Gwen Verdon Net Worth

Gwen Verdon's Quotes

• I like the character of Charity because she's so hopeful. She's never bitter, and plenty of things happen to her that could make her bitter. She always thinks tomorrow's going to be beautiful. And someday it will be.
• These girls I've played are naive and pure. They are looking for someone to really love. But they aren't very bright, and they haven't been brought up in a family situation that enables them to evaluate. As for the prostitutes, well they're 'loved' every 20 minutes, or what substitutes for love in about 90% of American homes-- I'm pretty cynical about that.
• Sex in a dance is in the eyes of the beholder. I never thought my dances sexy. I suppose that's because I see myself with my face washed, and to me I look like a rabbit.
• On second husband Bob Fosse: "Bob Fosse grew up around strip clubs. Women were his hobby. He'd even cheat on his mistress. Part of him felt guilty, another part was ecstatic. In the end, it helped lead him to an early death".

Interesting Facts about Gwen Verdon

1. Taught Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe to dance.
2. Mother of Nicole Fosse (b. 1963)
3. Mother of Jim Henaghan (b. 1943).
4. First married at the age of 17 (to a tabloid reporter).
5. Brother: William Farrell Verdon (1922-1991).
6. Suffered from childhood disease that caused her legs to be badly bent and misshapen; her mother enrolled her in dance to strengthen them.
7. Dance teacher in Culver City was Clara Reid.
8. Before Sweet Charity made it to Broadway, Verdon's throat began hurting, but she continued to sing until she was almost completely voiceless. She was hospitalized, and it was discovered that a feather from one of the boas used for costume was wrapped around her vocal chords.
9. Although uncredited, Gwen was assistant choreographer in the film version of Sweet Charity (1969), starring Shirley MacLaine.
10. Although she and Bob Fosse separated in 1971, they remained married until his death in 1987. The couple had a daughter, Nicole Fosse (b. 1963). Verdon was with Fosse when he collapsed from a heart attack just prior to opening night of a revival of "Sweet Charity" at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C.; he was the director/choreographer, she was the assistant choreographer.
11. Daughter of British emigrants to the U.S.A., who worked in Hollywood and lived in Culver City, where Gwen Verdon was born.
12. After her electrifying performance as "Claudine" in "Can-Can", Broadway critics hailed her as the greatest Broadway "discovery" since Mary Martin sang "My Heart Belongs To Daddy".
13. Did not pursue dancing as a career until 1948.
14. Received further ballet training from Ernest Belcher, Marge Champion's father.
15. Won four Tony Awards: one as Best Supporting or Featured Actress Musical) in 1954 for "Can-Can;" and three as Best Actress (Musical) in 1956 for "Damn Yankees!," a role she recreated in the film version of the same name., Damn Yankees (1958); in 1958 for "New Girl in Town," in a tie with her co-star Thelma Ritter; and in 1959 for "Redhead." She was also nominated as Best Actress (Musical) in 1966 for "Sweet Charity" and in 1976 for "Chicago."
16. Never pulled the diva act and was not overly-possessive about her award-winning stage roles. In fact she gamely coached Shirley MacLaine on the set of Sweet Charity (1969), who was recreating Gwen's title character.
17. For Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Verdon coached stars Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe in both their dance and walk -- Monroe with less sex, Russell with more.
18. She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1998 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.
19. Went on stage for a performance of "Sweet Charity" after finding out her mother passed away. She claimed that the only way she could cope was to go on with the show.
20. Collected glass perfume bottles.