Gwen Verdon

Gwen Verdon

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1925-01-13
Deathday: 2000-10-18 (75 years old)

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Biography

Gwyneth Evelyn "Gwen" Verdon was an American actress and dancer. She won four Tony Awards for her musical comedy performances, and served as an uncredited choreographer's assistant and specialty dance coach for theater and film. With flaming red hair and a quaver in her voice, Verdon was a critically acclaimed performer on Broadway from the 1950s-70s. Having originated many roles in musicals she is also strongly identified with her second husband, director–choreographer Bob Fosse, remembered as the dancer–collaborator–muse for whom he choreographed much of his work and as the guardian of his legacy after his death.


By the time she was six, she was already dancing on stage. She went on to study multiple dance forms, ranging from tap, jazz, ballroom and flamenco to Balinese. In 1942, Verdon’s parents asked her to marry family friend and tabloid reporter James Henaghan after he got her pregnant at 17, and she quit her dancing career to raise their child. After her divorce, she entrusted her son Jimmy to the care of her parents. Early on, Verdon found a job as assistant to choreographer Jack Cole. During her five-year employment with Cole, she took small roles in movie musicals as a "specialty dancer" She also taught dance to stars such as Jane Russell, Fernando Lamas, and Lana Turner. Verdon started out on Broadway as a "gypsy," going from one chorus line to another. Her breakthrough role finally came as second female lead in Cole Porter's musical Can-Can. Verdon's biggest success was George Abbott's Damn Yankees. Verdon won another Tony and went to Hollywood to repeat her role in the 1958 movie version Damn Yankees. Verdon won another Tony for her performance in the musical, New Girl in Town, and won her fourth Tony for Redhead. Verdon and Fosse continued to collaborate on projects such as musicals Chicago and Dancin', as well as All That Jazz. After originating the role of Roxie opposite Chita Rivera's Velma Kelly in Chicago, Verdon focused on film acting, playing character roles in movies such as The Cotton Club, Cocoon and its sequel. She continued to teach dance and musical theater and to act. She received three Emmy Award nominations for appearances on Magnum, P.I., Dream On, and Homicide: Life on the Street. Verdon appeared in Alice and Marvin's Room). In 1999, Verdon served as artistic consultant on a Broadway musical designed to showcase examples of classic Fosse choreography, called Fosse. which won a Tony Award for best musical.


Verdon appeared in the movie Walking Across Egypt, as well as Bruno. Verdon received a total of four Tonys, for best featured actress for Can-Can and best leading actress for Damn Yankees, New Girl in Town, and Redhead. She also won a Grammy Award for the cast recording of Redhead.


Verdon was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1981, and in 1998, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

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Filmography

all 61

Movies 39

TV Shows 22

self 20

Herself (archive footage)
Merely Marvelous: The Dancing Genius of Gwen Verdon

Merely Marvelous: The Dancing Genius of Gwen Verdon (2019)

Movie
Self (archive footage)
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do (2015)

Movie
Lola (segment 'Damn Yankees')
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards

Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards (2005)

Movie
Roxie Hart (segment 'Chicago')
Broadway's Lost Treasures

Broadway's Lost Treasures (2003)

Movie
Self
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There

Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003)

Movie
Creative Consultant
Fosse

Fosse (2002)

Movie
Mrs. Drago
Bruno

Bruno (2000)

Movie
Alora
Walking Across Egypt

Walking Across Egypt (1999)

Movie
Edith Cooper
Best Friends for Life

Best Friends for Life (1998)

Movie
Self
The Music of Kander & Ebb: Razzle Dazzle

The Music of Kander & Ebb: Razzle Dazzle (1997)

Movie
Ruth Wakefield
Marvin's Room

Marvin's Room (1996)

Movie
10
Sadie Truitt
In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood (1996)

TV
Etta Pell, Old Folks Home Resident
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All

Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (1994)

Movie
Etta Pell, Old Folks Home Resident
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All

Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (1994)

TV
Maisie Whitman
Walker, Texas Ranger

Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)

TV
5.63
Homicide: Life on the Street

Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)

TV
6
Alice's Mother
Alice

Alice (1990)

Movie
4
Self
Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret

Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret (1990)

Movie
Dream On

Dream On (1990)

TV
6
Herself - Narrator
Bob Fosse: Steam Heat

Bob Fosse: Steam Heat (1990)

Movie
Bess McCarthy
Cocoon: The Return

Cocoon: The Return (1988)

Movie
5
Vera
Nadine

Nadine (1987)

Movie
6
Kelly Sterling
The Equalizer

The Equalizer (1985)

TV
7.33
Bess McCarthy
Cocoon

Cocoon (1985)

Movie
5.25
Self
Night of 100 Stars II

Night of 100 Stars II (1985)

Movie
Lola (archive footage)
That's Dancing!

That's Dancing! (1985)

Movie
Tish Dwyer
The Cotton Club

The Cotton Club (1984)

Movie
6
Self - Host
American Dance Machine Presents a Celebration of Broadway Dance

American Dance Machine Presents a Celebration of Broadway Dance (1983)

Movie
Maureen Comly
Legs

Legs (1983)

Movie
Hotel

Hotel (1982)

TV
6.35
Fame

Fame (1982)

TV
Magnum, P.I.

Magnum, P.I. (1980)

TV
5.61
(archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II

That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)

Movie
Roxie Hart / Self
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell

Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell (1975)

TV
Mrs. Moffat
Deadly Visitor

Deadly Visitor (1973)

Movie
Brandy Doyle
M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H (1972)

TV
5.65
Audience
Liza with a Z

Liza with a Z (1972)

Movie
Self
The Don Knotts Show

The Don Knotts Show (1970)

TV
Self - Guest
The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show (1968)

TV
Self - Guest
The Carol Burnett Show

The Carol Burnett Show (1967)

TV
5.33
Self
The Danny Kaye Show

The Danny Kaye Show (1963)

TV
Self
The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show (1962)

TV
Self / Self - Co-Host
The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

TV
Lola
Damn Yankees

Damn Yankees (1958)

Movie
Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956)

TV
Self - Presenter / Self - Performer
Tony Awards

Tony Awards (1956)

TV
1
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955)

Movie
Abigail (uncredited)
The Farmer Takes a Wife

The Farmer Takes a Wife (1953)

Movie
Choreographer
The Mississippi Gambler

The Mississippi Gambler (1953)

Movie
Specialty Dancer
The I Don't Care Girl

The I Don't Care Girl (1953)

Movie
Specialty Can-Can Dancer (uncredited)
The Merry Widow

The Merry Widow (1952)

Movie
Girl in Commercial (uncredited)
Dreamboat

Dreamboat (1952)

Movie
Gwen Verdon / Sappho, Dancer in No Talent Joe (uncredited)
Meet Me After the Show

Meet Me After the Show (1951)

Movie
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
David and Bathsheba

David and Bathsheba (1951)

Movie
Self
The Colgate Comedy Hour

The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950)

TV
Self - Mystery Guest
What's My Line?

What's My Line? (1950)

TV
Self - Singer / Dancer
The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)

TV
6
Girl in Nightclub (uncredited)
Blonde from Brooklyn

Blonde from Brooklyn (1945)

Movie
Cheerleader
Hoosier Holiday

Hoosier Holiday (1943)

Movie
Ballerina
The Girl After My Heart

The Girl After My Heart (1941)

Movie
Specialty Ballerina (uncredited)
The King Steps Out

The King Steps Out (1936)

Movie

Ratings

Average 5.91
Based on 336 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1936
1956
1982
1968
2019
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Gwen VerdonGwen VerdonGwen VerdonGwen Verdon

Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Female

Birthday
1925-01-13

Deathday
2000-10-18 (75 years old)

Birth Name
Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon

Birth Place
Culver City, California, United States of America

Relationships
Bob Fosse (1960-01-01 - 1987-09-23)

Children
Nicole Fosse

Citizenships
United States of America

Also Known As
Gwyneth Verdon, Gwen Verdun

Awards
Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, National Medal of Arts, Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Library of Congress Living Legend, Drama League Award, Theatre World Award


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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