Incomparable Plummer

Re: Remember when Christopher Plummer called Peter O'Toole a `sonofabitch'? Chris Knight, Feb. 5

There are worse fates in life than to have Christopher Plummer call you a sonofabitch. Plummer started out in life with parents who divorced when he was an infant, and soldiered on, conquering the demands of stage, screen and TV until his 92nd year, relearning the lines for a King Lear film while on his sickbed.

He had a killer sense of humour, and, as we see from the Peter O'Toole comment, a fierce competitiveness. All the more wondrous that he is remembered by so many other award-winning actors as such a mensch.

I have relatives who hold regular movie-viewing festivals in their home. They'll watch, say, every major film Walter Matthau starred in.

I believe Christopher Plummer is worthy of such fan devotion. It would be wrong to call him “an actors' actor” when his primary allegiance was to his audience.

Ron Charach, Toronto