27 Facts About George Maharis

George Maharis was an American actor, singer, and visual artist who portrayed Buz Murdock in the first three seasons of the TV series Route 66.

George Maharis was born in Astoria, Queens, the third of six children born to Vasidos Mahairas and Demetra Stranis, both immigrants from Greece.

George Maharis's brother Robert was a production assistant on Route 66 and became a film location manager.

George Maharis attended Flushing High School, where his schoolmates recognized his talent as a singer.

George Maharis left before graduating and served for 18 months in the United States Marine Corps and then earned his high school diploma.

George Maharis worked odd jobs while trying to launch a singing career, and appeared in musicals outside of New York City.

George Maharis got his first break as an actor on the television comedy series Mister Peepers, playing a parody of Marlon Brando.

George Maharis subsequently studied at the Actors Studio with Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg.

In 1955, George Maharis received critical acclaim for his roles in John Van Druten's play Dancing in the Chequered Shade, and 27 Wagons Full of Cotton.

Brooks Atkinson wrote that George Maharis' performance as the "overwrought yet searching intruder" was "a first-rate piece of acting".

George Maharis won the Performance award at the Theatre World Awards for his role in The Zoo Story.

George Maharis appeared on Studio One, Kraft Television Theater, Goodyear Television Playhouse and Stirling Silliphant's Naked City.

George Maharis launched his film career with roles in William Berke's The Mugger and Otto Preminger's Exodus.

George Maharis was the cad who left unwed mothers in rooming houses and socked his lady friends when they irritated him.

George Maharis's work earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Series in 1962.

George Maharis attributed his swift recovery to the fact that he did not drink.

George Maharis returned to work in the spring of 1962 and filmed several shows, but complained he was being made to work excessive hours and left again.

At first George Maharis sought no other employment, but once the producers replaced him for the next season he began to book other engagements.

George Maharis was scheduled to sing on the Ed Sullivan Show on June 16,1963, until the Route 66 producers, claiming he was still under exclusive contract to them, prevented his appearance by legal action.

One claimed George Maharis cared only about a film career and had "no regard for this company, his co-star, Marty Milner, and the 50 or 60 other people on the show".

In November 1963, George Maharis described his work on Route 66:.

George Maharis modeled fully nude for the centerfold of the July 1973 issue of Playgirl magazine, one of the first celebrities to do so.

George Maharis appeared as Count Machelli in the cult classic film The Sword and the Sorcerer.

George Maharis released albums and singles through Epic Records relatively early in his career.

George Maharis had moderate success with his single, "Teach Me Tonight", which was on the Billboard magazine's charts for 11 weeks in 1962, reaching number 25 on the Hot 100, and number 8 on the Easy Listening chart.

George Maharis made his singing debut on television in 1963, appearing on The Judy Garland Show, singing "Side by Side" with her.

George Maharis died at his Beverly Hills home on May 24,2023, at the age of 94 after contracting hepatitis.