1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
2. Daniel J. Travanti to Dick Vitale

Gwen Verdon Biography (1925-2000)

Born Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon, January 13, 1925, in Culver City, CA; daughter ofJoseph William (an electrician) and Gertrude (a dance teacher; maiden name,Standring) Verdon; married James Henaghan (a reporter), 1942 (divorced, June,1947); married Robert "Bob" Louis Fosse (a choreographer and director), April 3, 1960 (divorced); children: (first marriage) James O'Farrell; (second marriage) Nicole. Addresses: Agent--International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Manager--Shapiro and Lobel, 111 West 40th St., New York, NY 10018-2506.

Nationality

American

Gender

Female

Birth Details

January 13, 1925

Culver City, California, United States

Death Details

October 18, 2000

Woodstock, Vermont

Famous Works

• Credits; Stage Appearances
• Gambling dancer, Bonanza Bound, Shubert Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1947.
• Dancer, Alive and Kicking Revue, Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1950.
• Claudine, Can-Can, Shubert Theatre, New York City, 1953.
• Anna Christie, New Girl in Town, 46th Street Theatre, New York City, 1957.
• Lola, Damn Yankees, 46th Street Theatre, 1957.
• Essie Whimpole, Redhead, 46th Street Theatre, 1959.
• Charity Hope Valentine, Sweet Charity, Palace Theatre, New York City, 1966.
• Helen Giles, Children! Children!, Ritz Theatre, New York City, 1972.
• Milliken's Breakfast Show Revue, Waldorf-Astoria, New York City, 1973.
• Lola, Damn Yankees, Westbury Music Fair, Long Island, NY, 1974.
• Roxie Hart, Chicago, 46th Street Theatre, 1975.
• Credits; Major Tours
• Essie Whimpole, Redhead, U.S. cities, 1960.
• Credits; Stage Work
• Assistant choreographer, Magdalena, Ziegfeld Theatre, New York City, 1948.
• Credits; Film Appearances
• Specialty dancer, On the Riviera, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1951.
• Dancer, Meet Me after the Show, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1951.
• Specialty dancer, David and Bathsheba, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1951.
• Girl in commercial, Dreamboat, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1952.
• Specialty dancer, The Merry Widow, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1952.
• Voodoo dancer, The Mississippi Gambler, Universal, 1953.
• Specialty dancer, The I Don't Care Girl, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1953.
• Abigail, The Farmer Takes a Wife, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1953.
• Specialty dancer, Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, 1955.
• Lola, Damn Yankees (also known as What Lola Wants), Warner Bros., 1958.
• Tish Dwyer, The Cotton Club, Orion, 1984.
• Bess McCarthy, Cocoon, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985.
• Vera, Nadine, TriStar, 1987.
• Bess McCarthy, Cocoon: The Return, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1988.
• Alice's mother, Alice, Orion, 1990.
• Ruth, Marvin's Room, Miramax, 1996.
• Credits; Film Work
• Choreographer, The Mississippi Gambler, Universal, 1953.
• Special music and dance coordinator, Cocoon, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Series
• Judith Sawyer, All My Children, ABC, 1982.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Movies
• Legs, ABC, 1983.
• Bag lady, The Jerk, Too, NBC, 1984.
• Edith, Best Friends for Life, CBS, 1998.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Specials
• The Night of 100 Stars II, 1985.
• The 41st Annual Tony Awards, 1987.
• The 43rd Annual Tony Awards, 1989.
• Wolf Trap Salutes Victor Borge: An 80th Birthday Celebration, PBS, 1990.
• "Sanford Meisner: The Theater's Best Kept Secret," American Masters, PBS,1990.
• Narration, "Bob Fosse: Steam Heat," Great Performances, PBS, 1990.
• The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show II, CBS, 1991.
• Presenter, The 48th Annual Tony Awards, 1994.
• "The Music of Kander and Ebb: Razzle Dazzle," Great Performances, PBS, 1997.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Miniseries
• Etta Pell, The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, CBS, 1994.
• Sadie Truitt, In Cold Blood, CBS, 1996.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Pilots
• Community Center, 1984.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
• "Native Dance," Goodyear Playhouse, NBC, 1954.
• Brandy Doyle, "That's Show Biz," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1981.
• Melinda MacNeil, "Come One, Come All," Fame, NBC, 1982.
• "Going Home," Magnum, P.I., CBS, 1985.
• "Unnatural Causes," The Equalizer, CBS, 1985.
• "Forty," Magnum, P.I., CBS, 1986.
• Bonita Harrell, "I Can't Say No," All Is Forgiven, NBC, 1986.
• "Resolutions: Part 1," Magnum, P.I., CBS, 1987.
• "Resolutions: Part 2," Magnum, P.I., CBS, 1987.
• "Infinity and Jelly Doughnuts," Magnum, P.I., CBS, 1987.
• Kitty Brewer, "For Peter's Sake," Dream On, HBO, 1992.
• Jessie Doohen, " A Ghost of a Chance," Homicide: Life on the Street (alsoknown as Homicide and H: LOTS), NBC, 1993.
• Yolanda, "Self Defense," The Cosby Mysteries, NBC, 1994.
• Lorraine, Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1996.
• Maisie, Walker, Texas Ranger, CBS, 1997.