Trivia

He was largely responsible for the ultimate look of the characters in the film Le Magicien d'Oz (1939). Richard Thorpe, the film's first director, had decided on how the makeup should look, and had made some rather catastrophic decisions (see Buddy Ebsen). He was eventually fired, and during a stopover at the film's set, Cukor gave some directorial suggestions (such as removing Judy Garland's blonde wig), which ultimately were used in the finished film.

He was famous for the parties he threw later in life for large groups of directors, many being attended by such legends such as Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford, Luis Buñuel and George Stevens.

Did a few days work as intermediate director on Le Magicien d'Oz (1939) (although he never actually filmed any scenes) after original director Richard Thorpe had been dismissed. Victor Fleming was eventually hired to direct the picture. Coincidentally, Cukor's next film, Autant en emporte le vent (1939), also went on to be directed by Fleming after Cukor was fired due to disagreements with the film's producer, David O. Selznick.

He was replaced as director of Autant en emporte le vent (1939) because of constant disagreements with producer David O. Selznick over the screenplay and direction (not, as rumor had it, because Clark Gable considered him better suited as a so-called woman's director).

Enjoyed a successful working partnership with Katharine Hepburn, directing her in ten films over a period of 47 years: Héritage (1932), Les Quatre Filles du docteur March (1933), Sylvia Scarlett (1935), Vacances (1938), Indiscrétions (1940), La flamme sacrée (1942), Madame porte la culotte (1949), Mademoiselle Gagne-Tout (1952), Love Among the Ruins (1975) and Le blé est encore vert (1979).

Was fired as director of Autant en emporte le vent (1939) only a month before Femmes (1939) was scheduled to begin filming. Producer Hunt Stromberg enlisted Cukor's services immediately upon his sudden availability.

Louis Gossett Jr., on working with Cukor on Voyages avec ma tante (1972): "The consummate director and a filmmaking genius. He kept shooting until he got it right. He knew when to say something to you, and he knew when to leave you alone. He was always one step ahead of everyone.".

For many decades, he owned a luxurious art deco mansion in the Hollywood hills above Sunset Boulevard, surrounded by Romanesque gardens, which served as the setting for many lavish parties.

Godfather of Mia Farrow.

Interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, in the Garden of Honor, unmarked. (Private area. Not accessible to the general public). Frances Goldwyn [Frances Howard], wife of mogul Samuel Goldwyn, is buried next to Cukor at her request because of her long, but unrequited, love for him.

Despite his reputation as a "women's director", three actors (James Stewart, Ronald Colman and Rex Harrison) won the Best Actor Academy Award for films he was the credited director on while only two actresses (Ingrid Bergman and Judy Holliday) won Best Actress.

Directed 20 different actors in Academy Award-nominated performances: Basil Rathbone, Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, James Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Ruth Hussey, Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, Angela Lansbury, Ronald Colman, Deborah Kerr, Judy Holliday, James Mason, Judy Garland, Anthony Quinn, Anna Magnani, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway, Gladys Cooper and Maggie Smith. Stewart, Bergman, Colman, Holliday and Harrison won Academy Awards for their performances in Cukor's movies.

Was voted the 18th Greatest Director of all time by "Entertainment Weekly".

His father worked in the offices of the Manhattan District Attorney.

He was famous as a sophisticated, witty personality but was also in the habit (mainly to be naughty) of blurting out unexpected profanities.

Started his career in Hollywood as dialogue director on À l'Ouest rien de nouveau (1930). Prior to his arrival at MGM, he had brief spells at Paramount (1930-31) and RKO (1932-33). Subsequently under contract at MGM, 1933-37, 1939-44, 1949-50 and 1952-53.

He did not make a musical, or fully direct a film in color, until Une étoile est née (1954).

Attempted unsuccessfully to launch a huge movie project starring Maggie Smith as complex and troubled author Virginia Woolf.

The famous Sargent portrait of Ethel Barrymore hung in Cukor's home.

He has directed eight films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Une heure près de toi (1932) (uncredited), Les Quatre Filles du docteur March (1933), David Copperfield (1935), Roméo et Juliette (1936), Indiscrétions (1940), Hantise (1944), Comment l'esprit vient aux femmes (1950) and My Fair Lady (1964). The latter won in the category.

With the United States Army during World War II, turning out training and propaganda films in New York.

He has directed eight films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Les invités de huit heures (1933), Femmes (1939), Indiscrétions (1940), Hantise (1944), Madame porte la culotte (1949), Comment l'esprit vient aux femmes (1950), Une étoile est née (1954) and My Fair Lady (1964).

Was the original choice to direct 7 ans de réflexion (1955); however, he turned down the project.

Graduated from DeWitt-Clinton High School, New York City. Subsequently served an 11-year apprenticeship in the theatre, rising from assistant stage manager for a touring company to Broadway stage manager and director.

In 1968, he accepted the Academy Award for Best Actress in a leading role on behalf of Katharine Hepburn, who was not present at the ceremony.

Although he won an Academy Award for My Fair Lady (1964) and the film proved to be his biggest-ever box-office hit, he did not make another film for nearly five years after it. During this period he was repeatedly frustrated in his efforts to launch new movie projects. These included: "Bloomer Girl", a lavish version of the 1944 Broadway musical, scripted by John Patrick and announced to star Shirley MacLaine - this was actually given a start-date in 1966, but was canceled at the last minute; "The Nine Tiger Man", a version of the novel by his friend Lesley Blanch, which he announced several times, once with Robert Shaw's name attached as leading man; "The Right Honourable Gentleman", a film (scripted by Terence Rattigan, although based on a play by another writer) about Sir Charles Dilke, a politician whose career was ruined by a sex scandal, to star Rex Harrison; and a melodrama about Victorian spiritualists. None of these ideas ever became films.

According to DeWitt Bodeen in a November 1981 issue of "Films in Review", he only heard Cukor complain about the imperfections of actresses three times: Spring Byington in Les Quatre Filles du docteur March (1933), Anouk Aimée in Justine (1969), and Gina Lollobrigida in an aborted version of "Lady L".

He was rather heavy set when he first began directing. In fact, he looked very much like producer David O. Selznick physically. In later years, he lost weight and much of his hair.

Described by British actor Leslie Phillips as "an absolute shit" in an interview with a local English magazine (in promotion for the film Venus (2006)). He said that Cukor "wouldn't listen to anybody", and that Gene Kelly had come up to him and said, "Look, if you suggest anything he will take your balls off. So you tell me what your ideas are and I'll sell it to him.".

Worked as Broadway director before going into the film business with Grumpy (1930).

Was the original choice to direct Lady L (1965).

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6738 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.

He replaced John Sturges as director of ...car, sauvage est le vent ! (1957), Charles Vidor as director of Le bal des adieux (1960) (although Vidor, who died three weeks into filming, got sole credit), Joseph Strick as director of Justine (1969) and Robert Mulligan as director of Riches et célèbres (1981). He also directed only one day's shooting of La vie passionnée de Vincent van Gogh (1956) in the absence of Vincente Minnelli.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives." Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 199-201. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons (1998).

Interviewed in Peter Bogdanovich's "Who the Devil Made It: Conversations With Robert Aldrich, George Cukor, Allan Dwan, Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, Chuck Jones, Fritz Lang, Joseph H. Lewis, Sidney Lumet, Leo McCarey, Otto Preminger, Don Siegel, Josef von Sternberg, Frank Tashlin, Edgar G. Ulmer, Raoul Walsh." New York: Alfred A. Knopf (1997).

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945". Pages 163-172. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company (1987).

In 2013, the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City honored him with a weeks-long comprehensive retrospective of his work, entitled "The Discreet Charm of George Cukor".

His last name means 'sugar' in Hungarian.

Amongst all the top directors Billy Wilder had the most Oscar nominations with 8 Fred Zinneman 7, Frank Capra 6 David Lean 6, Clarence Brown 5, John Ford 5, King Vidor 5 George Stevens 5 Alfred Hitchcock 5 Elia Kazan 5 George Cukor 5.