Gwen Verdon

For Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Verdon coached stars Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe in both their dance and walk -- Monroe with less sex, Russell with more.

Won four Tony Awards: one as Best Supporting or Featured Actress Musical) in 1954 for "Can-Can;" and three as Best Actress (Musical) in 1956 for "Damn Yankees!," a role she recreated in the film version of the same name., Damn Yankees (1958); in 1958 for "New Girl in Town," in a tie with her co-star Thelma Ritter; and in 1959 for "Redhead." She was also nominated as Best Actress (Musical) in 1966 for "Sweet Charity" and in 1976 for "Chicago."

Gwen Verdon was born to the theater. Her mother, Gertrude, was a vaudevillian and dancer. Her father, Joseph, was an MGM studio electrician. She had to wear corrective boots as a child to straighten out her legs, which were misshapen by childhood illness. Nonetheless, she first appeared as a tapper on stage at age 6. She got her break in Bob Fosse's "Damn Yankees" in 1955.

Portrayed "Lola" in the stage version of "Damn Yankees!" and reprised her role in the movie, Damn Yankees (1958).

Although uncredited, Gwen was assistant choreographer in the film version of Sweet Charity (1969), starring Shirley MacLaine.

Although she and Bob Fosse separated in 1971, they remained married until his death in 1987. The couple had a daughter, Nicole Fosse (b. 1963). Verdon was with Fosse when he collapsed from a heart attack just prior to opening night of a revival of "Sweet Charity" at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C.; he was the director/choreographer, she was the assistant choreographer.

She was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1998 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.

Verdon was portrayed in the 2019 FX original series, Fosse/Verdon (2019) by by Michelle Williams. who won an Emmy Award on September 22, 2019 for her performance.