Heather Margaret Brotherston Menzies Urich (December 3, 1949 – December 24, 2017) was a Canadian actress known for her roles as Louisa von Trapp in the 1965 film The Sound of Music and Jessica 6 in the TV series Logan's Run.
Early life Heather Margaret Brotherston Menzies was born in Toronto on December 3, 1949, to Scottish parents who had left the United Kingdom for Canada after the war. Her father was a struggling artist. By Menzies' 14th birthday, she had lived in Vancouver, Miami, London, and Southern California. Menzies had a younger sister, Sheila, and an older brother, Neil, who died in 2019.
Menzies was a graduate of John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California, in 1967, and she studied at Falcon Studio's University of the Arts.
Career Menzies' first appearance on-screen was in 1964, when she appeared in the TV series The Farmer's Daughter. Menzies was then cast in The Sound of Music as Louisa, the third oldest of the von Trapp children, at age 14. She sang "So Long, Farewell" and "The Lonely Goatherd" in the film. In the rowboat scene, Heather rescued Kym Karath, who played Gretl and could not swim.
Menzies went on to appear in a number of television series such as Alias Smith and Jones, T. J. Hooker, Dragnet 1967, Room 222, Bonanza, Marcus Welby, M.D., Vega$, and The Bob Newhart Show. She starred as Jessica 6 in the short-lived TV series Logan's Run. In addition, Menzies appeared in Hawaii, How Sweet It Is!, Hail, Hero!, Piranha, and Endangered Species.
Menzies was featured in Playboy magazine during 1973 in a pictorial titled "Tender Trapp," in reference to her The Sound of Music role. She was later cast in four television films: The Keegans, James Dean, Tail Gunner Joe, and Captain America.
Personal life Menzies married John Cluett in 1969 and divorced him in 1973. She married Robert Urich in 1975. Urich and Menzies first met in 1974 while filming a commercial in which they "got married." They adopted three children. After Urich's death in 2002 of a rare form of cancer, Menzies established the Robert Urich Foundation and spent most of her time in her last years devoted to the organization, which raises money for cancer research and support for cancer patients.
Death Menzies-Urich was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in November 2017. She died at age 68 on December 24, 2017, surrounded by her children and family members. According to Menzies-Urich's son Ryan Urich, "She was an actress, a ballerina and loved living her life to the fullest. She was not in any pain, but nearly four weeks after her diagnosis of terminal brain cancer, she had enough and took her last breath on this earth at 7:22 pm."
Filmography TV and Film Year Title RoleNotes 1964–1965 The Farmer's Daughter Nancy Beth 3 episodes 1964 My Three Sons Mona Episode: The Ballad of Lissa Stratmeyer 1965 The Sound of Music Louisa Musical drama film produced and directed by Robert Wise 1966 Hawaii Mercy Bromley Epic drama film directed by George Roy Hill 1967–1969 Dragnet 1967 Various roles 5 episodes 1968 How Sweet It Is! Tour Girl Comedy film directed by Jerry Paris 1969 Hail, Hero! Molly Adams Based on the novel of the same name by John Weston The High Chaparral Beth "Elizabeth" Roberts Episode: The Little Thieves The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes Extra* Comedy film directed by Robert Butler* UncreditedRoom 222 Girl in Newspaper Office Episode: Funny Boy 1970 Bonanza Martha Thornton Episode: Thornton's Account To Rome With Love Andrea Episode: Beautiful People 1971 The Smith Family Janie Bradford Episode: Cindy Alias Smith and Jones Annabel Episode: The Girl in Boxcar #3 1972 Outside In Chris Drama film directed by Allen Baron and G. D. Spradlin 1973 Sssssss Kristina Stoner The Bob Newhart Show Debbie Borden Episode: Not with My Sister You Don't 1974 Doctor Dan Joyce Morgan TV movie Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Sally Waite Episode: The Break In 1975 S.W.A.T. Sheri Episode: Time Bomb 1976 Barnaby Jones Melinda Marks Episode: Fraternity of Thieves The Keegans Brandy Keegan TV movie James Dean Jan TV movie 1977 Tail Gunner Joe Logan TV movie The Six Million Dollar Man Alison Harker Episode: Fires of Hell 1977–1978 Logan's Run Jessica Main Role 1978 Piranha Maggie Mckeown Satirical B horror film directed by Joe Dante 1978–1979 The Love Boat Various roles 2 episodes 1979–1981 Vega$ Victoria Ballinger / Charlotte Henderson / Lisa 3 episodes 1979 Captain America Dr. Wendy Day TV movie 1982 Endangered Species Susan Science fiction film directed and co-written by Alan Rudolph T.J. Hooker Dr. Kincaid Episode: "A Kind of Rage" Gavilan Dr. Katherine Maitland Episode: "Pirates" 1987 Spenser: For Hire Miss Westmore Episode: "The Road Back" 1990 American Dreamer Episode: "A Face in the Cloud"
References
External links
Interview with Heather Menzies Urich at Classic Film & TV Cafe