GWEN VERDON
1925-2000

Four-time Tony Award-winner, and star of stage, screen and television, Gwen Verdon died October 18th of natural causes at her daughter, Nicole Fosse's home in Woodstock, Vermont. She was 75.

Born in Culver City, California, Ms. Verdon won her Tony Awards for her performances in Can-Can, Damn Yankees, New Girl in Town, and Redhead. Ms. Verdon was the Artistic Advisor for the 1999 Tony Award-winning musical, Fosse. Her other Broadway credits include as the original Charity -Sweet Charity, Bonanza Bound, Alive and Kicking Revue, Children! Children!, and the original 1975 Broadway cast of Chicago, creating the role of Roxie Hart. Ms Verdon's film credits include On The Riviera, David & Bathsheba, Mississippi Gambler, Damn Yankees, Cocoon, Cocoon: The Return, The Cotton Club, The Merry Widow, Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, Nadine, Marvin's Room, Alice, Bruno, and Walking Across Egypt. Ms. Verdon was Artistic Advisor for the Emmy Award-winning documentary, "Bob Fosse: Steam Heat." Her other television credits include "Mash," "Fame," "Trapper John, M.D.," "Webster," "All My Children," "Legs," "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All," "In Cold Blood," "Best Friends for Life," "Magnum, P.I.," "The Equalizer," "Dream On," "Dear John," "Homicide," "Legs," and "Walker Texas Ranger." In 1998 Ms. Verdon was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts & Humanities Award.

Ms. Verdon was married to James Henaghan from 1942 until 1947. In 1960 she married Bob Fosse. First and foremost a dancer, Gwen Verdon taught dance at the Beijing Ballet School, the Houston Ballet Co, and Ann Reinking's Broadway Theatre Project. As a performer she danced with numerous companies including the Paul Taylor Dance Co, and danced with such partners as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev.

She is survived by her daughter, Nicole Fosse Greiner, her son, Jimmy Henaghan, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A memorial for Ms. Verdon is being planned.

'The name on everybody's lips will always be...Gwen Verdon'

edited from http://www.talkinbroadway.com