Gwenyth Evelyn “Gwen” Verdon (January 13, 1925 – October 18, 2000) was an actress and dancer who won four Tony awards for her musical comedy performances and served as uncredited choreographers assistant and specialty dance coach for both theater and film. With flaming red hair and a quaver in her voice, Verdon was a critically acclaimed performer on Broadway in the 1950s and 1960s. 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.
Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Performances
Nominations
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress ...
Movies
Damn Yankees, Marvin's Room, All That Jazz, Cocoon: The Return, Cocoon, The Cotton Club, On the Riviera, David and Bathsheba, The Farmer Takes a Wife, Walking Across Egypt, Nadine, Alice, The King Steps Out, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Bruno, In Cold Blood, Hollywood Musicals of the '50s
Star Sign
Capricorn
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Trademark
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Throaty, grainy, yet girlish singing voice
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Flaming red hair
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Quote
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On second husband Bob Fosse: "Bob Fosse grew up around strip clubs. Women were his hobby. He'd even cheat on his mistress. Part of him felt guilty, another part was ecstatic. In the end, it helped lead him to an early death".
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Sex in a dance is in the eyes of the beholder. I never thought my dances sexy. I suppose that's because I see myself with my face washed, and to me I look like a rabbit.
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These girls I've played are naive and pure. They are looking for someone to really love. But they aren't very bright, and they haven't been brought up in a family situation that enables them to evaluate. As for the prostitutes, well they're 'loved' every 20 minutes, or what substitutes for love in about 90% of American homes-- I'm pretty cynical about that.
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I like the character of Charity because she's so hopeful. She's never bitter, and plenty of things happen to her that could make her bitter. She always thinks tomorrow's going to be beautiful. And someday it will be.
Portrayed "Lola" in the stage version of "Damn Yankees!" and reprised her role in the movie, Damn Yankees! (1958).
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Collected glass perfume bottles.
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Was with husband, Bob Fosse, when he collapsed from a heart attack just prior to opening night of a revival of "Sweet Charity" at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. (he was the director/choreographer, she was the assistant choreographer.).
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Went on stage for a performance of "Sweet Charity" after finding out her mother passed away. She claimed that the only way she could cope was to go on with the show.
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She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1998 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.
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For Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Gwen coached stars Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe in both their dance and walk -- Monroe with less sex, Russell with more. It's rumored that at one point in the film, Verdon dubs both Monroe's and Russell's swaying bottoms.
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Never pulled the diva act and was not overly-possessive about her award-winning stage roles. In fact she gamely coached Shirley MacLaine on the set of Sweet Charity (1969), who was recreating Gwen's title character.
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Won four Tony Awards: one as Best Supporting or Featured Actress Musical) in 1954 for "Can-Can;" and three as Best Actress (Musical) in 1956 for "Damn Yankees!," a role she recreated in the film version of the same name., Damn Yankees! (1958); in 1958 for "New Girl in Town," in a tie with her co-star Thelma Ritter; and in 1959 for "Redhead." She was also nominated as Best Actress (Musical) in 1966 for "Sweet Charity" and in 1976 for "Chicago."
After her electrifying performance as "Claudine" in "Can-Can", Broadway critics hailed her as the greatest Broadway "discovery" since Mary Martin sang "My Heart Belongs To Daddy".
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Daughter of British emigrants to the U.S.A., who worked in Hollywood and lived in Culver City, where Gwen Verdon was born.
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Although she and Bob Fosse separated in '71, they remained married until his death in '87.
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Although uncredited, Gwen was assistant choreographer in the film version of Sweet Charity (1969), starring Shirley MacLaine.
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Before Sweet Charity went to Broadway, something terrible happened to Gwen. Her throat began hurting, but she continued to sing until she was almost completely voiceless. She was hospitalized, and it was discovered that a feather from one of the boas used for costume was wrapped around her vocal chords.
$10 Million
