I’m interviewing the great actor/dancer George Chakiris today.
I only can use a sound bite from him and, believe me, it’s going to be devoted to his memories of working for Jack Cole!
Read Chakiris’s stellar curriculum vitae …
He was one of the dancers in Marilyn Monroe‘s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” number in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and appeared as a dancer alongside Rosemary Clooney in White Christmas (in the “Love, You Didn’t Do Right by Me” number). He can also be seen in the “Chop Suey” number in the musical film Flower Drum Song and the funeral dance in the MGM musical film Brigadoon.
[Note: the “Flower Drum Song” credential is incorrect. Please read comment below.]
For the film West Side Story (1961), Chakiris won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Bernardo, leader of the “Sharks”. Prior to the film, he’d appeared as “Riff,” leader of the “Jets,” in the musical’s London production. He appeared alongside Gene Kelly in Jacques Demy‘s French musical Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (1967).
Chakiris is still very handsome and fit, lives in Hollywood, and makes exquisite hand-crafted jewelry. Will keep you posted.
Thank you, sister of George!
Just wanted to make a correction…even though there are many sites that say George was in Flower Drum Song, he wasn’t in that film…