George Maharis

George Maharis (September 1, 1928 – May 24, 2023) was an American actor, singer, and visual artist who portrayed Buz Murdock in the first three seasons of the TV series Route 66. Maharis also recorded several pop music albums at the height of his fame, and later starred in the TV series The Most Deadly Game.

Early life and education Maharis was born in Astoria, Queens, the third of six children born to Vasilios (later William) Mahairas and Demetra Stranis, both immigrants from Greece. He was raised in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of mid-town Manhattan. He worked odd jobs while trying to launch a singing career, and appeared in musicals outside of New York City. He got his first break as an actor on the television comedy series Mister Peepers, In October 1958, a critic at The New York Times described his performance in Jean Genet's Deathwatch as "correctly volatile, harsh, soft and cunning". In 1960 he performed in the first U.S. production of a work by Edward Albee, The Zoo Story. Brooks Atkinson wrote that Maharis' performance as the "overwrought yet searching intruder" was "a first-rate piece of acting". Maharis won the Performance award at the Theatre World Awards for his role in The Zoo Story.

He later explained that his off-Broadway experience proved a handicap when seeking Broadway theatre roles: "Off Broadway had a stigma. It was like admitting you played the Borscht Circuit." and Otto Preminger's Exodus (1960).

One assessment of his early career put him in the "tough personality" tradition of Humphrey Bogart and John Garfield. Paul Gardner said:

After appearing in 82 episodes, Maharis left the series during the third season, citing health problems, including hepatitis. He attributed his swift recovery to the fact that he did not drink.

A legal battle and harsh words followed. At first Maharis sought no other employment, but once the producers replaced him for the next season he began to book other engagements. until the Route 66 producers, claiming he was still under exclusive contract to them, prevented his appearance by legal action. They claimed he was feigning illness to get out of his contract. After Maharis' departure, the show's appeal declined. Glenn Corbett acted in the role of Milner's new sidekick, Linc Case. Route 66 was canceled in March 1964. The Satan Bug and Sylvia (both 1965), and The Happening (both 1967), and The Desperados (1969).

Returning to series television in 1970, Maharis starred as criminologist Jonathan Croft in The Most Deadly Game. The series lasted 13 episodes, ending in January 1971. It was the magazine's second issue. His occasional stage work included starring with the Kenley Players in productions of Barefoot in the Park (1967) and How the Other Half Loves (1973) and in touring company productions of Company (1972) and Guys and Dolls (1976). In the 1980s he performed in Las Vegas. Doppelganger (1993), also known as The Evil Within, was his last appearance in motion pictures.

Visual art and music Maharis released albums and singles through Epic Records relatively early in his career. His debut album, "George Maharis Sings!", was on the Billboard's Album Chart for 29 weeks in 1962, peaking at number 10. It ended up as the number 41 album of 1962. Maharis had moderate success with his single, "Teach Me Tonight", which was on the Billboard magazine's charts for 11 weeks in 1962, reaching number 25 on the Hot 100, and number 8 on the Easy Listening chart. He made his singing debut on television in 1963, appearing on The Judy Garland Show, singing "Side by Side" with her.

Later, he performed in nightclubs and pursued a secondary career as an impressionist painter. As of 2008, Maharis was still painting, splitting his time between New York City and Beverly Hills, California. However, both charges were later dismissed, and he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor offenses of disturbing the peace in 1967, and trespassing in 1975.

Death Maharis died at his Beverly Hills home on May 24, 2023, at the age of 94 after contracting hepatitis.

Joe Capos; Prof. Alan Blair; Mario Ferini; Dr. Hal Workman; Jack Becker

1962 – Portrait in Music – Epic LN 24021/BN 26021 1963 – Just Turn Me Loose! – Epic LN 24037/BN 26037 1963 – Where Can You Go For a Broken Heart? – Epic LN 24064/BN 26064 1964 – Make Love to Me – Epic LN 24079/BN 26079 1964 – Tonight You Belong to Me – Epic LN 24111/BN 26111 1962 – "They Knew About You" / "Love Me as I Love You" – Epic 5-9522 1962 – "I'll Never Smile Again" / "Can't Help Falling In Love" – Epic 5-9545 1962 – "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" / "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" – Epic 3-9548 1962 – "Baby Has Gone Bye Bye" / "After One Kiss" – Epic 5-9555 1963 – "Don't Fence Me In" / "Alright, Okay, You Win" – Epic 5-9569 1963 – "Where Can You Go (For a Broken Heart)" / "Kiss Me" – Epic 5-9600 1963 – "That's How It Goes" / "It Isn't There" – Epic 5-9613 1963 – "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" / "Sara Darling" – Epic 5-9653 1964 – "Tonight You Belong to Me" / "The Object of My Affection" – Epic 5-9696 1964 – "I'm Coming Back for You" / "Lonely People Do Foolish Things" – Epic 5-9753 1965 – "Where Does Happiness Go" / "More I Cannot Do" – Epic 5-9772 1965 – "You Always Hurt the One You Love" / "Quien Sabe? (Who Knows? Who Knows?)" – Epic 5-9844 1965 – "A World Without Sunshine" / "Ivy" – Epic 5-9858 1966 – "Goodbye, Good Luck And God Bless You/Never Is A Long Long Time" – Epic 5-10039

Reissues 1964 – "Teach Me Tonight"/"Baby Has Gone Bye Bye" – Memory Lane (Epic) 5-2223 1965 – "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66!/Can't Help Falling In Love" – Memory Lane (Epic) 5-2227