Gus Trikonis, a remarkably efficient and underrated director, made a lasting impact on the world of drive-in, low-budget, and exploitation films during the 1970s.
Born on November 21, 1937, in the vibrant city of New York, Trikonis initially pursued a career in both acting and dancing, gracing the stages of Broadway plays and movies. His most notable film role was as Indio in the iconic musical classic West Side Story (1961).
Trikonis made his directorial debut in 1969 with the biker flick Five the Hard Way, followed by the delightfully silly soft-core romp The Student Body (1976),and the marvelously lively psycho trash gem The Swinging Barmaids (1975). His impressive filmography also includes the first-rate Nashville Girl (1976),the immensely entertaining Moonshine County Express (1977),and the strong and scary haunted house horror item The Evil (1978).
The hilariously rowdy blue collar comedy Take This Job and Shove It (1981) was Trikonis' biggest mainstream success, while the extremely fun and funky Dance of the Dwarfs (1983) blended jungle action adventure and monster horror movie genres. By the early 1980s, Trikonis shifted his focus primarily to television, directing numerous made-for-TV movies and episodes of popular TV shows such as Baywatch, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Quantum Leap, Baywatch Nights, Burke's Law, The Commish, Hunter, Wiseguy, The Flash, and The Twilight Zone.
In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, Trikonis was married to the legendary actress and screen icon Goldie Hawn. Outside of acting and directing, Trikonis has also explored his artistic side, creating several oil paintings.
