George Chakiris: A Star 48 Years After His Oscar (VIDEO)

I can't imagine Hollywood without the Academy Awards, but still, they bug me - just a little.

It must be my habitual romancing of Hollywood's past that makes me long to watch the annual elegant escapade under the soft tone of a 1950's broadcast in burnished black and white. I suspect the undeniably smug attitude of Hollywood's big night was barely received on grandma's gold-toned rabbit ears. Still, celebrities will be stars, and smug, or modest, it's an education to reflect on a star 48 years after the big night.

In 1962, George Chakiris' portrayal of Bernardo in West Side Story took the silver screen by storm, earning him an Academy Award. Forty-eight years later George talked to me about life lived under, next to, and out of the spotlight.

 

Comments

[NoSillyName]

02:23 PM on 03/06/2010

Wikipedia bio says he is 75 -- SEVENTY FIVE.

Amazing! Must be the Greek genes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Chakiris

[rzan1]

12:23 AM on 03/06/2010

He must be well into his 70s. It's hard to believe. i remember when West Side Story came out. We all took dance lessons because we wanted to be able to dance like that.

[neraclope]

12:20 AM on 03/06/2010

Nice! I just watched WestSideStory on TCM last week.

[NoSillyName]

10:28 PM on 03/05/2010

I saw that movie in the theater when it was first released. I was very young... no NC17 or whatever back then.

Chakiris was HOT way back then and OMG, he still looks FABULOUS!!! Has he found the Fountain of Youth?

Sounds like his life is still very interesting.

Thanks, Tom Gregory!

[jenrose]

02:57 PM on 03/05/2010

One of my favorite movies ever! He looks good and he was so talented and handsome in West Side Story.

[Steamboater]

01:24 PM on 03/05/2010

After all these years, Chakiris looks terrific and it so good to see someone like him who lives like everyone else. He was such a fine dancer though, it's hard to understand why he never went into choreography; he would have been a superb choreographer. Everyone needs to to do something they're happy with though so if deesgning jewelry is best for hiim, good for him. I always thought Chakiris was latino but Chakiris is a greek name I think.

[Halsey]

01:10 PM on 03/05/2010

He looks delicious still!...and yes...centered and dare I saw Nice and normal!... I did love that Lynch put several of the stars from West Side Story in Twin Peaks...that was brilliant!...(was Chakiris in it..I thought it was "tony" and riff"..but could be wrong...in any even..I too like his jewelry..(the smaller pieces).

Thanks for the clip....made for a pleasant way to start a Friday...

[Aramingo]

08:23 AM on 03/05/2010

To whoever is screening these comments:

What is so inappropriate about using a lyric ("A boy like that") from West Side Story to comment on post about a guy who won an Oscar for West Side Story?

That aside, I always wanted to ask how he felt about appearing in Twin Peaks with Beymer and Tamblyn.

[mlaiuppa]

12:22 AM on 03/05/2010

It's nice to see he's so peaceful and centered. All to often, we hear sad stories of has beens trying to relive past glories. George seems to have taken it all in stride and is still quite happy with what he's done, who is now and what he's doing.

I love the jewelry. Wish he would sell it. I'd be proud to wear any of it. He is a Renaissance man, all around talented.

[jazzyldy]

10:47 PM on 03/05/2010

Actually, he does sell some of his pieces (necklaces) on his website. I found it here: http://www.georgechakiris.com. He is going to have more pieces available later on this year it seems. I also would love to own one of his bracelets.

Hope this helps.

[libwingoflibwing]

10:33 PM on 03/04/2010

Wow. George Chakiris sure doesn't look 69 years old.

[ebrann]

06:59 AM on 03/05/2010

That's because he's seventy-five.

[pangursperson]

10:06 PM on 03/04/2010

Fabulous! George Chakiris was so hot in West Side Story, glad to see him again!

[Grada3784]

06:16 AM on 03/05/2010

He was one of the dancers in White Christmas. In the nightclub scene dancing around Rosemary Clooney.

[libwingoflibwing]

09:27 PM on 03/05/2010

I love White Christmas and I tend to forget he's in it until he dances in that scene and steals the scene.