biography
Born September 1, 1928 in Astoria, New York, actor George Maharis was born into a large family of Greek immigrants who owned a restaurant. Initially, Maharis
wanted to be a pop singer but drifted into acting instead, and he studied with Lee Strasberg at the famed Actors Studio in New York. In the early 1950s, he
found bits of work in early television series including the situation comedy Mr. Peepers and the anthology series The Goodyear Television Playhouse.
He also acted in numerous off-Broadway productions and won a 1960 Theatre World Award for his performance in the production of The Zoo Story. Maharis is best known for his role as Buz Murdock on the hit 1960-1964 CBS TV series Route 66, which was shot on location across many parts of the U.S., and filming often meant a 15-hour per day shooting schedule. During the series, he also began a recording career, cutting several albums and releasing a few singles. In April 1962, Maharis came down with hepatitis during the lensing of the third season. He spent eight weeks recovering and went back to the series but, when he became ill again, he left the series permanently in November 1962. He was replaced on the series by Glenn Corbett. Still suffering from the effects of his illness, Maharis did not work again for nearly two years, when he was well enough to be cast in a starring role in the MGM comedy Quick, Before It Melts (1964; with Robert Morse, Anjanette Comer, and Yvonne Craig).    
Beefcake photos of George Maharis from the 1960s |
the films of george maharisRoute 66 (1960-1964 CBS TV Series)  
LEFT: Maharis portrayed Buz Murdock on the first three seasons of the hit CBS series Route 66. CENTER: With series co-star Martin Milner. RIGHT: With Deborah Walley in a 1960 episode titled Ten Drops of WaterQuick, Before It Melts (1964)
With Robert Morse and Bernard Fox in the MGM comedy Quick, Before It MeltsThe Satan Bug (1965)Sylvia (1965) 
From the Paramount drama Sylvia. LEFT: On the set with Carroll Baker, who portrays the title character. RIGHT: With Joanne DruThe Happening (1967)
From the Columbia counterculture comedy The Happening with Anthony QuinnA Covenant with Death (1967)
George Maharis and Laura Devon star in the Warner Bros. drama A Covenant with DeathJourney to the Unknown (1968-1969 ABC TV series)
From the ABC thriller TV anthology series Journey to the UnknownThe Desperados (1969)Land Raiders (1969)
With Arlene Dahl in the Columbia western Land RaidersThe Monk (1969)
From the ABC made-for-TV thriller The Monk with Janet LeighThe Most Deadly Game (1970-1971 ABC TV Series) 
LEFT: Maharis starred alongside Ralph Bellamy and Yvette Mimieux in the ABC series The Most Deady Game. RIGHT: With Barbara Luna in the episode War Games, which aired in November 1970Police Story (1973-1977 NBC TV Series)
With Clifton Davis in a 1973 episode of Police Story titled The Ho Chi Minh Trail, which originally aired in November 1973Thriller (1973-1976 Syndicated TV Series)
With Jennie Linden in a 1974 episode of Thriller titled Death to Sister MaryMcMillan & Wife (1971-1977 NBC TV Series)
With Susan Saint James in a 1974 episode of McMillan & Wife titled The Game of SurvivalRich Man, Poor Man (1976 ABC Miniseries)
In the role of Joey Quales in the ABC miniseries Rich Man, Poor Manlater yearsIn the 1970s and 1980s, George Maharis continued acting in theater productions, television series and made-for-TV films, and the occasional theatrically released film. His 1970s output was prolific, as a guest star on such series as McMillan & Wife, The Bionic Woman, Police Story, and Fantasy Island. His made-for-TV films include Murder on Flight 502 (1975; with Hugh O'Brian and Dane Clark), SST: Death Flight (1977; with Peter Graves and Tina Louise), and Crash (1978; with William Shatner and Adrienne Barbeau). By 1985, he had taken up painting as a vocation and quietly retired from acting following his appearance in the horror film Doppelganger (1993; with Drew Barrymore). Maharis, who was gay, passed away at age 94 on May 24, 2023 of natural causes. |
filmographyFILM
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This page premiered January 30, 2013.
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