By OGTTM’s Patrice Aylward
Born in Norwood in 1932, film star George Chakiris lived in the state until the age of three. From a young age, he was passionate about dance and enamored with movie musicals.
“I was surprised to learn how many people from Ohio have had careers in film,” the Oscar winner added. “In fact, one of my close friends, Phyllis Diller, was from Lima. I’m kind of proud of my Ohio roots. I love this Ohio connection and feel it gives me something in common with many others in the film industry.”
His professional journey began at 19, when he enrolled at the American School of Dance in Los Angeles. “I was told Leslie Caron and Cyd Charisse took classes there. That was all I needed to hear,” Chakiris recalled. From the start, he was a natural.
Chakiris’s career in film and theater was defined by his Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1961 for the role of Bernardo in “West Side Story.” “I was lucky to work with [director and choreographer] Jerome Robbins,” he said. “I auditioned for Jerry in 1958, and ‘West Side Story’ was my first major role — first as Riff in the London stage production, then as Bernardo in the film. I’ve always been grateful to this extraordinary man. Even if ‘West Side Story’ is the one film I’m remembered for, I’d be happy. I had the opportunity to contribute to something wonderful.”
Reflecting on Hollywood’s evolution, Chakiris noted, “The film industry is a different world now. Within the studio system, there was more of a community, both in Los Angeles and in New York. I’m glad I was part of that era.”
George Chakiris as Bernardo in “West Side Story” (1961)
Chakiris and Michelle Lee