Gwen Verdon
Biografia
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.
Filmografia
Filmy i seriale od najnowszych
Merely Marvelous: The Dancing Genius of Gwen Verdon
Film • 2019
jako Self (archive footage)
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
Film • 2015
jako Self (archive footage)
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
Film • 2005
jako Lola (segment "Damn Yankees") (archive footage)
Broadway's Lost Treasures
Film • 2003
jako Roxie Hart (segment "Chicago")
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Film • 2003
jako Self
Bruno
Film • 2000
jako Mrs. Drago
Walking Across Egypt
Film • 1999
jako Alora
Best Friends for Life
Film • 1998
jako Edith Cooper
The Music of Kander & Ebb: Razzle Dazzle
Film • 1997
jako Self
Pokój Marvina
Film • 1996
jako Ruth Wakefield
In Cold Blood
Serial • 1996
jako Sadie Truitt
Touched by an Angel
Serial • 1994
jako Lorraine McCully
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
Film • 1994
jako Etta Pell
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
Serial • 1994
jako Etta Pell
Strażnik Teksasu
Serial • 1993
jako Maisie Whitman
Homicide: Life on the Street
Serial • 1993
jako Jessie Doohen
Alicja
Film • 1990
jako Alice's Mother
Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret
Film • 1990
jako Self
Dream On
Serial • 1990
jako Kitty Brewer
Bob Fosse: Steam Heat
Film • 1990
jako Herself - Narrator
Dear John
Serial • 1988
jako Yvonne
Kokon: Powrót
Film • 1988
jako Bess McCarthy
Nadine
Film • 1987
jako Vera
All Is Forgiven
Serial • 1986
jako Bonita Harrell
The Equalizer
Serial • 1985
jako Kelly Sterling
Kokon
Film • 1985
jako Bess McCarthy
Night of 100 Stars II
Film • 1985
jako Self
That's Dancing!
Film • 1985
jako Lola (archive footage)
Cotton Club
Film • 1984
jako Tish Dwyer
The Jerk, Too
Film • 1984
jako Bag Lady (uncredited)
American Dance Machine Presents a Celebration of Broadway Dance
Film • 1983
jako Herself - Host
Legs
Film • 1983
jako Maureen Comly
Hotel
Serial • 1982
Fame
Serial • 1982
Magnum
Serial • 1980
jako Katherine Peterson
Orkiestra klubu samotnych serc sierzanta Peppera
Film • 1978
jako Our Guests at Heartland
That's Entertainment, Part II
Film • 1976
jako (archive footage)
The Deadly Visitor
Film • 1973
jako Mrs. Moffat
M*A*S*H
Serial • 1972
jako Brandy Doyle
Liza with a "Z"
Film • 1972
jako Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
The Don Knotts Show
Serial • 1970
jako Self
The Dick Cavett Show
Serial • 1968
jako Self - Guest
The Carol Burnett Show
Serial • 1967
jako Self - Guest
The Danny Kaye Show
Serial • 1963
jako Self
The Merv Griffin Show
Serial • 1962
jako Self
The Mike Douglas Show
Serial • 1961
jako Self - Co-Host
Damn Yankees
Film • 1958
jako Lola
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Serial • 1956
jako Self
Tony Awards
Serial • 1956
jako Self - Presenter
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
Film • 1955
jako Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Film • 1953
jako Abigail (uncredited)
The Mississippi Gambler
Film • 1953
jako Voodoo Chicken Dancer (uncredited)
The I Don't Care Girl
Film • 1953
jako Specialty Dancer
The Merry Widow
Film • 1952
jako Specialty Can-Can Dancer (uncredited)
Dreamboat
Film • 1952
jako Girl in Commercial (uncredited)
Meet Me After the Show
Film • 1951
jako Gwen Verdon / Sappho, Dancer in No Talent Joe (uncredited)
Dawid i Betszeba
Film • 1951
jako Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
On the Riviera
Film • 1951
jako Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Serial • 1950
jako Self
What's My Line?
Serial • 1950
jako Self - Mystery Guest
The Ed Sullivan Show
Serial • 1948
jako Self
Blonde from Brooklyn
Film • 1945
jako Girl in Nightclub (uncredited)
Hoosier Holiday
Film • 1943
jako Cheerleader
The King Steps Out
Film • 1936
jako Specialty Ballerina (uncredited)