George Chakiris (born September 16, 1934) is an American dancer, singer and Academy Award-winning actor. He is best known for his appearance in the film version of West Side Story as Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks gang.
| # | Quote |
|---|
| 1 | [on Marilyn Monroe and her work on the Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend number] She worked so hard. Every time we had a break, she went right back to her place to wait and start up again. |
| 2 | I used to love every movie musical I saw. There was one that stood out, The Barclays of Broadway. When I first heard about it, I couldn't wait for it to open. I was counting the days. Finally, it came. I took the bus downtown to see it. One the way home, my neck hurt, I kept touching my neck. I had the mumps. So it seems I saw the movie in just the nick of time. |
| 3 | [on his jewelry business] I don't like the business side of it at all. I like designing the jewelry pieces. |
| 4 | [on making jewelry] It's so nice to be able to create something and have a beautiful finished piece to hold in your hand. |
| 5 | [on his jewelry design] It would be a wonderful collaborative effort to design a special one-of-a-kind piece for someone. The process of doing it is the exciting, creative part...and that would be a total joy to undertake. |
| 6 | I love acting, especially in the theater, and I'd love to look at more opportunities, but the jewelry continues to be the dominant thing for me. |
| 7 | [on Pale Blood, his last film, 1990] Ooooh, that was a tough one. I took it because the writer-director had come up with this totally different take on a vampire film. But lo, and I don't know what happened, SHE got replaced and a producer ended up directing it. I ended up not doing anything in it; it was boring, I thought. I've never seen it. I never want to see it. I know if I did, I wouldn't like it. |
| 8 | Dancing is such an incredible means of expression, even if it's just in dance class. |
| 9 | I wasn't having a great time making movies. I'd have loved better material. |
| 10 | [on kids picking on others and being unkind to them] Later, I was asked to join a fraternity and I didn't join it for that reason. I did not appreciate nor like that some kids were treated that way. |
| 11 | The parallel between acting and making jewelry is quite similar. There is discipline, patience, persistence and dedication in making both successful. |
| 12 | You do have to keep visible, but keeping visible with good material is very difficult. |
| 13 | [on his studio contract] If they didn't have specific work by the pay deadline, they'd stick you in anything. So I wasn't always used well. |
| 14 | Working with [Jerome] Robbins was the greatest experience I ever had, because it was Jerry who first showed me how a dancer could express himself in dancing rhythms and how an actor could intensify his dramatic performance with the graceful, expressive body movements of a dancer. |
| 15 | [about his Oscar-winning role in West Side Story (1961)] I wouldn't mind even if it's the ONLY thing people remember me for. It was a privilege just to be there and to contribute to something so wonderful. The last scene still gets me every time. It still brings tears to my eyes. |
| # | Fact |
|---|
| 1 | Norwood Middle School, Ohio: A 'George Chakiris Day' proclamation from Mayor Thomas Williams. [December 2011] |
| 2 | Designing silver jewelry. [2012] |
| 3 | Last performing on stage in England in 1997, now actively involved in jewelry making (specifically, sterling silver) as a career/hobby. [February 2002] |
| 4 | Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, California: Hand and footprint ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of 'West Side Story' with WSS co-stars Rita Moreno and Russ Tamblyn. [November 2011] |
| 5 | He was one of the tuxedoed male dancers surrounding Marilyn Monroe for the 'Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend' number in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' (1953). |
| 6 | George was one of the male dancers in the 1954 hit movie "White Christmas". He particularly featured in the musical number "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" with Rosemary Clooney. |
| 7 | Is portrayed by Glenn Quinn in Call Me Anna (1990). |
| 8 | Often remembered as a "Latin Lover" type in Hollywood, but is actually the son of Greek immigrants. |
| 9 | Performed the role of Riff, leader of the Jets, in the London stage production of "West Side Story" before winning the role of Bernardo, leader of the rival Sharks gang, in the film version (West Side Story (1961)). |
| 10 | Hit #110 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop charts with "Maria" in October of 1962. |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Last of the Summer Wine | 1996 | TV Series | Max Bernard |
| Les filles du Lido | 1995 | TV Mini-Series | Saskia |
| Human Target | 1992 | TV Series | Robillard |
| Pale Blood | 1990 | | Michael Fury |
| Superboy | 1989-1990 | TV Series | Professor Peterson |
| Murder, She Wrote | 1989 | TV Series | Eric Bowman |
| Santa Barbara | 1988 | TV Series | Daniel Espinoza |
| Dallas | 1985-1986 | TV Series | Nicholas |
| Hell Town | 1985 | TV Series | Ric Montenez |
| Poor Little Rich Girls | 1984 | TV Series | Prince Rudolph |
| Nihon no omokage | 1984 | TV Mini-Series | Lafcadio HEARN |
| Scarecrow and Mrs. King | 1984 | TV Series | Angelo Spinelli |
| Matt Houston | 1983-1984 | TV Series | Clark Sawyer / Brett Cole |
| CHiPs | 1983 | TV Series | Bernard DeJardine |
| Fantasy Island | 1978-1982 | TV Series | Captain Claude Dumarque / Pierre |
| Why Not Stay for Breakfast? | 1979 | | George Clark |
| Wonder Woman | 1978 | TV Series | Carlo Indrezzano |
| Medical Center | 1970-1975 | TV Series | Alex Solkin / Dr. John Martins / Dr. Bryan Christopher |
| Ten from the Twenties | 1975 | TV Series | James Dell |
| Notorious Woman | 1974 | TV Mini-Series | Frédéric Chopin |
| The Partridge Family | 1974 | TV Series | Captain Chuck Corwin |
| Thriller | 1974 | TV Series | Robert Stone |
| Police Surgeon | 1973 | TV Series | Joseph Herara / Jake / Nick Katomeris |
| Hawaii Five-O | 1972 | TV Series | Chris Lahani |
| The Jackie Gleason Show | 1969 | TV Series | Mousey the Dip |
| Sharon vestida de rojo | 1969 | | Robert Bowman |
| The Big Cube | 1969 | | Johnny Allen |
| The Day the Hot Line Got Hot | 1968 | | Eric Ericson |
| One Life to Live | 1968 | TV Series | Role Unknown (1984) |
| Kismet | 1967 | TV Movie | The Caliph |
| The Young Girls of Rochefort | 1967 | | Etienne |
| Paris brûle-t-il? | 1966 | | GI in Tank (as Georges Chakiris) |
| Il ladro della Gioconda | 1966 | | Vincent |
| McGuire, Go Home! | 1965 | | Haghios |
| 633 Squadron | 1964 | | Lt. Erik Bergman |
| Flight from Ashiya | 1964 | | 2nd Lt. John Gregg |
| Bebo's Girl | 1964 | | Bebo |
| Kings of the Sun | 1963 | | Balam |
| Diamond Head | 1962 | | Dr. Dean Kahana |
| Two and Two Make Six | 1962 | | Larry Curado |
| West Side Story | 1961 | | Bernardo |
| Under Fire | 1957 | | Pvt. Steiner (uncredited) |
| Meet Me in Las Vegas | 1956 | | Young Groom (as George Kerris) |
| The Girl Rush | 1955 | | Chorus Boy in 'Hillbilly Heart' Number (uncredited) |
| There's No Business Like Show Business | 1954 | | Dancer (uncredited) |
| The Country Girl | 1954 | | Dancer with Pick (uncredited) |
| White Christmas | 1954 | | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Brigadoon | 1954 | | Specialty Dancer (uncredited) |
| Give a Girl a Break | 1953 | | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Second Chance | 1953 | | La Cumbre Villager (uncredited) |
| Gentlemen Prefer Blondes | 1953 | | Chorus Boy (uncredited) |
| The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. | 1953 | | Dancer (as George Kerris) |
| Call Me Madam | 1953 | | Dancer in 'The Ocarina' Number (uncredited) |
| Stars and Stripes Forever | 1952 | | Ballroom Dancer (uncredited) |
| The Great Caruso | 1951 | | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Song of Love | 1947 | | Choir Boy (as George Kerris) |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Banda sonora | 2012 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
| Kismet | 1967 | TV Movie performer: "Stranger in Paradise", "Night of My Nights" | |
| The Young Girls of Rochefort | 1967 | performer: "Le Pont Transbordeur ballet générique", "Arrivée Des Camionneurs ballet", "Nous Voyageons De Ville En Ville", "Marins, Amis, Amants Ou Maris", "De Hambourg | |
| Shindig! | 1965-1966 | TV Series performer - 2 episodes | |
| West Side Story | 1961 | performer: "America" 1957, "Quintet" 1957 - uncredited | |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| What Ever Happened to Norma Jeane? | 2017 | Documentary filming | Himself |
| Nowhere, U.S.A. | 2017 | Documentary filming | Himself |
| Paul O'Grady's 100 Years of Movie Musicals | 2016 | TV Movie | Himself / Bernardo |
| World Choreography Awards | 2015 | Video | Himself |
| Actor's Day in LA | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| Q N' A with Mikki and Shay | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| We Have a Dream | 2013 | Video | Himself |
| 12th Annual Los Angeles Polish Film Festival | 2012 | Video short | Himself |
| George Chakiris Homecoming | 2012 | TV Movie | Himself |
| The Talk | 2011 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Dancing with the Stars | 2011 | TV Series | Himself |
| Tetsuko no heya | 2010 | TV Series | Himself |
| Backstage Stories from 'White Christmas' | 2009 | Video short | Himself |
| Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1960's | 2009 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression | 2009 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing | 2009 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1950s: The Golden Era of the Musical | 2009 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History | 2008 | Video documentary | Himself |
| The Florence Henderson Show | 2008 | TV Series | Himself |
| Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical Treasure | 2008 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Best Ever Christmas Films | 2005 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The 100 Greatest War Films | 2005 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Mystery of Natalie Wood | 2004 | TV Movie | Himself |
| The 100 Greatest Musicals | 2003 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The 75th Annual Academy Awards | 2003 | TV Special | Himself - Past Winner |
| AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories | 2002 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| The 12th Annual Golden Laurel Awards | 2001 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter |
| AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Robert Wise | 1998 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| The 70th Annual Academy Awards | 1998 | TV Special | Himself (Past Oscar Winner Tribute Sequence) |
| 25 Years of 'Last of the Summer Wine' | 1997 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Golden Globes 50th Anniversary Celebration | 1994 | TV Movie | Himself |
| America's Dance Honors | 1990 | TV Special | Himself |
| Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again | 1982 | | Himself |
| Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady | 1982 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Palmarès | 1980 | TV Series | Himself |
| Les nouveaux rendez-vous | 1980 | TV Series | Himself |
| Gala de l'Unicef | 1966-1980 | TV Series | Himself |
| Music-Hall | 1980 | TV Series | Himself |
| Midi-Première | 1980 | TV Series | Himself |
| Les rendez-vous du dimanche | 1977-1980 | TV Series | Himself |
| La nuit des Césars | 1980 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Numéro 1 | 1975-1979 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Host |
| Poiret est | 1975 | TV Movie documentary | Vocals |
| Zenith Presents: A Salute to Television's 25th Anniversary | 1972 | TV Special | Himself |
| The Mike Douglas Show | 1972 | TV Series | Himself - Dancer / Actor |
| Dinah's Place | 1970 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1969 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Ed Sullivan Show | 1962-1968 | TV Series | Singer / Bernardo |
| The Carol Burnett Show | 1968 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Andy Williams Show | 1967 | TV Series | Himself |
| Shindig! | 1965-1966 | TV Series | Himself - Guest Host / Singer |
| The 35th Annual Academy Awards | 1963 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| Here's Hollywood | 1962 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 34th Annual Academy Awards | 1962 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Best Actor in a Supporting Role & Co-Presenter: Documentary Awards |
| The Dinah Shore Chevy Show | 1962 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Garry Moore Show | 1961 | TV Series | Himself |
| Ford Star Jubilee | 1956 | TV Series | Himself |
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$600,000
