopher's father abandoned him and his mother after he turned one. As their financial situation became more challenging – Isabella Mary had to hold two jobs to support herself and her son – they moved to Montreal, where they stayed with his grandfather and maiden aunts.

Christopher learned how to play the piano – an activity he still did until his last years as a way to relax – and by 16, his theatrical acting career had begun. His passion for theater was sparked by his love for literature during the many evenings spent with his family, as he nostalgically recalled:

"Several nights a week we would indulge in that quaint but delightful Victorian diversion — we read aloud to each other after dinner."

Christopher gained recognition for many Shakespearean and classical roles, including those in "King Lear," "Othello," "Hamlet," "Cyrano de Bergerac," and numerous more. In his memoir "In Spite of Myself," originally published in 2008, Christopher explained his reluctance to take on film roles, as he said:

"Ludicrous though it may seem, I still harbored the old-fashioned stage actor's snobbism toward moviemaking."

Despite his initial aversion to film – which worsened after being cast in the very on-screen production that catapulted his career, "The Sound of Music," alongside Julie Andrews – Christopher continued to make movies, with one of the last few being 2019's "Knives Out," starring Daniel Craig.

Speaking about his love life, Christopher said he never grew wary of marriage, despite two failed attempts. At the time of his memoir's publication, he'd been married to his longtime partner Elaine Taylor for nearly 40 years. She's the woman he credited for rescuing him from a life of alcohol abuse.

Although he was quite the ladies' man in his youth and no stranger to a good time, Christopher adored women and revered them for their ability to lead. An irony he found humorous was that he thought women weren't "nearly as emotional as men," adding:

"I don't mean they don't have passion, but men get distracted by things. They're silly, romantic creatures whereas women when they have the responsibility of running things, make marvelous leaders."

During his first marriage to the late acclaimed actress Tammy Grimes, the former couple welcomed a daughter named Amanda Plummer. Christopher's relationship with his one and only child mimicked that of his and his father's, as he remained absent during her formative years.

He got married again to Patricia Lewis. The pair experienced a brush with death a short time after knowing each other and married the following year; however, they only lasted a few years before separating.

When Elaine met him, she received a mixed first impression of the "A Beautiful Mind" star and thought he was "selfish" and "conceited." Still, he made her laugh, and she enjoyed his company. Christopher was also smitten, and it was the love that welled in his heart for Elaine that encouraged him to accept her ultimatum.

Christopher Plummer and Tammy Grimes Were Too Immature to Take Responsibility for Their Marriage

Tammy first encountered Christopher when he performed in the 1955 comedic theater production "The Dark Is Light Enough." She was enamored with the actor's performance, where he played a Hungarian count in the 19th century, as she raved:

"He was so magnetic onstage. He was like a knife blade catching the sun."

The pair married the following year and continued growing their careers separately, eventually welcoming a daughter who would follow in their footsteps in 1957. In 1958, Tammy and Christopher collaborated during the Stratford Festival in Ontario on "Henry IV, Part I."

Tammy played Mistress Quickly, and her ex-husband portrayed Bardolph. Their relationship had its challenges, mostly due to their individual ambitions. As Christopher also reflected, they were too young and didn't have an adequate level of maturity to settle down. They also weren't ready for parenthood, as he explained:

"We were two fans observing and admiring each other at 40 paces – hardly the stuff to secure a union [...] – much too immature to take on the twin responsibilities of marriage and raising a child."

Four years into their union, Tammy and Christopher divorced in 1960. Afterward, Christopher was barely present in their daughter's life. Between 1960 and 1981, he only saw her when she was eight during a visit to London.

Tammy moved on to Jeremy Slate and married the television actor in 1966, but they separated by the following year. She then fell in love with Richard Bell, a musician and composer, whom she wed in 1971. The lovers remained together until Richard's dying breath in 2005.

Tammy was born on January 30, 1934. She paved a noteworthy acting career with two Tony awards to her name. The first was for her chiefly known role as the original Molly Brown in the famed 1960 production "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." She won her second for her performance in the 1969 rendition of "Private Lives."

Tammy delivered many more performances and became known for her ability to make audiences laugh uncontrollably. "The Tammy Grimes Show" star – who sadly passed in October 2016 – didn't fit the "traditional" Hollywood aesthetic of an actress, but couldn't have cared less, as she explained:

"I never looked like an ingénue. I don’t want to be America’s Sweetheart; I’d rather be something they don’t quite understand."

Christopher Plummer's Marriage to Patricia Lewis Also Didn't Work Out

Patricia worked as a London showbiz columnist but also dabbled in filmmaking. She was an associate producer for the 1968 movie "The Last of the Long-haired Boys," set in WWII, and appeared in the British musical history documentary "A Little of What You Fancy" that year.

Patricia met Christopher during a period deemed the "Swinging Sixties." The pair were out drinking together one night but, by the end of it, were involved in a terrible car accident. Patricia had crashed her convertible near Buckingham palace, leaving her in critical condition.

Christopher remained unharmed, but his former beau slipped into a months-long coma. She eventually recovered and the two married in May 1962. They stayed together for nearly five years before divorcing in 1967.

Christopher Plummer Finally Found Happiness with Bond Girl Elaine Taylor

Elaine took her first breath in Hertfordshire, England, on October 17, 1943. An acclaimed actress like her late husband, Elaine appeared in several films, with one of her most famous roles being the Bond girl in the 1967 James Bond movie "Casino Royale."

She and Christopher met on the set of 1969's "Lock Up Your Daughters." As reports suggested, Elaine had to dye her hair red for her role in the said film; her then-soon-to-be-beau was quite fond of red-haired women. After finishing filming, she had to leave for London, and Christopher was terribly saddened, as he recalled:

"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."

Despite a mixed first impression, Elaine had seemingly grown close to Christopher. She would go on dates with the late successful star and said he always reserved the best tables in restaurants.

Still, Christopher was plagued by his dependence on alcohol, which started at what he called an "embarrassingly early age." He said he drank to keep himself from going mad but also to keep the madness going. After hearing his plea before she left, Elaine gave him an ultimatum, as he recalled:

"'All right, but on one condition,' she warned, 'That you cut down on the booze.'"

Christopher initially thought he was "devastatingly attractive" when he was thoroughly intoxicated, but Elaine begged to differ. He was a rather "petulant and angry drunk," so he withdrew from abusing the substance in the 1970s.

He and Elaine married in Montreal, Quebec, on October 2, 1970, and remained together until death separated them when he died in February 2021. Christopher never stopped crediting his wife for "getting him out of a real mess" regarding his alcohol addiction.

Elaine took care of the actor, and he praised her for that too. As much as he exercised and only drank organic wine after dinner, Elaine's cooking also kept him in shape. He said her meals barely had any calories. In 2017, he described her as a "terrific cook," saying:

"I have a wife who is a terrific cook, and she knows how to cook organic food fantastically. So, I'm taken care of as far as the kitchen is concerned because she really knows her stuff. She studied French cooking. [...]"

Christopher Plummer's Only Daughter Continues the Actor's Legacy

Although their bond began relatively late, Christopher affectionately referred to his daughter as Mandy as he explained that she had become "more of a friend." Amanda Plummer was born in New York City on March 23, 1957.

During a 1983 interview with Rolling Stone, she reflected on his absence from her life. Amanda said she only ever saw Christopher on screen and stage growing up. However, by that year, their relationship was forming and growing strong.

She raved about the love that welled in her heart for him and said they had a great time whenever they were together. And like her mom and dad, Amanda grew enamored with the acting world.

She would later star in a breakthrough role alongside the late Robin Williams in 1991's "The Fisher King." She received much acclaim for many other memorable parts, earning several prestigious awards and nominations.