George Schweinfurth Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
George Furth was born on December 14, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, USA as George Schweinfurth. He was an actor and writer, known for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Blazing Saddles (1974) and The Man with Two Brains (1983). He died on August 11, 2008 in Santa Monica, California, USA.
Usually played nervous, stuttering, sneaky characters
#
Quote
1
I just don't do interviews. That's why I have so many friends.
#
Fact
1
Stephen Sondheim and his play, "Getting Away with Murder," in a Gordon Davidson and Mark Taper Forum production at the Sundays at the Itchey Foot Theatre in Los Angeles, California was awarded the 1992 Drama Logue Award for Outstanding Production.
2
George Furth wrote eleven one-act plays planned for Kim Stanley as each of the separate leads. Hollywood actor Anthony Perkins, interested in directing, asked Sondheim to read the material. After Sondheim read the plays, Sondheim asked Harold Prince for his opinion; Prince thought the plays would make the basis for a musical. The theme would be New York marriages with a central character to examine those marriages. Originally titled "Threes," its plot revolves around Bobby, a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage, four married couples, and one single couple, who are his best friends, and also includes Bobby's three free-wheeling girl friends. Unlike most book musicals, which follow a clearly delineated plot, "Company" is a concept musical composed of short vignettes, presented in no particular chronological order, linked by a celebration for Bobby's 35th birthday. "Company" was among the first musicals to deal with adult themes and relationships. As Sondheim puts it, "Broadway theater has been for many years supported by upper-middle-class people with upper-middle-class problems. These people really want to escape that world when they go to the theatre, and then here we are with 'Company' talking about how we're going to bring it right back in their faces." "Company" opened in Boston in out-of-town tryouts, receiving mixed reviews, from the Boston Evening Globe "Brilliant", to Variety Magazine "The songs are for the most part undistinguished" and "As it stands now it's for ladies' matinees, homos and misogynists." The book was by George Furth; Lyrics and music was by Steven Sondheim; Direction was by Harold Prince. "Company" opened on April 26, 1970, at the Alvin Theatre in New York City, where it ran for 705 performances after seven previews. Musical staging was by Michael Bennett, assisted by Bob Avian. The set design by Boris Aronson consisted of two working elevators and various vertical platforms that emphasized the musical's theme of isolation. The role of Robert, originally performed by Dean Jones, is the central character; his 35th birthday brings the group together. The original cast included Dean Jones, who had replaced Anthony Perkins early in the rehearsal period when Perkins departed to direct a play. Shortly after opening night, Jones withdrew from the show, allegedly due to illness, but actually due to stress he was suffering from ongoing divorce proceedings. He was replaced by his understudy Larry Kert, who had created the role of Tony in Leonard Bernstein's Broadway musical "West Side Story." Larry Kert earned rave reviews for his performance when the critics were invited to return soon after opening night. The original Broadway cast included Donna McKechnie, Susan Browning, Pamela Myers, Barbara Barrie, Charles Kimbrough, Merle Louise, Beth Howland, and Elaine Stritch. "Company" was honored with the following theatre awards: the 1971 New York Drama Desk Award for (1) Outstanding Book of a Musical awarded to George Furth; (2) Outstanding Director of a Musical awarded to Harold Prince; (3) Outstanding Lyrics and (4) Outstanding Music awarded to Stephen Sondheim; (5) Outstanding Set Design was awarded to Boris Aronson. The New York Theatre World Award was awarded to actor Susan Browning. In an unusual move, the Tony Awards committee deemed Larry Kert eligible for a nomination, an honor usually reserved for the actor who technically originates a role. The musical was nominated for a record setting 14 Tony Award Nominations and won six. "Company" won the (1) Tony Award for Best Musical; (2) Tony Award Best Score (music) and (3) Tony Award Best Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; (4) Tony Award Best Book of a Musical by George Furth; (5) Tony Award Best Direction for a Musical by Harold Prince; (6) Tony Award Best Scenic Design by Boris Aronson; Nominated for Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (7) Larry Kert; Nominated for Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (8) Elaine Stritch and (9) Susan Browning; Nominated for Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (10) Charles Kimbrough; Nominated for Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (11) Barbara Barrie and (12) Pamela Myers; Nominated for Tony Award Best Choreography (13) Michael Bennett; Nominated for Tony Award Best Lighting Design (14) Robert Ornbo. Note: In the early 1990s, Furth and Sondheim revised the libretto, cutting and altering dialogue that had become dated and rewriting the end to act one.
3
A close, devoted friend to Warren Beatty, he appeared in support to the star in both Shampoo (1975) and Bulworth (1998).
4
In the late 1990s, there was talk of Annette Bening starring in his comedy entitled "Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex," but the production never materialized.
5
He graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in speech and received a master of fine arts degree from Columbia University in 1956.
6
Other plays included "Precious Sons" and "The Supporting Cast." He also wrote the book for the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical "The Act" starring Liza Minnelli. "Getting Away With Murder," a third collaboration with Stephen Sondheim, a comedy thriller that ran a few weeks in 1996, was a rare stab at straight playwriting and one of the last examples of the thriller genre to reach Broadway.
7
In the late 60s he began jotting down ideas for a series of one-act plays, with the idea of getting actress Kim Stanley to play the lead in each playlet. When no producer would bite, he turned to Stephen Sondheim, who, in turn, showed the work to director Harold Prince. The result was 1970's landmark Broadway musical "Company". George later used some of the one-acts not used in "Company" to form "Twigs," a 1971 quartet of interconnected plays about four women, all from the same family.
8
Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, volume 144, pages 160-162. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2006.
9
He graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in speech, and received a master of fine arts degree from Columbia University in 1956.
10
2000: Worked with Stephen Sondheim on 1981 Broadway musical "Merrily We Roll Along". It was awarded Best New Musical at the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 2001.
11
In the early 1970s, plans to film his hit 1971 Broadway play 'Twigs' with Elizabeth Taylor playing four roles never materialized.
12
Won Broadway's 1971 Tony Award as Best Book (Musical) for "Company."
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
You Wish
1998
TV Series
Minister
Bulworth
1998
Older Man
Goodbye Lover
1998
Mr. Merritt
The Nanny
1996
TV Series
Minister
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993-1994
TV Series
Jedediah Bancroft
Sisters
1991-1993
TV Series
Mr. Rattner
Murder, She Wrote
1987-1992
TV Series
Jerry Bozell / Fred Owens / Farley Pressman
L.A. Law
1992
TV Series
Archie Briggs
Murphy Brown
1992
TV Series
Buzz Ramsey
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
1990-1992
TV Series
Judge Binghampton
Wings
1990
TV Series
Frank
The Munsters Today
1990
TV Series
Dr. Carver
Life Goes On
1990
TV Series
Everett Spence
The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda
1990
TV Series
Additional Voices
Our House
1988
TV Series
Roy Bashnagel
Foofur
1987
TV Series
CBS Summer Playhouse
1987
TV Series
Rip
The Man with Two Brains
1983
Timon
Doctor Detroit
1983
Arthur Skridlow
Young Doctors in Love
1982
The Patients - Disgusting Looking Patient
Megaforce
1982
Professor Eggstrum
The Cannonball Run
1981
A. F. Foyt
The Scarlett O'Hara War
1980
TV Movie
George Cukor
Salvage 1
1979
TV Series
Bassett
Hooper
1978
Bidwell
Oh, God!
1977
Briggs
Charlie Cobb: Nice Night for a Hanging
1977
TV Movie
Conroy
Airport '77
1977
Gerald Lucas
American Raspberry
1977
President
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
1976
TV Series
Reverend Standfast / Stan Stanley
Norman... Is That You?
1976
Mr. Sukara
The Dumplings
1976
TV Series
Frederic Steele
Little House on the Prairie
1976
TV Series
Hannibal Godfrey
All in the Family
1971-1975
TV Series
Gordon Crenshaw / Whitney Fitzroy IV
Ellery Queen
1975
TV Series
Albert Klinger
Happy Days
1975
TV Series
Mr. Pinney
Archer
1975
TV Series
Shampoo
1975
Mr. Pettis
Let's Switch!
1975
TV Movie
Sidney King
For the Use of the Hall
1975
TV Movie
Martin
Blazing Saddles
1974
Van Johnson
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
1974
TV Series
Tom Lassiter
The Odd Couple
1970-1974
TV Series
Belkin / Harvey
What Are Best Friends For?
1973
TV Movie
Barry Chambers
Sleeper
1973
Guest at Luna's Party (uncredited)
The Third Girl from the Left
1973
TV Movie
Zimmy
Love, American Style
1970-1971
TV Series
George (segment "Love and the Well-Groomed Bride") / Phil (segment "Love and the Intruder")