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 criticall ... y 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.
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
2005
as Lola (segment "Damn Yankees") (archive footage)
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| Organization | Category | Movie | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | Best Supporting Actress | Cinderella Liberty | Won |
Walker, Texas Ranger
as Maisie Whitman
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Apr 21, 1993
In Cold Blood
as Sadie Truitt
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Nov 24, 1996
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
as Etta Pell
Episodes: 2
First Aired: May 01, 1994
M*A*S*H
as Brandy Doyle
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 17, 1972
The Equalizer
as Kelly Sterling
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 18, 1985
Dear John
as Yvonne
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 06, 1988
Dream On
as Kitty Brewer
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jul 08, 1990
Touched by an Angel
as Lorraine McCully
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 21, 1994
All is Forgiven
as Bonita Harrell
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Mar 20, 1986
The Danny Kaye Show
as Self
Episodes: 6
First Aired: Sep 25, 1963
Magnum, P.I.
Episodes: 4
First Aired: Dec 11, 1980
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self
Episodes: 4
First Aired: Oct 01, 1962
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
Episodes: 3
First Aired: Dec 11, 1961
The Colgate Comedy Hour
as Self
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Sep 10, 1950
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
as Self
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Oct 05, 1956
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self - Co-Host
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Dec 11, 1961
The Carol Burnett Show
as Self - Guest
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Sep 11, 1967
Tony Awards
as Self - Presenter
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Apr 01, 1956
Fame
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 07, 1982
Hotel
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Aug 21, 1982
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jun 20, 1948
Homicide: Life on the Street
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 31, 1993
The Don Knotts Show
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 15, 1970
What's My Line?
as Self - Mystery Guest
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Feb 02, 1950
Tony Awards
as Self - Performer
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Apr 01, 1956
The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - Guest
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jun 06, 1968
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