George Furth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Furth
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George Furth (1968)
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George Schweinfurth
December 14, 1932 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | August 11, 2008 (aged 75) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Years active | 1961–1998 |
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Notable work
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George Furth, born George Schweinfurth, was an American writer and actor. He was known for writing the stories for musicals and plays. He also acted in many movies and TV shows.
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Life and Career Highlights
George Furth was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 14, 1932. His parents were George and Evelyn Schweinfurth. He studied at Northwestern University and later earned a master's degree from Columbia University.
Starting on Broadway
Furth began his acting career on Broadway in 1961. His first play was A Cook for Mr. General. Two years later, he appeared in the musical Hot Spot.
Working with Stephen Sondheim
George Furth became well-known for his work with the famous composer Stephen Sondheim. He wrote the book (the story and spoken parts) for the very successful musical Company. He also wrote the book for Merrily We Roll Along and the play Getting Away with Murder.
Other Writing Projects
Besides musicals, Furth wrote several plays. These include Twigs, The Supporting Cast, and Precious Sons. He also wrote the story for the musical The Act. Later in his career, he wrote lyrics for a new musical revue called The End. This show was performed in San Francisco in 2004. It was later reworked and called Last Call and then Happy Hour.
Acting in Movies and TV
George Furth often played characters who were a bit shy or ineffective. He appeared in many popular movies. Some of these include Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Blazing Saddles, Shampoo, and Oh, God!. He also acted in many TV shows. You might have seen him in Happy Days, All in the Family, Murder, She Wrote, and Little House on the Prairie. He even played George Cukor in a TV movie about Gone With the Wind.
He also used his voice for animated shows. He was a voice actor in The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda.
Awards and Recognition
George Furth won important awards for his work on Company. He received both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical. He was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his play Precious Sons.
Later Life and Passing
George Furth passed away on August 11, 2008, in Santa Monica, California. He was 75 years old.
