Gwen Verdon was born on January 13, 1925. She was an American actress and dancer.

Biography and Career

Gwen Verdon was born in Culver City, California. He was the second child of Gertrude Lilian and Joseph William Verdon who were British immigrants to the United States by way of Canada. Her brother was William Farrell Verdon. Her father was an electrician at MGM Studios, and her mother was a former vaudevillian of the Denishawn dance troupe, as well as a dance teacher.
In 1945, she appeared as a dancer in the movie musical The Blonde From Brooklyn.

After her divorce, she entrusted her son Jimmy to the care of her parents. Later Verdon found a job as assistant to choreographer Jack Cole, whose work was respected by both Broadway and Hollywood movie studios. During her five- year employment with Cole, she took small roles in movie musicals as a specialty dancer.

In 1953, she got her breakthrough role finally came when choreographer Michael Kidd cast her as the second female lead in Cole Porter's musical Can-Can. Verdon received a pay increase and her first Tony Award for her great performance in, Garden of Eden.

Verdon played Alora in the movie Walking Across Egypt released in 1999 and in 2000 appeared in the film Bruno.

Verdon received a total of four Tonys, for best supporting actress for Can-Can in 1953 and best leading actress for Damn Yankees in 1955, New Girl in Town in 1957 and Redhead in 1959, a murder-mystery musical. She also won a Grammy Award for the cast recording of Redhead. In 1998, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

Verdon had two husbands, tabloid reporter James Henaghan and Bob Fosse. He died in her sleep in 2000 of a heart attack at the home of her daughter, Nicole.

General Appearance

Birth Name: Gwenyth Evelyn Verdon
Birth: January 13, 1925

Why do we like Gwen Verdon?

We like her because of her acting as a Hollywood actress.

Why is Gwen Verdon Famous?

She is famous because of her great work as an actress.

Gwen Verdon Lists

	1925 births
	2000 deaths
	American female singers
	American film actors
	American musical theatre actors
	Actors from California
	American people of Canadian descent
	American people of English descent
	Grammy Award winners
	People from Los Angeles County, California
	Tony Award winners
	United States National Medal of Arts recipients
	Deaths from myocardial infarction
	Cardiovascular disease deaths in Vermont

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Gwen Verdon Pictures

 

Gwen Verdon Movies
David and Bathsheba Meet Me After the Show On the Riviera Dreamboat The Farmer Takes a Wife The Mississippi Gambler Gentlemen Marry Brunettes Damn Yankees! Cocoon Nadine Cocoon: The Return Alice Paris Is Burning Walking Across Egypt Bruno
Gwen Verdon Filmography

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Tags: 1925, capricorn, actress

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Category: Actresses  - ( Actresses Archive)

Date Added: 25 March '10

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