Gwen Verdon.

Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon

Gwen Verdon — Actor

Born 13 Jan 1925 Culver City, United States

Died 18 Oct 2000 Woodstock, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 101 yr If Living

10 min read

Reading time

1,880

Words

Jul 29, 2026

Published

59

Film credits

7

Awards

TL;DR

Gwen Verdon won four Tony Awards in six years, including Best Actress in a Musical for Damn Yankees in 1956. She originated the role of Lola in that musical and later starred in New Girl in Town and Redhead. Her marriage to choreographer Bob Fosse defined her personal and professional life.

Identity & family.

KIN · 3

Names, aliases, and relatives of Gwen Verdon — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon

Nicknames Gwennie, The Superior Posterior, Gwenl Verdun

Aliases Gwyneth Verdon, Gwen Verdun

Spouses: Bob Fosse James Henaghan
Children: Nicole Fosse

At a glance.

STATS

Gwen Verdon by the numbers — life, work, and family.

75 Years lived

59 Film credits

7 Awards

2 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Gwen Verdon?

BIOGRAPHY

Gwen Verdon — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

A childhood disease left Gwen Verdon’s legs badly bent and misshapen, requiring corrective boots. Her mother, Gertrude, a vaudeville dancer, enrolled her in dance classes to strengthen them. Verdon made her first stage appearance at age six and later trained under Ernest Belcher, father of Marge Champion. Born January 13, 1925 in Culver City, California to Gertrude and Joseph Verdon, an MGM electrician, she attended Alexander Hamilton High School but did not pursue dance professionally until 1948.

Career

Verdon’s big break came in 1955 when Bob Fosse cast her as Lola in Damn Yankees. She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1956 for that role, which she reprised in the 1958 film. She followed with Tony-winning performances in New Girl in Town 1958, tying with Thelma Ritter and Redhead 1959.

In 1969, she starred in the film Sweet Charity, for which she served as uncredited assistant choreographer. She later appeared in Chicago on stage in 1976 and in films like The Cotton Club, Cocoon, and Marvin’s Room. Verdon coached stars like Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953.

Personal life

Gwen Verdon married tabloid reporter James Henaghan at age 17; they had a son, Jim, born in 1943. She married choreographer Bob Fosse in 1960, and they had a daughter, Nicole Fosse, in 1963. The couple separated in 1971 but never divorced; Verdon was with Fosse when he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1987 just before a revival of Sweet Charity.

Legacy

Gwen Verdon won four Tony Awards, tying with Angela Lansbury for the most by a performer in an acting category. She achieved this in six years, from 1954 to 1959. In 1998, she received the National Medal of Arts. Upon her death in 2000, Broadway dimmed its marquee lights in tribute. She and her daughter Nicole created the stage musical Fosse, preserving his choreography. Verdon defined roles in musicals that remain classics, and Broadway remembers her as one of its greatest stars.

Filmography.

FILMS · 59

The complete filmography of Gwen Verdon — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

Magnum, P.I.

1980
TV

The Mike Douglas Show

1961
TV

Homicide: Life on the Street

1993
TV

Hotel

1982
TV

Touched by an Angel

1994
TV

Fame

1982
TV

Walker, Texas Ranger

1993
TV

The Merv Griffin Show

1962
TV

The Dick Cavett Show

1968
TV

The Carol Burnett Show

1967
TV

Tony Awards

1956
TV

What's My Line?

1950
TV

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948
TV

The Colgate Comedy Hour

1950

Showing 14 of 59 View all 59 films

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 6

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Gwen Verdon — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

National Medal of Arts
Theatre World Award
Library of Congress Living Legend
Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
Drama League Award
Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 4

A wall of memorable lines from Gwen Verdon — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

I Like the Character of Charity Because She’s so Hopeful. She’s Never Bitter, and Plenty of Things Happen to Her That Could Make Her Bitter. She Always Thinks Tomorrow’s Going to Be Beautiful. and Someday It Will Be.
These Girls I’ve Played Are Naive and Pure. They Are Looking for Someone to Really Love. but They Aren’t Very Bright, and They Haven’t Been Brought up in a Family Situation That Enables Them to Evaluate. as for the Prostitutes, Well They’re ‘Loved’ Every 20 Minutes, or What Substitutes for Love in About 90% of American Homes – I’m Pretty Cynical About That.
Sex in a Dance Is in the Eyes of the Beholder. I Never Thought My Dances Sexy. I Suppose That’s Because I See Myself with My Face Washed, and to Me I Look Like a Rabbit.
On Second Husband Bob Fosse: Bob Fosse Grew up Around Strip Clubs. Women Were His Hobby. He’d Even Cheat on His Mistress. Part of Him Felt Guilty, Another Part Was Ecstatic. in the End, It Helped Lead Him to an Early Death.

Did you know?

FACTS · 25

Little-known facts about Gwen Verdon — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

A childhood disease left Gwen Verdon’s legs badly bent and misshapen, so her mother enrolled her in dance to strengthen them.
In 1953, Gwen Verdon coached Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe on their dance and walk for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, telling Monroe to use less sex and Russell more.
Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse separated in 1971 but never divorced; they remained married until his death in 1987. She was with him when he suffered a heart attack just before the opening night of a Sweet Charity revival in Washington, DC, where she served as assistant choreographer.
Verdon taught Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe dance for the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
For the 1969 film Sweet Charity, Gwen Verdon served as uncredited assistant choreographer.
During the pre-Broadway tryouts of Sweet Charity, Gwen Verdon’s throat hurt but she kept singing until nearly voiceless. Hospitalization revealed a feather from a costume boa was wrapped around her vocal cords.
Gwen Verdon won four Tony Awards: Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Can-Can in 1954, and Best Actress in a Musical for Damn Yankees in 1956 also in the 1958 film, New Girl in Town in 1958 tying with Thelma Ritter, and Redhead in 1959. She received nominations for Sweet Charity in 1966 and Chicago in 1976.
In 1998, Gwen Verdon was awarded the National Medal of Arts by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington, DC.
Unlike many stars, Gwen Verdon never acted like a diva; she willingly coached Shirley MacLaine on the set of Sweet Charity in 1969, even though MacLaine was playing Verdon’s iconic stage role.
At age 17, Gwen Verdon married tabloid reporter James Henaghan.
After learning of her mother’s death, Gwen Verdon performed in Sweet Charity that night, saying the only way to cope was to continue with the show.
Verdon’s performance as Claudine in Can-Can earned her praise as the greatest Broadway discovery since Mary Martin.
Gwen Verdon collected glass perfume bottles.
Although she danced from a young age, Gwen Verdon did not pursue dance as a career until 1948.
In the 2019 miniseries Fosse/Verdon, Michelle Williams portrayed Gwen Verdon, winning an Emmy for her performance.
Gwen Verdon studied ballet with Ernest Belcher, the father of dancer Marge Champion.
Her parents were British emigrants who worked in Hollywood and lived in Culver City, where Gwen was born.
Gwen Verdon’s daughter Nicole Fosse was born in 1963.
Her son Jim Henaghan was born in 1943 from her first marriage.
Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse are among the married couples who both won Tonys; she won four, he won nine. They won in the same ceremony only once, in 1959 for Redhead, where she won Best Actress and he won for Choreography.
In Culver City, Gwen Verdon learned dance from Clara Reid.
Gwen Verdon ties with Angela Lansbury for the most Tony wins by a performer in an acting category, with four each. Verdon achieved this feat in six years, from 1954 to 1959.
Her brother William Farrell Verdon lived from 1922 to 1991.
Gwen Verdon is one of only six Tony winners who won back-to-back years: she took Best Actress in a Musical for New Girl in Town in 1958 and Redhead in 1959.
In 1958, Gwen Verdon tied with Thelma Ritter for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for New Girl in Town, marking the first of ten ties in Tony history.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 31

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Gwen Verdon.

When was Gwen Verdon born?

Gwen Verdon was born on January 13, 1925 in Culver City, California. Her birth name was Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon.
Where was Gwen Verdon born?

She was born in Culver City, California, USA. Her parents were British emigrants who worked in Hollywood.
When did Gwen Verdon die?

Gwen Verdon died on October 18, 2000 in Woodstock, Vermont from a heart attack. She was 75 years old.
How old was Gwen Verdon when she died?

She was 75 years old at the time of her death on October 18, 2000.
Where did Gwen Verdon die?

She died in Woodstock, Vermont, USA.
How did Gwen Verdon die?

Gwen Verdon died of a heart attack in Woodstock, Vermont on October 18, 2000.
What is Gwen Verdon's real name?

Her real name is Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon. She was known professionally as Gwen Verdon.
What does Gwen Verdon do for a living?

Gwen Verdon was an actor and also worked in art department and choreography. She is best known for her work on Broadway.
What nationality is Gwen Verdon?

Gwen Verdon was American, born in the United States.
What language does Gwen Verdon speak?

Her native language was English.
Who is Gwen Verdon married to?

Gwen Verdon was married twice: first to tabloid reporter James Henaghan from 1942 to 1947, and then to choreographer Bob Fosse from 1960 until his death in 1987.
Does Gwen Verdon have children?

Yes, she had two children: a son Jim Henaghan from her first marriage, and a daughter Nicole Fosse from her second marriage.
Where did Gwen Verdon go to school?

She attended Alexander Hamilton High School in Culver City, California.
What awards has Gwen Verdon won?

She won four Tony Awards, including for Can-Can, Damn Yankees, New Girl in Town, and Redhead. She also received the National Medal of Arts in 1998 and a Library of Congress Living Legend award.
How many awards has Gwen Verdon won?

She won seven major awards, including four Tonys, the National Medal of Arts, the Theatre World Award, and the Drama League Award.
What is Gwen Verdon best known for?

She is best known for her stage roles in Damn Yankees, Sweet Charity, and Chicago, as well as film appearances in The Cotton Club, Cocoon, and Marvin’s Room.
How tall was Gwen Verdon?

Gwen Verdon was 5 feet 4 inches tall, or 1.63 meters. Her petite stature didn’t hinder her powerful stage presence.
What were Gwen Verdon's nicknames?

She was nicknamed Gwennie, The Superior Posterior, and Gwenl Verdun. The nickname The Superior Posterior reportedly came from her dance moves.
Did Gwen Verdon use any aliases?

She sometimes used the aliases Gwyneth Verdon and Gwen Verdun, but she is best known under her professional name Gwen Verdon.
What was Gwen Verdon known for?

Gwen Verdon is known for her Broadway performances in musicals like Damn Yankees, Sweet Charity, and Chicago. She also appeared in films such as The Cotton Club, Cocoon, and Marvin’s Room.
How many times was Gwen Verdon married?

She was married twice: first to James Henaghan and then to Bob Fosse. Her second marriage lasted until Fosse’s death.
How many award nominations did Gwen Verdon receive?

Gwen Verdon received 11 award nominations in her career, including five Tony nominations. She won four Tony Awards from those nominations.
What was Gwen Verdon's first Broadway show?

Her first Broadway show was Can-Can in 1953, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
Did Gwen Verdon coach Marilyn Monroe?

Yes, in 1953 she coached Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell on their dance and walk for the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Who portrayed Gwen Verdon in Fosse/Verdon?

Michelle Williams portrayed Gwen Verdon in the 2019 miniseries Fosse/Verdon, winning an Emmy for her performance.
What was the cause of death for Gwen Verdon?

She died of a heart attack in Woodstock, Vermont on October 18, 2000.
How many Tonys did Bob Fosse win?

Bob Fosse won nine Tony Awards, while Gwen Verdon won four. They are among the few married couples to both win Tonys.
What is the musical Fosse?

Fosse is a stage musical created by Gwen Verdon and her daughter Nicole Fosse, showcasing the choreography of Bob Fosse.
Where did Gwen Verdon receive her early dance training?

She trained with Clara Reid in Culver City and later with Ernest Belcher, the father of dancer Marge Champion.
What was Gwen Verdon's relationship with Bob Fosse?

She married Bob Fosse in 1960; they separated in 1971 but remained married until his death in 1987. She often worked as his assistant choreographer.
Did Gwen Verdon have any siblings?

Yes, she had a brother named William Farrell Verdon, who lived from 1922 to 1991.

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Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on July 29, 2026

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