KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — This year marks 60 years since “The Sound of Music” hit the silver screen in 1965. But for Dan Truhitte, it seems like it was just yesterday.
“It’s, a lot of deep feelings, you know,” Truhitte said. “And then the unbelievable realization that it was 60 years ago because it doesn’t seem like it.”
Truhitte, who was in his early 20s at the time, played the antagonist, Rolfe Gruber in the film. He was the love interest of the von Trapp family’s oldest daughter.
“Being able to play that juvenile role as a virtual unknown was really incredible,” Truhitte said. “It stayed with me all these 60 years.”
Even six decades after his career took off, he never minds telling people about his breakout role or the experience making the film.
“I just can’t thank God enough for opening the door as he has for me,” Truhitte said. “Or my parents, who took all the time to take me to all those classes and all that training.”
It’s that love for the arts, and his love for “The Sound of Music” that inspired filmmaker Steve Zambo, with Salty Earth Pictures, to spend the last two years putting together a documentary on Truhitte’s life.
Dan Truhitte plays “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music” in his home. (Spectrum News 1/Courtney Davis)
“We were able then to assemble this hourlong documentary about not only his life during ‘The Sound of Music,’ which was quite fascinating, but also his life before,” Zambo said. “And then, what Dan, aka Ralph, has been doing since. So it’s, it’s been exciting, and I think people will really enjoy getting to know Daniel Truhitte out of the gazebo.”
As for Truhitte, he’s just honored to share the film with his community, friends and family, including his six children and 13 grandchildren.
“I was thrilled and excited about it because I wanted my family to see all that I’ve seen and gone and done,” Truhitte said. “You know, and have it for them forever.”
And he hopes his story continues to not only inspire his family, but the next generation of fans.
“I cannot thank God enough for the life that I’ve had and the friendship and the love and the family and all of that,” Truhitte said. “I’ve just been a blessed man.”
Truhitte is hosting a special screening of the documentary, “A Life of Music, the Daniel Truhitte Story” in Kannapolis on Sunday at the Gem Theater.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session after the showing.
The event is being sponsored by Ivy and Oak Events and tickets are free to the public. You can find information for tickets here
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source spectrumlocalnews.com ’
