Trivia

His career was damaged a few years after he left "Route 66". A lover of his died and one of the tabloids published a sensational story about their gay union. George claimed that the casting offices stopped calling after that.

Left the popular series Route 66 (1960) almost near the end of its third season in an uproar over some contract dispute and was later replaced by Glenn Corbett as Martin Milner's new sidekick. The series wasn't quite the same as Corbett didn't have the chemistry that Maharis had had with Milner. The series only lasted a little over a season before it was cancelled.

George Maharis plead guilty for a Hollywood lewd conduct arrest on 15 December 1967 with a male. Maharis blamed this incident for damaging his career.

Bared all for a 1970s Playgirl centerfold spread.

Served in the US Marine Corps after high school rising to the rank of corporal.

"George Maharis Arrested in Men's Room", Gay Scene, December 1974: "Famous Hollywood actor George Maharis was arrested November 21 and charged with committing a sex act with a hairdresser in the men's room of a gas station in Los Angeles... He was booked on a sex perversion charge along with Perfecto Telles, 33, the hairdresser, and released on $500 bail, according to police.".

Only four years younger than Katy Jurado, who played his mother in A Covenant with Death.

Homes in New York City and Beverly Hills -- still painting (2008)

Raised at 19-18 24th Drive, Long island City, Queens, New York. After his father opened a restaurant in Port Washington, Nassau County, New York, he moved the family to 33-71 155th Street, Flushing, Queens.

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 and Beverly Hills, California.

In 1960, Maharis appeared as Buz Murdock in the TV series Route 66. He was 32 at the time the series started, although the character he was playing was only 23. He received an Emmy nomination in 1962 for his continuing performance as Buz.

He studied at the Actors Studio and appeared in off-Broadway productions of Jean Genet's Deathwatch and Edward Albee's The Zoo Story.

Maharis said he left Route 66 for health reasons, because of long hours and grueling conditions while shooting on location. "I have to protect my future", Maharis said in a 1963 interview. "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.".

He also starred with the Kenley Players in productions of Barefoot in the Park (1967) and How the Other Half Loves (1973) and in national touring company productions of Company and I Ought to Be in Pictures.

Brother of Robert Maharis

Maharis released albums and singles through Epic Records earlier in his career. His only top-40 pop hit was his version of the standard "Teach Me Tonight", which hit number 25 in June 1962.

He recorded numerous pop music albums at the height of his fame.

Graduated from Flushing High School in Flushing, Queens, New York.

His parents were Greek immigrants.

He is a lifelong Republican and supported George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.

His debut album "George Maharis Sings" peaked at No. 10 on the Album Chart in 1962.

In 1962 his rendition of the jazz standard "Teach Me Tonight" hit No. 25 on the Hot 100.

Maharis was an American actor, singer and artist who portrayed Buz Murdock in the first three seasons of the TV series Route 66.