Gwen Verdon, a talented individual, was born into a family deeply rooted in the world of theater. Her mother, Gertrude, was a skilled vaudevillian and dancer, while her father, Joseph, worked as an electrician at MGM studios. Due to a childhood illness, Verdon was required to wear corrective boots to correct the misshapen state of her legs. Despite this challenge, she made her stage debut as a talented tapper at the tender age of six.
Verdon's big break came in 1955 when she landed a role in Bob Fosse's iconic production of "Damn Yankees". She went on to marry Fosse in 1960, although they separated in the mid-1970s without ever formalizing their divorce. Verdon continued to make a name for herself in both stage and screen productions, with notable roles in "New Girl In Town", "Redhead", "Sweet Charity", and "Chicago".
In addition to her impressive career, Verdon also collaborated with her daughter, Nicole Fosse, to create the hit stage musical "Fosse". Upon her passing, Broadway paid tribute to Verdon's remarkable legacy by dimming the lights on all of its marquees.
