Editing Gwen Verdon

{{short description|American actress and dancer (1925–2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Gwen Verdon
| image              = Gwen Verdon 1954.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| caption            = Verdon in 1954
| birth_name         = Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1925|1|13}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Gwen Verdon (Performer, Choreographer) |date=2000-10-18 |magazine=[[Playbill]] |url=https://playbill.com/person/gwen-verdon-vault-0000000400 |access-date=2024-01-18 |issn=0551-0678 |quote=Ms. Verdon was born to Joseph William and Gertrude Verdon on Jan. 13, 1925, in Culver City, CA.}}</ref>
| birth_place        = [[Culver City, California]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2000|10|18|1925|1|13}}
| death_place        = [[Woodstock, Vermont]], U.S.
| occupation         = Actress, dancer
| years_active       = 1936–2000
| spouse             = {{ubl
  | {{marriage|James Henaghan|1942|1947|end=div}}
  | {{marriage|[[Bob Fosse]]|1960|1987|end=died}}
  }}
| children           = 2, including [[Nicole Fosse]]
}}

'''Gwyneth Evelyn "Gwen" Verdon''' (January 13, 1925{{spnd}}October 18, 2000) was an American actress and dancer. She won four [[Tony Awards]] for her musical comedy performances, and she served as an uncredited choreographer's assistant and specialty dance coach for theater and film. Verdon was a critically acclaimed performer on Broadway in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, having originated many roles in musicals, including Lola in ''[[Damn Yankees]]'', the title character in ''[[Sweet Charity]]'', and [[Roxie Hart]] in ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]''. 

Her second husband was director-choreographer [[Bob Fosse]]. The couple collaborated on a number of theater and film projects. After Fosse's death, she worked to preserve his legacy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Julie |title=Inside Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse's Unconventional Marriage |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/04/gwen-verdon-bob-fosse-fx-marriage |access-date=9 January 2024 |publisher=Vanity Fair |date=April 9, 2019}}</ref>

==Early life==
Verdon was born in [[Culver City, California]], the second child of Gertrude Lilian ({{née}} Standring) and Joseph William Verdon, who were both British immigrants to the United States by way of Canada.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Patrick|last=Pacheco|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/11/03/remembering-gwen-verdon/|title=Remembering Gwen Verdon|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|location=New York City|date=November 3, 2000|access-date=June 24, 2015|archive-date=December 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215182022/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,278295,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Her brother was William Farrell Verdon, her father was an electrician at [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] Studios, and her mother was a former [[vaudeville|vaudevillian]] of the [[Denishawn]] dance troupe, as well as a [[dance teacher]].<ref>[http://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/gwenyth_evelyn_verdon_born_1925_996516 Birthdata], californiabirthindex.org; accessed June 24, 2015.</ref>

As a toddler, she suffered from [[rickets]], which led to her being called "Gimpy" by other children and spent her early years in [[orthopedic]] boots and rigid [[leg braces]]. At age three, her mother enrolled her in dance classes. Further ballet training strengthened her legs and improved her carriage.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}} 

By age six, she was dancing on stage. She went on to study multiple dance forms, ranging from tap, jazz, ballroom and flamenco to Balinese. She also studied juggling. At age 11, she appeared as a solo ballerina in the musical romance film ''[[The King Steps Out]]'' (1936), directed by [[Josef von Sternberg]] and starring [[Grace Moore]] and [[Franchot Tone]]. She attended [[Alexander Hamilton High School (Los Angeles)|Hamilton High School]] in Los Angeles and studied under ballet enthusiast Ernest Belcher. While in high school, she was cast in a [[Revival (play)|revival]] of ''[[Show Boat]]''.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Jerome-Robeson-Verdon-Angeles-Program/dp/B00YST5FMW</ref>

In 1942, Verdon's parents asked her to marry family friend and tabloid reporter James Henaghan after he got her pregnant at 17 years old, and she quit her dancing career to raise their child.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Julie|last=Miller|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/04/fosse-verdon-bob-gwen-first-husband-baby#~o|title='Fosse/Verdon' Reveals the Sad Secret of Gwen Verdon's First Marriage|magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]|location=New York City|date=April 24, 2019|access-date=May 23, 2019}}</ref> In 1945, she appeared as a dancer in the movie musical ''[[Blonde From Brooklyn]]''. After her divorce, she entrusted her son Jimmy to the care of her parents.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}}

==Career==
Early on, Verdon found a job as assistant to choreographer [[Jack Cole (choreographer)|Jack Cole]], whose work was respected by both [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] and Hollywood [[movie studio]]s. During her five-year employment with Cole, she took small roles in movie musicals as a "specialty dancer". She also taught dance to stars such as [[Jane Russell]], [[Fernando Lamas]], [[Lana Turner]], [[Rita Hayworth]], [[Betty Grable]], and [[Marilyn Monroe]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) - Trivia - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045810/trivia/?item=tr0641979 |access-date=2024-03-11 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Debra |date=2009-08-09 |title=Moving Marilyn Monroe |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-09-ca-marilyn-monroe9-story.html |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-04-10 |title=Jack Cole: The 'scary' dancer who made Marilyn sparkle |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47814968 |access-date=2024-03-11 |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

Verdon started out on Broadway going from one [[chorus line]] to another. Her breakthrough role finally came when choreographer [[Michael Kidd]] cast her as the second female lead in [[Cole Porter]]'s musical ''[[Can-Can (musical)|Can-Can]]'' (1953), starring French [[prima donna]] Lilo. Out-of-town reviewers hailed Verdon's interpretation of Eve in the ''Garden of Eden'' ballet as a performance that upstaged the show's star, who reputedly demanded Verdon's role be cut to only two featured dance numbers. With her role reduced to little more than an ensemble part, Verdon formally announced her intention to quit by the time the show premiered on Broadway. But her opening-night ''Garden of Eden'' performance was so well-received that the audience screamed her name until the startled actress was brought from her dressing room in a towel to take a curtain call.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1jgDNzIF5w&t=1m44s "Gwen Verdon #5"] youtube.com, retrieved June 4, 2019</ref> Verdon received a pay increase and her first [[Tony Award]] for her performance.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/tonyawardspersoninfo.php?nomname=Gwen%20Verdon | title=Gwen Verdon Tony Awards Wins and Nominations }}</ref>

Verdon's biggest critical and commercial success was her following show, [[George Abbott]]'s ''[[Damn Yankees]]'' (1955), based on the novel ''[[The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant]].'' The musical ran for 1,019 performances. Verdon won another Tony and went to Hollywood to repeat her role in the 1958 movie version ''[[Damn Yankees (1958 film)|Damn Yankees]]'', famously singing "[[Whatever Lola Wants]]". (Fosse can be seen partnered with her in the original [[Mambo (music)|mambo]] duet "Who's Got the Pain".}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JY4dayMcz | title=- YouTube | website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref> 

Verdon won another Tony for her performance in the musical ''[[New Girl in Town]]'' as a hard-luck girl fleeing from her past as a prostitute. She won her fourth Tony for the murder-mystery musical ''[[Redhead (musical)|Redhead]],'' Fosse's Broadway debut as a director/choreographer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/tonyawardspersoninfo.php?nomname=Gwen%20Verdon | title=Gwen Verdon Tony Awards Wins and Nominations }}</ref> In 1960, Fosse and Verdon wed.<ref name="lights" /> 

In 1966, Verdon returned to the stage in the role of Charity in ''[[Sweet Charity]],'' which, like many of her earlier Broadway triumphs, was choreographed and directed by husband Fosse. The show is loosely based on [[Federico Fellini]]'s screenplay for ''[[Nights of Cabiria]].'' It was followed by a movie version starring [[Shirley MacLaine]] as Charity, featuring [[Ricardo Montalbán]], [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] and [[Chita Rivera]], with Fosse at the helm of his first film as director and choreographer. Verdon helped with the choreography. The numbers include the famed "[[Big Spender]]", "Rhythm of Life", "If My Friends Could See Me Now", and "I'm a Brass Band". Verdon also traveled to Berlin to help Fosse with ''[[Cabaret (1972 film)|Cabaret]]'', the musical film for which he won an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] for [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hollywood-flashback-cabaret-won-eight-oscars-including-best-director-1973-1265403/ | title=Hollywood Flashback: 'Cabaret' Won Eight Oscars, Including Best Director, in 1973 | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=January 6, 2020 }}</ref>

Although estranged as a couple, Verdon continued to collaborate with Fosse as a performer and a choreographer. In the 1975 Broadway production of the Fosse-directed musical ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]'', Verdon originated the role of murderess [[Roxie Hart]]) opposite [[Chita Rivera]]'s [[Velma Kelly]].  Although the musical was almost universally panned by critics, who compared it unfavorably to Cabaret, Gwen Verdon was singled out for praise: her performance was "delectable" wrote the NY Times theater critic.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/08/archives/stage-view-chicago-comes-on-like-doomsday-stage-view-chicago-comes.html | title=STAGE VIEW (Published 1975) | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=June 8, 1975 }}</ref>  Verdon also helped out with Fosse's paean to Broadway dancing in the musical ''[[Dancin']]'' (1978), as well as Fosse's autobiographical film ''[[All That Jazz (film)|All That Jazz]]'' ([[1979 in film|1979]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-broadway-legends-bob-fosse-and-gwen-verdon-made-headlines-long-fosse-verdon-180971951/|title=How Broadway Legends Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon Made Headlines Long Before 'Fosse/Verdon'|last=Thulin|first=Lila|website=Smithsonian|language=en|access-date=2019-12-10}}</ref> The helpmate/peer played by [[Leland Palmer (actress)|Leland Palmer]] in that film is based on the role Verdon played in Fosse's real life. She also developed a close working relationship with Fosse's romantic partner of six years, Broadway dancer [[Ann Reinking]], working as an instructor for Reinking's musical theatre classes.<ref>Miller, Julie, "Fosse/Verdon: Inside Ann Reinking and Gwen Verdon’s Unlikely Friendship"  Vanity Fair, May, 2019</ref>

After the 1975 stage version of ''Chicago'' Verdon focused on film acting, playing character roles in movies such as ''[[The Cotton Club (film)|The Cotton Club]]'' (1984), ''[[Cocoon (film)|Cocoon]]'' (1985) and ''[[Cocoon: The Return]]'' (1988). She collected several Emmy nominations in her guest performances on television shows, including nominations for appearances on ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]'' (1988), ''[[Dream On (TV series)|Dream On]]'' (1993) and ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' (1993). Her film roles continued in prestigious films, such as the mother of Mia Farrow's title character in the [[Woody Allen]] movie ''[[Alice (1990 film)|Alice]]'' (1990) and the ecentric Aunt Ruth in ''[[Marvin's Room (film)|Marvin's Room]]'' (1996), co-starring [[Meryl Streep]], [[Diane Keaton]], and [[Leonardo DiCaprio]].  Other film roles include Alora in ''[[Walking Across Egypt]]'' (1999) and ''[[Bruno (2000 film)|Bruno]]'', released in 2000. 

In 1999, Verdon served as artistic consultant on the Broadway musical reprising classic Fosse choreography. Called simply ''[[(musical)|Fosse]],'' lacking any formal narrative, the revue was conceived and co-directed by [[Richard Maltby Jr.]] and [[Ann Reinking]]. (Verdon's daughter with Fosse, performer [[Nicole Fosse]] received a "special thanks" credit).  With glowing reviews, "Fosse" ran for 1000 performances on Broadway and collected 4 Tonys, including the [[Tony Award for Best Musical]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/shows/Fosse-4634/cast | title=Fosse Original Broadway Revue Cast 1999 &#124; Broadway World }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Verdon was married twice and had two children. She married tabloid reporter James Archibald Henaghan in 1942. They had a son, Jim, the following year and divorced in 1947. In 1960, Verdon married choreographer [[Bob Fosse]]. They had a daughter, [[Nicole Fosse|Nicole]], in 1963. Fosse's extramarital affairs put a strain on their marriage, and by 1971, Verdon and Fosse were separated, but never divorced. She was involved in relationships with actor [[Scott Brady]] and actor Jerry Lanning, son of [[Roberta Sherwood]].<ref>[https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/actors-scott-brady-and-gwen-verdon-waving-as-they-prepare-news-photo/562642475 "Scott Brady And Gwen Verdon News Photo"] gettyimages.com, January 10, 1955</ref> Verdon was with Fosse when he suffered a fatal heart attack at the [[Willard InterContinental Washington|Willard Hotel]] in Washington, D.C., in September 1987.<ref name=times>Molotsky, Irvin. [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/24/obituaries/bob-fosse-director-and-choreographer-dies.html "Bob Fosse, Director and Choreographer, Dies"] ''The New York Times'', September 24, 1987</ref>

Verdon was a cat fancier, having up to six cats at one time, with the pets carrying names such as "Feets Fosse", "[[Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon|Junie Moon]]", and "Tidbits Tumbler Fosse".<ref>''Cat People'', Bill Hayward, introduction by Rogers E. M. Whitaker. New York: Dolphin/Doubleday, 1978 (p. 70)</ref>

Verdon was a mental health-care advocate; later in life, she openly spoke about the positive effects of mental-health counseling. Along with teaching dance as a form of therapy, she sat on the board of directors for the New York Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, and actively raised funds to support mental health-care research.<ref>Taylor, Clarke. [https://people.com/archive/separated-but-still-mated-professionally-gwen-verdon-hoofs-again-for-her-ex-vol-3-no-24/ "Separated but Still Mated Professionally"] ''People'', Vol.3, No.4, June 23, 1975</ref>

She was also stated to be a big fan of baseball, and went to day games with her scout son.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Gwen Verdon: too hot for Hollywood?" Tempo News, 1955 |url=https://www.verdonfosse.com/blog/gwen-verdon-too-hot-for-hollywood-tempo-news-1955 |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=The Verdon Fosse® Legacy |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Death and legacy==
Verdon died from a heart attack on October 18, 2000, aged 75, at her daughter's home in [[Woodstock, Vermont]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Kuchwara|title=Gwen Verdon, Broadway's Lola, Sweet Charity and Roxie Hart, dies at 75|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=October 19, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first1=Robert|last1=Simonson|first2=Kenneth|last2=Jones|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-musical-legend-gwen-verdon-is-dead-at-75-com-92549#|title=Broadway Musical Legend Gwen Verdon Is Dead at 75|magazine=[[Playbill (magazine)|Playbill]]|publisher=Playbill Inc.|location=New York City|date=October 18, 2000}}</ref><ref name=lights>{{cite news|first=Robert|last=Berkvist|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/19/theater/gwen-verdon-redhead-who-high-kicked-her-way-to-stardom-dies-at-75.html|title=Gwen Verdon, Redhead Who High-Kicked Her Way to Stardom, Dies at 75|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York City|date=October 19, 2000}}</ref> Later that night, at 8 pm, all marquee lights on Broadway were dimmed in a tribute to Verdon.<ref name=lights/>

==Popular culture==
''[[Fosse/Verdon]]'' is an 8-part American [[miniseries]] starring [[Sam Rockwell]] as Fosse and [[Michelle Williams (actress)|Michelle Williams]] as Verdon.<ref>{{Citation |title=Fosse/Verdon |date=2019-04-09 |type=Biography, Drama, Music |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8746478/ |access-date=2024-04-19 |others=Sam Rockwell, Michelle Williams, Norbert Leo Butz |publisher=FX Productions, The VerdonFosse Legacy, West Egg Studios}}</ref> The series, which tells the story of the couple's troubled personal and professional relationship, is based on the biography ''Fosse'' by Sam Wasson.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schubak |first=Adam |date=2019-03-01 |title=Everything You Need to Know About Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a26409650/fosse-verdon-fx-true-story-explained/ |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=ELLE |language=en-US}}</ref> It premiered in eight parts on April 9, 2019, on [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]. At the [[71st Primetime Emmy Awards]], ''Fosse/Verdon'' received seventeen nominations, including [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series|Outstanding Limited Series]] and acting nominations for Rockwell, Williams, and [[Margaret Qualley]] (as [[Ann Reinking]]). Williams won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fosse/Verdon |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/fosse-verdon |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}</ref>

==Work==
===Stage===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1950
| ''[[Alive and Kicking (musical)|Alive and Kicking]]''
| Herself
| Musical revue
|-
| 1953
| ''[[Can-Can (musical)|Can-Can]]''
| Claudine/Eve
| [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album|Grammy Award for Best Broadway Show Album]]<br />[[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical|Tony Award for Distinguished Supporting or Featured Musical Actress]]
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Damn Yankees]]''
| Lola
| rowspan="3"| [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical|Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical]]
|-
| 1957
| ''[[New Girl in Town]]''
| Anna
|-
| 1959
| ''[[Redhead (musical)|Redhead]]''
| Essie Whimple
|-
| 1966
| ''[[Sweet Charity]]''
| Charity Hope Valentine
| Nominated–[[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical|Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical]]
|-
| 1972
| ''Children! Children!''
| Helen Giles
| Only played one performance (13 previews)
|-
| 1975
| ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]''
| [[Roxie Hart]]
| Nominated–[[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical|Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical]]
|-
|}

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1936
| ''[[The King Steps Out]]''
| Specialty Ballerina
| Uncredited 
|-
| 1941
| ''The Girl After My Heart''
| Specialty Ballerina
| Credited as "Gwen Verdun" [''sic''] <br/> a [[Soundie]] by [[Roy Mack (director)|Roy Mack]] 
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Hoosier Holiday]]''
| Cheerleader
| Uncredited 
|-
| 1945
| ''[[Blonde from Brooklyn]]''
| Girl in Nightclub
| Uncredited 
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1951
| ''[[On the Riviera]]''
| Specialty Dancer
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[David and Bathsheba (film)|David and Bathsheba]]''
| Specialty Dancer
| Uncredited 
|-
| ''[[Meet Me After the Show]]''
| Sappho
| Uncredited <Br/> prominent dancer in "No Talent Joe"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1952
| ''[[Dreamboat (film)|Dreamboat]]''
| Girl
| Uncredited 
|-
| ''[[The Merry Widow (1952 film)|The Merry Widow]]''
| Specialty Can-Can Dancer
| Uncredited 
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1953
| ''[[The I Don't Care Girl]]''
| Specialty Dancer
| Uncredited 
|-
| ''[[The Mississippi Gambler (1953 film)|The Mississippi Gambler]]''
| Voodoo Dancer
| Uncredited 
|-
| ''[[The Farmer Takes a Wife (1953 film)|The Farmer Takes a Wife]]''
| Abigail
| Uncredited 
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Gentlemen Marry Brunettes]]''
| Specialty Dancer
| Uncredited 
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Damn Yankees (film)|Damn Yankees]]''
| Lola
| Nominated—[[BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles|BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Film]]
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)|Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]''
| Our Guests at Heartland
| 
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Creepshow]]''
| Voice of Lenora Castonmeyer
| Uncredited
|-
| 1984
| ''[[The Cotton Club (film)|The Cotton Club]]''
| Tish Dwyer
| 
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Cocoon (film)|Cocoon]]''
| Bess McCarthy
| Nominated—[[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress]]
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Nadine (1987 film)|Nadine]]''
| Vera
| 
|-
| 1988
| ''[[Cocoon: The Return]]''
| Bess McCarthy Selwyn
| 
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Alice (1990 film)|Alice]]''
| Alice's mother
| 
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (film)|Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All]]''
| Etta Pell, Nursing Home Resident
| 
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Marvin's Room (film)|Marvin's Room]]''
| Ruth Wakefield
| Nominated—[[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role]]<br />Nominated—[[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]]
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Walking Across Egypt]]''
| Alora
| 
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Bruno (2000 film)|Bruno]]''
| Mrs. Drago
| 
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1954
| ''[[Goodyear Television Playhouse|Goodyear Playhouse]]''
| Shirley Kochendorfer
| Episode: "Native Dancer"
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Love, American Style]]''
| Estelle Mayberry
| Segment: "Love and the New Act"
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Pyramid (game show)|The $10,000 Pyramid]]''
| Celebrity Guest
| Week of October 22–26, playing against [[Godfrey Cambridge]]<ref>[http://www.tv.com/shows/10000-pyramid/gwen-verdon-and-godfrey-cambridge-320523 " ''10,000 Pyramid'' Gwen Verdon & Godfrey Cambridge, Aired Oct 22, 1973"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308165042/http://www.tv.com/shows/10000-pyramid/gwen-verdon-and-godfrey-cambridge-320523/ |date=March 8, 2021}} tv.com, retrieved June 4, 2019</ref>
|-
| 1981
| ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]''
| Brandy Doyle (USO performer)
| Episodes: "That's Show Biz" (two episodes, Parts 1 and 2)
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1982
| ''[[Fame (1982 TV series)|Fame]]''
| Melinda MacNeil
| Episode: "Come One, Come All"
|-
| ''[[All My Children]]''
| Judith Kingsley Sawyer
| Unknown episodes
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Legs (film)|Legs]]''
| Maureen Comly
| Television movie 
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1984
| ''[[The Jerk, Too]]''
| Bag Lady
| Television movie; uncredited
|-
| ''[[Gimme a Break!]]''
| Lily
| Episode: "The Center"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1985
| ''[[Trapper John, M.D.]]''
| Ms. Taylor
| Episode: "All the King's Horses"
|-
| ''[[Kids Incorporated]]''
| Ruth
| Episode: "Grandma, Won't You Dance with Me"
|-
| 1985–1988
| ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]''
| Katherine Peterson
| 5 episodes<br />Nominated—[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series]] {{small|(1988)}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1986
| ''[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series)|The Equalizer]]''
| Kelly Sterling
| Episode: "[[The Equalizer (1985 TV series) season 1#ep18|Unnatural Causes]]"
|-
| ''[[All Is Forgiven (TV series)|All Is Forgiven]]''
| Bonita Harrell
| Episode: "I Can't Say No"
|-
| 1986–1988
| ''[[Webster (TV series)|Webster]]''
| Aunt Charlotte
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Hotel (U.S. TV series)|Hotel]]''
| Iris Lloyd
| Episode: "Second Thoughts"
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Dear John (U.S. TV series)|Dear John]]''
| Yvonne
| Episode: "The Second Time Around"
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Paris Is Burning (film)|Paris is Burning]]''
| Herself
| Uncredited
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Dream On (TV series)|Dream On]]''
| Kitty Brewer
| Episode: "For Peter's Sake"<br />Nominated—[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series]] {{small|(1993)}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1993
| ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]''
| Jessie Doohen
| Episode: "[[Ghost of a Chance (Homicide: Life on the Street)|Ghost of a Chance]]"<br />Nominated—[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series]] {{small|(1993)}}
|-
| ''[[Key West (TV series)|Key West]]''
| Sister Grace
| Episode: "Gimme Shelter"
|-
| 1994
| ''[[The Cosby Mysteries]]''
| Yolanda
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1996
| ''[[In Cold Blood (miniseries)|In Cold Blood]]''
| Sadie Truitt
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Touched by an Angel]]''
| Lorraine McCully
| Episode: "Missing in Action"
|-
| 1997–1999
| ''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]''
| Maisie Whitman
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Promised Land (1996 TV series)|Promised Land]]''
| Karen Hatcher
| Episode: "Undercover Granny"
|}

===Music===
* In 1956, Verdon released an album titled ''The Girl I Left Home For''. The album includes her covers of popular jazz standards of the time.<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Gwen-Verdon-The-Girl-I-Left-Home-For/release/4963763 " ''The Girl I Left Home For'' RCA Victor LPM-1152"] discogs.com, retrieved June 4, 2019</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award 
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
! Ref.
|-
| 1981
| [[American Theater Hall of Fame]]
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{Won|Inducted}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaterhalloffame.org/members.html |title=Theater Hall of Fame Members |publisher=[[American Theater Hall of Fame]] |access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>
|- 
| [[12th British Academy Film Awards|1958]]
| [[British Academy Film Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles|Most Promising Newcomer to Film]]
| ''[[Damn Yankees (film)|Damn Yankees]]''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bafta.org/awards/search?search=Gwen+Vernon&type= |title=Gwen Vernon |publisher=[[British Academy Film Awards]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[2nd Annual Grammy Awards|1959]]
| [[Grammy Awards]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album|Best Broadway Show Album]]
| ''[[Redhead (musical)|Redhead]]''
| {{won}}{{efn|Tied with [[Ethel Merman]] for ''[[Gypsy (musical)|Gypsy]]''.}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/gwen-verdon/17522 |title=Gwen Verdon |publisher=[[Grammy Awards]] |access-date=June 4, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1958
| rowspan="2"| [[Laurel Awards]]
| Top Female Musical Performance
| ''Damn Yankees''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"| 
|-
| Top Female New Personality
| {{n/a}}
| {{draw|4th Place}}
|-
| 1979
| Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards
| Choreography
| ''[[Dancin']]''{{efn|Shared with [[Bob Fosse]].}}
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://ladramacriticscircle.com/awards/1969-1979/ |title=1969-1979 Awards – Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle |publisher=Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 1998
| [[National Medal of Arts]]
| {{n/a}}
| Actress & Dancer
| {{won|Honored}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arts.gov/honors/medals/gwen-verdon |title=Gwen Verdon |publisher=[[National Medal of Arts]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 1966 
| [[Outer Critics Circle Awards]]
| Best Performance
| ''[[Sweet Charity]]''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://outercritics.org/awards/1965-1966/ |title=1965-1966 – Outer Critics Circle Awards |publisher=[[Outer Critics Circle Awards]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[40th Primetime Emmy Awards|1988]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[Magnum, P.I.]]'' {{small|(Episode: "Infinity and Jelly Doughnuts")}}
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="3"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/gwen-verdon |title=Gwen Verdon |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[46th Primetime Emmy Awards|1993]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series]]
| ''[[Dream On (TV Series)|Dream On]]'' {{small|(Episode: "For Peter's Sake")}}
| {{nom}}	
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' {{small|(Episode: "[[Ghost of a Chance (Homicide: Life on the Street)|Ghost of a Chance]]")}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[13th Saturn Awards|1985]]
| [[Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| ''[[Cocoon (film)|Cocoon]]''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[3rd Screen Actors Guild Awards|1996]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role|Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role]]
| rowspan="2"| ''[[Marvin's Room (film)|Marvin's Room]]''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/3rd-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards |title=The 3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards |publisher=[[Screen Actors Guild Awards]] |access-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101205428/http://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/3rd-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards |archive-date=November 1, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1953
| [[Theatre World Award]]s
| {{n/a}}
| rowspan="2"| ''[[Can-Can (musical)|Can-Can]]''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theatreworldawards.org/past-recipients |title=Past Honorees |publisher=[[Theatre World Award]]s |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[8th Tony Awards|1954]]
| rowspan="6"| [[Tony Awards]]
| [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical|Distinguished Supporting or Featured Musical Actress]]
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1954/category/any/show/any/ |title=1954 Tony Awards |publisher=[[Tony Awards]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[10th Tony Awards|1956]]
| rowspan="5"| [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical|Best Leading Actress in a Musical]]
| ''[[Damn Yankees]]''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1956/category/any/show/any/ |title=1956 Tony Awards |publisher=[[Tony Awards]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[12th Tony Awards|1958]]
| ''[[New Girl in Town]]''
| {{won}}{{efn|Tied with [[Thelma Ritter]] for ''New Girl in Town''.}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1958/category/any/show/any/ |title=1958 Tony Awards |publisher=[[Tony Awards]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[13th Tony Awards|1959]]
| ''Redhead''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1959/category/any/show/any/ |title=1959 Tony Awards |publisher=[[Tony Awards]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[20th Tony Awards|1966]]
| ''Sweet Charity''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1966/category/any/show/any/ |title=1966 Tony Awards |publisher=[[Tony Awards]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[30th Tony Awards|1976]]
| ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1976/category/any/show/any/ |title=1976 Tony Awards |publisher=[[Tony Awards]] |access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>
|}

==Notes==
{{Noteslist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0893862}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{Tcmdb name}}
* {{playbill person}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Gwen Verdon
|list =
{{National Medal of Arts recipients 1990s}}
{{TonyAward MusicalLeadActress 1948–1975}}
{{TonyAward MusicalFeaturedActress 1947-1975}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Verdon, Gwen}}
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[[Category:Alexander Hamilton High School (Los Angeles) alumni]]
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[[Category:American jazz dancers]]
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[[Category:American people of British descent]]
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