George Chakiris

George Chakiris

92 · Born: Sep 16, 1932

Personal Details

Height5' 10"
BornSep 16, 1932 Norwood, Ohio, USA
Parents
  • Zoe Anastasidou
  • Stelianos Chakiris
Relatives
  • Evangeline Virginia Chakiris (Sibling)
  • Catherine Chakiris (Sibling)
  • Viola Mary Chakiris (Sibling)
  • Aristotle (Harry) Chakiris (Sibling)
  • James Steven Chakiris (Sibling)
  • Athena Chakiris (Sibling)

Biography

George Chakiris made his film debut at the tender age of 12, singing in the chorus of the 1947 film Song of Love. Following his high school graduation, he supported his passion for night-time dancing, singing, and dramatic lessons with a day job as a clerk in a Los Angeles department store. He eventually started his acting and dancing career, appearing in numerous musicals, including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, White Christmas, The Girl Rush, There's No Business Like Show Business, Brigadoon, and Meet Me in Las Vegas.

In 1957, he made his debut as a dramatic actor in the film Under Fire, and the following year, he traveled to New York in hopes of landing a role on Broadway. It was there that he auditioned for the London company of West Side Story, ultimately landing the co-starring role of Riff. He played the part for almost two years on the West End stage before reprising his role as Bernardo in the 1961 film adaptation of West Side Story, earning him a Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Since then, he has starred in a diverse range of films, including Diamond Head with Charlton Heston, Bebo's Girl with Claudia Cardinale, The Young Girls of Rochefort with Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac, and Gene Kelly, The Big Cube with Lana Turner, Why Not Stay for Breakfast?, Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again, and Pale Blood. He is one of the most traveled stars in motion pictures, having worked on location in Hawaii, Japan, Mexico, Italy, England, Spain, and France.

George Chakiris has also had a successful nightclub career, performing to rave reviews at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and Harrah's Club in Lake Tahoe. In the 1970s and 1980s, his career shifted focus to television and music, with guest appearances on shows such as Hawaii Five-O, Wonder Woman, CHiPs, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, and Murder, She Wrote. He also joined the cast of Dallas from 1985 to 1986.

In addition to his screen work, George Chakiris has released several records, including "George Chakiris," "Memories Are Made of These," "The Gershwin Song Book," and "West Side Story's Dynamic...". He has also appeared in several stage plays and musicals, including "The King and I" in the US in 1995 and the role of Rochester in "Jane Eyre" in Britain.

Career

{"id":198892,"title":"Not to Forget","year":"2021","character":"Bank Manager","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/not-to-forget","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_198892.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_198892.jpg"},"released":1}
2021
Not to Forget
Not to Forget as Bank Manager
{"id":59601,"title":"Pale Blood","year":"1990","character":"Michael Fury","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/pale-blood","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_59601.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_59601.jpg"},"released":1}
1990
Pale Blood
Pale Blood as Michael Fury
{"id":2076,"title":"Murder, She Wrote","year":1988,"character":"Eric Bowman","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/murder-she-wrote","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/2qu16fume7r0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/2qu16fume7r0.jpg"},"released":1}
1988
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote as Eric Bowman
{"id":24837,"title":"That's Dancing!","year":"1985","character":"Bernardo","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/thats-dancing","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_24837.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_24837.jpg"},"released":1}
1985
{"id":10016,"title":"Matt Houston","year":1983,"character":"Clark Sawyer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/matt-houston","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10016.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10016.jpg"},"released":1}
1983
Matt Houston
Matt Houston as Clark Sawyer
{"id":26632,"title":"Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again","year":"1982","character":"George Chakiris","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/jekyll-and-hyde-together-again","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_26632.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_26632.jpg"},"released":1}
1982
{"id":186128,"title":"Thriller","year":"1974","character":"Robert Stone","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/thriller-1974-7","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_186128.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_186128.jpg"},"released":1}
1974
Thriller
Thriller as Robert Stone
{"id":103834620,"title":"Notorious Woman","year":1974,"character":"Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Chopin","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/notorious-woman","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103834620.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103834620.jpg"},"released":1}
Notorious Woman
Notorious Woman as Frédéric Chopin
{"id":10239,"title":"Thriller","year":1974,"character":"Robert Stone","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/thriller-1973","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10239.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10239.jpg"},"released":1}
Thriller
Thriller as Robert Stone
{"id":23731,"title":"The Big Cube","year":"1969","character":"Johnny Allen","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-big-cube","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_23731.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_23731.jpg"},"released":1}
1969
The Big Cube
The Big Cube as Johnny Allen
{"id":166421,"title":"The Day the Hot Line Got Hot","year":"1968","character":"Eric Ericson","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-day-the-hot-line-got-hot","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_166421.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_166421.jpg"},"released":1}
1968
{"id":173439,"title":"Kismet","year":"1967","character":"The Caliph","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/kismet-1967","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_173439.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_173439.jpg"},"released":1}
1967
Kismet
Kismet as The Caliph
{"id":11803,"title":"The Young Girls of Rochefort","year":"1967","character":"Etienne","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-young-girls-of-rochefort","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_11803.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_11803.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":65374,"title":"Is Paris Burning?","year":"1966","character":"GI in Tank","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/is-paris-burning","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_65374.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_65374.jpg"},"released":1}
1966
Is Paris Burning?
Is Paris Burning? as GI in Tank
{"id":32685,"title":"633 Squadron","year":"1964","character":"Lieutenant Erik Bergman","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/633-squadron","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/1aos07icmln8.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/1aos07icmln8.jpg"},"released":1}
1964
633 Squadron
633 Squadron as Lieutenant Erik Bergman
{"id":65578,"title":"McGuire, Go Home!","year":"1964","character":"Haghios","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/mcguire-go-home","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_65578.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_65578.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":82162,"title":"Flight from Ashiya","year":"1964","character":"2nd Lt. John Gregg","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/flight-from-ashiya","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82162.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82162.jpg"},"released":1}
Flight from Ashiya
Flight from Ashiya as 2nd Lt. John Gregg
{"id":5226,"title":"Kings of the Sun","year":"1963","character":"Balam","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/kings-of-the-sun","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/44uvh685ae50.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/44uvh685ae50.jpg"},"released":1}
1963
{"id":65849,"title":"Diamond Head","year":"1962","character":"Dr. Dean Kahana","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/diamond-head","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_65849.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_65849.jpg"},"released":1}
1962
Diamond Head
Diamond Head as Dr. Dean Kahana
{"id":186458,"title":"Two and Two Make Six","year":"1962","character":"Larry Curado","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/two-and-two-make-six","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_186458.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_186458.jpg"},"released":1}
Two and Two Make Six
Two and Two Make Six as Larry Curado
{"id":6073,"title":"West Side Story","year":"1961","character":"Bernardo","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/west-side-story","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7b4kmi6v9ao0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7b4kmi6v9ao0.jpg"},"released":1}
1961
{"id":66160,"title":"Flower Drum Song","year":"1961","character":"Dancer (song \"Chop Suey\") (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/flower-drum-song","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_66160.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_66160.jpg"},"released":1}
Flower Drum Song
Flower Drum Song as Dancer (song "Chop Suey") (uncredited)
{"id":10530,"title":"Toast of the Town","year":1961,"character":"Bernardo","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/toast-of-the-town","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10530.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10530.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":174009,"title":"Under Fire","year":"1957","character":"Pvt. Steiner","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/under-fire-1957","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_174009.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_174009.jpg"},"released":1}
1957
Under Fire
Under Fire as Pvt. Steiner
{"id":82477,"title":"Meet Me in Las Vegas","year":"1956","character":"Young Groom","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/meet-me-in-las-vegas","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82477.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82477.jpg"},"released":1}
1956
{"id":94848,"title":"The Girl Rush","year":"1955","character":"Dancer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-girl-rush","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_94848.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_94848.jpg"},"released":1}
1955
{"id":94889,"title":"The Country Girl","year":"1954","character":"Dancer in Play (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-country-girl","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/6v76n3ots7k0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/6v76n3ots7k0.jpg"},"released":1}
1954
The Country Girl
The Country Girl as Dancer in Play (uncredited)
{"id":22474,"title":"There's No Business Like Show Business","year":"1954","character":"Dancer (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/theres-no-business-like-show-business","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_22474.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_22474.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":22401,"title":"Brigadoon","year":"1954","character":"Specialty Dancer (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/brigadoon","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/t5dm4a5dsp40.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/t5dm4a5dsp40.jpg"},"released":1}
Brigadoon
Brigadoon as Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
{"id":12297,"title":"White Christmas","year":"1954","character":"Dancer (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/white-christmas","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/5n873m33rhi0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/5n873m33rhi0.jpg"},"released":1}
White Christmas
White Christmas as Dancer (uncredited)
{"id":32480,"title":"The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.","year":"1953","character":"Dancer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-5000-fingers-of-dr-t","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/6dc4pv8er620.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/6dc4pv8er620.jpg"},"released":1}
1953
{"id":67759,"title":"Call Me Madam","year":"1953","character":"Dancer in The Ocarina Number (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/call-me-madam","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67759.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67759.jpg"},"released":1}
Call Me Madam
Call Me Madam as Dancer in The Ocarina Number (uncredited)
{"id":67631,"title":"Give a Girl a Break","year":"1953","character":"Dancer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/give-a-girl-a-break","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67631.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67631.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":22370,"title":"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes","year":"1953","character":"Chorus Boy (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/gentlemen-prefer-blondes","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/71jsmghinm10.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/71jsmghinm10.jpg"},"released":1}
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
{"id":68383,"title":"The Great Caruso","year":"1951","character":"Dancer (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-great-caruso","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68383.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68383.jpg"},"released":1}
1951
The Great Caruso
The Great Caruso as Dancer (uncredited)
{"id":69751,"title":"Song of Love","year":"1947","character":"Choir Boy","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/song-of-love","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69751.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69751.jpg"},"released":1}
1947
Song of Love
Song of Love as Choir Boy
{"id":181332,"title":"Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It","year":"2021","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/rita-moreno-just-a-girl-who-decided-to-go-for-it","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_181332.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_181332.jpg"},"released":1}
2021
{"id":31965,"title":"And the Oscar Goes to...","year":"2014","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/and-the-oscar-goes-to","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_31965.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_31965.jpg"},"released":1}
2014
{"id":148740,"title":"Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History","year":"2008","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/hollywood-singing-and-dancing-a-musical-history","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_148740.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_148740.jpg"},"released":1}
2008
{"id":103835916,"title":"Shindig!","year":1965,"character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/shindig","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103835916.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103835916.jpg"},"released":1}
1965