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. His brother Robert was a production assistant on Route 66 and became a film location manager. Maharis attended Flushing High School, where his schoolmates recognized his talent as a singer. He left before graduating and served for 18 months in the United States Marine Corps and then earned his high school diploma. This profile was published in two parts, in the April 14 and April 21, 1961, issues. 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, playing a parody of Marlon Brando. He subsequently studied at the Actors Studio with Sanford Meisner and Lee Strasberg.
Early career After a short stint at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Maharis returned to New York and won recognition in off-Broadway productions. In 1955, Maharis received critical acclaim for his roles in John Van Druten's play Dancing in the Chequered Shade, and Tennessee Williams' play, 27 Wagons Full of Cotton. 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." Instead he found work in television. He appeared on Studio One, Kraft Television Theatre, Goodyear Television Playhouse and Stirling Silliphant's Naked City. In Search for Tomorrow, he played a gambler who mistreated his wife. He launched his film career with roles in William Berke's The Mugger (1958) 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:
Route 66 Beginning in 1960, Maharis co-starred with Martin Milner in the CBS television series Route 66. His work earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Series in 1962.
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. He returned to work in the spring of 1962 and filmed several shows, but complained he was being made to work excessive hours and left again. He told an interviewer: "If I keep going at the present pace, I'm a fool. Even if you have $4,000,000 in the bank, you can't buy another liver."
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. He was scheduled to sing on The Ed Sullivan Show on June 16, 1963, 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. One claimed Maharis cared only about a film career and had "no regard for this company, his co-star, Marty Milner, and the 50 or 60 other people on the show". Maharis countered that they needed to learn that "There isn't any more Old Hollywood where a company can buy movie stars like pieces of meat." Maharis soon won the legal argument that his contract was void and although the Route 66 producers attempted a reconciliation, he made his first post-Route 66 television appearance on July 2, 1963. 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.
In November 1963, Maharis described his work on Route 66:
Later career
A string of films followed, including Quick, Before It Melts (1964), The Satan Bug and Sylvia (both 1965), A Covenant with Death 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.
Maharis modeled fully nude for the centerfold of the July 1973 issue of Playgirl magazine, one of the first celebrities to do so. It was the magazine's second issue.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Maharis had featured roles in several television movies and also guest-starred on numerous television series, including Mission: Impossible, Fantasy Island, Kojak, McMillan & Wife, Barnaby Jones, Police Story, Cannon, Night Gallery, and The Bionic Woman. He also appeared in Murder, She Wrote.
Maharis appeared as Count Machelli in the cult classic film The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982). 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. His single "Love Me as I Love You" charted at number 17 on the Easy Listening chart in September 1962. 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.
Legal issues Maharis was arrested in 1967 on charges of lewd conduct, and in 1974 on charges of sexual perversion for using men's bathrooms as venues to cruise for sex. 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. Survivors included his brother Robert and a sister.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 1953The Philco Television Playhouse Dancer at the Dance Club Episode: 'Marty' 1955Mister Peepers Marlon Brando Episode: 'The Wally Cox Story' 1957Goodyear Television Playhouse American anthology series 1959 Brenner Alex Episode: 'Word of Honor' Naked CityJohnny Gary Episode: 'Four Sweet Corners' 1960Alcoa Theatre Johnny Cesare Episode: 'Action Off Screen' 1960–61Search for Tomorrow Bud Gardner American television soap opera 1960–63Route 66Buz MurdockAmerican adventure crime drama 1962 PM West Guest Interviewed by Mike Wallace 1963 The Hy Gardner Show Guest Interviewed by Hy Gardner The Judy Garland ShowHimself Guest star 1965HullabalooHimself Host and performer 1966Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler TheatreEx-athleteEpisode 14: The Eighth Day 1967The Danny Thomas HourPhil PearsonEpisode: 'The Demon Under the Bed' 1968Journey to the UnknownDrakeEpisode: 'Miss Belle' 1970 The Dick Cavett Show Guest Interviewed by Dick Cavett The Most Deadly Game Jonathan Croft Episode: 'War Games' 1971 Cade's County Deck Minty Episode: 'The Mustangers' Medical Center Evan Kenbrook Episode: 'The Pawn' Night Gallery Peter Lacland Segment: 'The Hand of Borgus Weems' 1972 Cannon Paul Stubber Episode: 'The Rip Off' The Victim Ben Chappel TV film 1972–73The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Guest Interviewed by Johnny Carson 1973 Barnaby Jones Warren Davis Episode: 'The Deadly Prize' Mission: Impossible Thomas Bachman Episode: 'The Fountain' 1973–77 Police Story Sgt. Hank Delany; J.R. Peters; Salter 3 episodes, 1973, 1975, 1977 1974 Marcus Welby, M.D. Curtis Haynes Episode: 'Out of Control' McMillan & Wife Walter Webley Episode: 'The Game of Survival' Movin' On Harry Armour Episode 7: The Good Life Nakia Joe Arnold Episode: 'Pete' Shaft Wally Doyle Episode: 'Cop Killer' The Snoop Sisters Robert Duware Episode: 'The Devil Made Me Do It!' Thriller Mark Fields Episode: 'Death To Sister Mary' The Wide World of Mystery Walter Episode: 'Come Die with Me' 1976Bert D'Angelo/SuperstarLee MitchellEpisode: 'Scag' The Bionic WomanSgt. Bob WeltonEpisode: 'Jamie's Shield' Ellery QueenDr. Tony BenderEpisode: 'The Adventure Of The Judas Tree' GibbsvilleEpisode: 'The Price of Everything' Good HeavensGary LawrenceEpisode: 'See Jane Run' Jigsaw JohnRobert DerekEpisode: 'Plastique' Rich Man, Poor ManJoey QualesTV miniseries1977The Feather & Father GangSherwinEpisode: 'Flight to Mexico' KojakRingerEpisode: 'Lady In The Squadroom' SwitchCloustonEpisode: 'Legend of the Macunas' 1978Logan's RunGavinEpisode: 'Night Visitors' 1979–82Fantasy IslandJoe Capos; Prof. Alan Blair; Mario Ferini; Dr. Hal Workman; Jack Becker 6 episodes 1984Matt HoustonDr. Charles BrockwayEpisode: 'The Bikini Murders' The MasterSimon GarrettEpisode: 'The Good, the Bad, and the Priceless' 1989SuperboyJack McAlisterEpisode: 'Programmed For Death' Murder, She WroteAlec BurtonEpisode: 'The Fixer Upper' 1990Charlie CosmoEpisode: 'Trials and Tribulations' (last television role)
Theatrical films Year Title Role Notes 1958 The Mugger Nicholas Grecco American noir-crime film 1960Exodus Yoav American film about the founding of the State of Israel 1964Quick, Before It MeltsPeter SantelliAmerican comedy film 1965SylviaAlan MacklinAmerican drama film 1965The Satan BugLee BarrettAmerican crime suspense film 1966A Small RebellionMichael KolinosTV film 1967A Covenant with DeathBen LewisAmerican legal drama film 1967The HappeningTaurusAmerican crime comedy film 1968Escape to MindanaoJoe WaldenTV film 1969The DesperadosJacob GaltAmerican Western film 1969The MonkGus MonkTV film 1970 Land RaidersPaul Cardenas American Western film 1970The Last Day of the WarSgt. Chip SlaterPremiered in Spain as El Último Día de la Guerra in August 1970; aired on US television in September 1970 1972The Victim Ben Chapel TV film 1974Death in Space Dr. Dan Summit TV film 1975Murder on Flight 502Robert DavenportTV film 1976Look What's Happened to Rosemary's BabyGuy WoodhouseTV film 1977SST: Death FlightLes PhillipsTV film 1978Return to Fantasy IslandBensonTV film 1978The Crash of Flight 401Evan WalshTV film 1982The Sword and the SorcererMachelli, Cromwell War ChancellorAmerican sword and sorcery fantasy film 1993DoppelgangerMike WallaceAmerican supernatural horror film (also known as The Evil Within)
Selected discography
Albums Original releases 1962 – George Maharis Sings! – Epic LN 24001/BN 26001 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