
George Chakiris
Department: Acting
Biography
George Chakiris (born September 16, 1932) is an American dancer, singer and actor. He is best known for his role as Bernardo in the 1961 film version of West Side Story, which earned him an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Prior to West Side Story, Chakiris appeared uncredited in many musicals such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), White Christmas (1954), and Brigadoon (1954) as a dancer or chorus member. After West Side Story, he had starring roles in several lesser-known critical and commercial failures such as Diamond Head (1962), Kings of the Sun (1963), and The High Bright Sun (1965). On stage, his most notable role was as Bobby in the first national tour of Stephen Sondheim's Company. He had guest roles in many television series throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including appearances on Dallas, Superboy, and the series finale of The Patridge Family. Chakiris emerged from retirement to act in the film Not to Forget (2021), which aims to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease.
Known For

West Side Story
1961

Is Paris Burning?
1966

There's No Business Like Show Business
1954

Flower Drum Song
1961

633 Squadron
1964

Pale Blood
1990

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
2021

Kings of the Sun
1963

The Big Cube
1969

Bebo's Girl
1964

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
1953

Meet Me in Las Vegas
1956

Give a Girl a Break
1953

Flight from Ashiya
1964

Diamond Head
1962

The High Bright Sun
1964

The Day the Hot Line Got Hot
1968

The Mona Lisa Has Been Stolen
1966

The Young Girls Turn 25
1993

Under Fire
1957

Brigadoon
1954

Brigadoon
1954

Return to Fantasy Island
1978

Song of Love
1947

Two and Two Make Six
1962

Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again
1982

The Great Caruso
1951

The Girl Rush
1955

White Christmas
1954

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
2008

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
1953

That's Dancing!
1985

Why Not Stay For Breakfast?
1979

Kismet
1967

The Young Girls of Rochefort
1967

Sharon in Scarlet
1969

Not to Forget
2021

Kiss Me and Die
1974

Call Me Madam
1953

Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1960's
2009

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories
2002

Behind the screens : Les demoiselles de Rochefort
1966

The Country Girl
1954

Loving the Silent Tears: The Musical
2013

Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
1982

Marilyn, Her Final Secret
2022

Murder, She Wrote
1984

CHiPs
1977

Hawaii Five-O
1968

Scarecrow and Mrs. King
1983

Medical Center
1969

Wonder Woman
1975

Superboy
1988

Matt Houston
1982

Hell Town
1985

Telephone Time
1956

Matt Houston
1982

Medical Center
1969

The Oscars
1953

Thriller
1973

Les Filles du Lido
1995

The Carol Burnett Show
1967

Medical Center
1969

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975

Numéro un
1975

Numéro un
1975

Numéro un
1975

Système 2
1975

Midi Première
1975

Golden Globe Awards
1944

Golden Globe Awards
1944

The Mike Douglas Show
1961

The Partridge Family
1970

Notorious Woman
1974