Charmian Charr was born on 27 December 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. Her family moved to Los Angeles when she was 10 years old. Before appearing in The Sound of Music, Charmian had not had singing or acting lessons. The audition for Liesl was in fact arranged by Charmian's mother and she managed to win the role against several other accomplished actresses. Robert Wise adviced Charmian to change her former last name Farnon to something shorter and she settled on Carr.

Charmian is internationally recognized as Liesl and often does personal appearances, radio and television as a result of the phenomenal success of this film The Sound of Music. In 1995, she hosted "The Sound of Music" segment for the A&E channel's special on Rogers and Hammerstein's "The Sound of Movies."

She has written two books about her experiences making the film titled "Forever, Liesl" and "Letters to Liesl". Television audiences remember Charmian when she starred with Anthony Perkins in the John Houseman/Stephen Sondheim production of "Evening Primrose."

Charmian found herself involved in two careers. She spent many years acting in national commercials while at the same time developing a highly successful interior design business. Her clients include Michael Jackson. Charmian was the contractor and designer on his Encino, California "Disneyland" home. She toured with Michael, who introduced her to scores of renowned people. Charmy also designed homes for her Von Trapp sister 'Louisa,' Heather Menzies and husband Robert Urich. 

Charmian had two daughters, Emily and Jennifer. She died in Los Angeles in 2016 at the age of 73.