Gwen Verdon

Born Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon on January 13, 1925, in Culver City, CA, she began tap dancing in theater as a small child. Cole Porter hired her for the 1950 Broadway musical Alive and Kicking. In 1953, she appeared in Porter's Can Can. The role brought Verdon a Tony Award. Teaming with Bob Fosse, she starred in the hit musical Damn Yankees, which opened in spring 1955 and earned her a second Tony. Another Fosse play, Redhead helped score Verdon a third Tony. She can be heard on some of the play's soundtracks issued: Sweet Charity, Damn Yankees, Chicago, Redhead, Broadway Broads: There's Nothin Like a Dame, Celebrate Broadway,Vol. 10: The Best Musicals, Broadway Super Hits, Vol. 2, New Girl in Town, Broadway Sings the Blues: Party's Over, and Broadway's Fair Ladies. She can be seen in the movies Cocoon and The Jerk, Too. At the age of 75, Gwen Verdon died in New York on October 18, 2000.