Gwen Verdon was born to the theater. Her mother, Gertrude, was a vaudevillian and dancer. Her father, Joseph, was an MGM studio electrician. She had to wear corrective boots as a child to straighten out her legs, which were misshapen by childhood illness. Nonetheless, she first appeared as a tapper on stage at age 6. She got her break in Bob Fosse's "Damn Yankees" in 1955. She married Fosse in 1960 and separated from him, although never divorcing him, in the mid-'70s. More stage and screen work quickly followed with highlights in "New Girl In Town", "Redhead", "Sweet Charity", and "Chicago". She and her daughter, Nicole, created the current stage musical "Fosse". Upon her death, Broadway dimmed all of its marquee lights in tribute.
Taught Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe to dance. Mother of Nicole Fosse (b. 1963) Mother of Jim Henaghan Mother of Nicole Fosse First married at the age of 17 (to a tabloid reporter). Brother: William F. Verdon Suffered from childhood disease that caused her legs to be badly bent and misshapen; her mother enrolled her in dance to strengthen them. Has flaming red hair. Dance teacher was Clara Reid. Before Sweet Charity went to Broadway, something terrible happened to Gwen. Her 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. Although uncredited, Gwen was assistant choreographer in the film version of "Sweet Charity" starring Shirley MacLaine. Although she and Bob Fosse separated in '71, they remained married until his death in '87. Daughter of British emigrants to the U.S.A., who worked in Hollywood and lived in Culver City, where Gwen Verdon was born. 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." Did not pursue dancing as a career until 1948. Received further ballet training from Ernest Belcher (Marge Champion's father). 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!; 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." 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, who was recreating Gwen's title character. For Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Gwen coached stars Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe in both their dance and walk -- Monroe with less sex, Russell with more. It's rumored that at one point in the film, Verdon dubs both Monroe's and Russell's swaying bottoms. She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1998 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.