Sweet Facts About Gwen Verdon, The Broadway Dynamo

The Genius Behind The Genius

Gwen Verdon has gone down in history as the muse of legendary Broadway choreographer Bob Fosse, but that isn’t even half her story. Not only did Verdon’s contributions to dance go far deeper than mere arm candy, but behind the velvet curtain, her life—and marriage—was filled with scandal and tragedy.

1. She Had A Horrible Illness

A Californianby birth, Verdon looked destined for Hollywood from a young age. Nothing could be further from the truth. When she was just a toddler in the 1920s, she was plagued by rickets, a condition that softens the bones. This led to immense heartbreak.

Portrait of Gwen Verdon - 1954

Murray Korman, Wikimedia Commons

2. Children Made Fun Of Her

Because of her rickets, Gwen Verdon had to wear orthopedic boots and unsightly leg braces growing up, and the children of the neighborhood noticed in a cruel way: they started calling the young girl “Gimpy”.

It wasn’t an auspicious beginning for a woman famed for dancing. Until, that is, a twist of fate hit.

Screenshot of Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams) from - Fosse/Verdon (Tv Series 2019)

FX Productions, Fosse/Verdon (Tv Series 2019)

3. Her Mother Tried To Help Her

When Verdon was just three years old, her mother signed her up for dance classes, including some ballet classes. It was likely to help the girl strengthen and maybe even enjoy movement of her body, but this had unintended consequences.

Screenshot of Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams) from - Fosse/Verdon (Tv Series 2019)

FX Productions, Fosse/Verdon (Tv Series 2019)

4. She Was A Natural Talent

Gwen Verdon took to the dance classes like a duck to water, and by the time she was six years old she was performing on stage. In the following years, she picked up an array of dance styles from jazz to ballroom, and even tried her hand at juggling.

With this skill set, she didn’t stay an amateur for long.

Screenshot of Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams) from - Fosse/Verdon (Tv Series 2019)

FX Productions, Fosse/Verdon (Tv Series 2019)

5. She Was A Child Star

When she was11, Verdon already had her first film credit, appearing as a dancer in Josef von Sternberg’s The King Steps Out. In high school, she also got cast in a revival of the musical Show Boat.

The name Gwen Verdon was poised to be put in lights—but this wasn’t actually a good thing.

Screenshot of Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams) from - Fosse/Verdon (Tv Series 2019)

FX Productions, Fosse/Verdon (Tv Series 2019)