George Chakiris - 14470

American dancer, singer and actor, best known for his appearance in the film version of West Side Story as Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks gang, for which he won both the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Chakiris made his film debut in 1947, in the chorus of Song of Love. For several years he appeared in small roles, usually as a dancer or a member of the chorus in various musical films. He was one of the dancers in Marilyn Monroe's "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" number in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and appeared as a dancer in White Christmas (1954). He can also be seen in the funeral dance in the MGM musical film Brigadoon (1954). Chakiris' biggest success came with the 1961 film West Side Story. Prior to the film, he had appeared as "Riff", leader of the "Jets", in the London production of the same musical. Later films include Charlton Heston's Diamond Head (1963), Yul Brynner's Kings of the Sun (1963) and Flight From Ahiya (1964), 633 Squadron (1964) and Gene Kelly's Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (1967). More stage and television work occupied Chakiris in later years with his last role, oddly enough, a 1996 episode of the sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. This is a very fine black and white photograph (8" x 10"), as Bernardo in West Side Story, boldly signed in black ink across a clear area of the image. In very good condition (J/S)