What is the net worth of George Chakiris?
$24 Million
George Chakiris is an American actor possessing a massive net worth of $24 million who is mostly known for his appearance in the 1961 film version of West Side Story as Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks gang.
He had a wonderfully successful career as a dancer and singer in addition to his acting profession, and his work is still regarded as one of Hollywood’s best works ever seen.
For his critically praised work as Bernardo, he received both the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.
Quick Facts About George Chakiris
| George Chakiris Net Worth | $24 Million |
| Date of Birth | September 16, 1934 |
| Age | 87 |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) |
| Gender | Male |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, Singer, Dancer |
| Relationship Status | Single |
George Chakiris Earnings, Career and More
As of 2021, George’s net worth is predicted to be around $24 million. Through his successful career as an actor, singer-dancer, and jewelry artist, he has been able to add this to his fortune. Even though he has not been much active in the entertainment industry since 1996, he still manages to earn income through his royalties in music and has also returned to acting in 2021.
His last appearance on the screen was in an episode of the British sitcom Last of the Summer Wine in 1996. He has given a few television interviews since then, but he is essentially retired. Working as a jewelry designer for his business, Chakiris Collections, which consists of handmade original sterling silver jewelry, he transformed his interest in crafting sterling silver jewelry into a new career.
George established his career as a professional dancer. In 1947, he made his film debut in the chorus of “Song of Love.” For several years, he worked in a variety of tiny parts, mostly as a dancer. He starred in a number of musical films, including ‘The Great Caruso,’ ‘Second Chance,’ and ‘Call Me Madam,’ among others.
In Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’ and ‘Give a Girl a Break,’ he was one of the dancers.
He made an appearance as a dancer in the film White Christmas (1954). He was signed to a movie contract after a press photo of him with Rosemary Clooney from her moment in “Love, You Didn’t Do Right by Me” received fan letters.
He left Hollywood for New York after becoming dissatisfied with the direction of his career. He auditioned for Jerome Robbins after West Side Story had been on Broadway for a year. In the London performance, he plays Riff, the Jets’ commander. The musical premiered on the West End in late 1958, and Chakiris played it for nearly 22 months, receiving rave reviews.
The film adaptation of West Side Story (1961) was a major hit, and he received numerous critical and commercial awards for his performance. As a result, the Mirisch Company signed a long-term arrangement with them.
He began a career as a pop singer in the early 1960s and had a couple of small success songs. In 1960, he collaborated with renowned producer Joe Meek on a single.
He signed a three-film agreement with Mirisch Brothers in 1964. Around this period, his payment was said to be $100,000 per film.
In his later career, during the first two seasons of the television show Superboy, from 1988 to 1990, he had a recurring role as Professor Peterson. He had a leading role in the 1990 film Pale Blood and appeared on Human Target and The Girls of Lido as a guest star. In 1995, he performed The King and I on stage in Los Angeles.
He returned to the big screen in 2021 with the film Not to Forget (2021), which aims to raise awareness and funding for the Alzheimer’s disease fight.
You may also want to read: Amara La Negra Net Worth
George Chakiris Relationship and Personal Life
When it comes to his relationships, he has been able to successfully keep his private life under wraps because he does not want to discuss much of his personal life. As of 2021, George is rumored to be single.
Although he might have married in the past, he never tells the media who his wife is. It is hard to confirm the suspicions and rumors because he has always kept his marital status a secret from the public.
He is not the father of any children. He is, however, the godfather of Rita Monroe’s daughter from the film “West Side Story.”
George Chakiris Early Life, Family, and Education
Chakiris was born in Norwood, Ohio, to Greek immigrants Steven and Zoe Chakiris. His parents had eight children. He has seven siblings. In Tucson, Arizona, and Long Beach, California, he attended high school.
Chakiris only stayed in college for one year because he wanted to dance, so he skipped out and relocated to Hollywood. He worked in a department store’s advertising department during the day and learned dance at night.
Interesting Facts About George Chakiris
- He’s a vegetarian himself, and in 2012 he released Loving The Silent Tears, a musical on veganism.
- According to his IMDB profile, he has 60 credits as an actor and 5 credits as a musician.