George Furth


About

Also Known As
George Schweinfurth
Birth Place
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Born
December 14, 1932
Died
August 11, 2008

Biography

On film, George Furth usually portrayed slight, anxious, and recessive characters like Mr. Pettis, the peevish banker who turned down Warren Beatty's hairdresser George when he asked for a loan in "Shampoo." But Furth was no small fry when it came to the Great White Way. His second role on Broadway was in the musical satire "Hot Spot," which featured additional music composed by Stephen ...

Biography

On film, George Furth usually portrayed slight, anxious, and recessive characters like Mr. Pettis, the peevish banker who turned down Warren Beatty's hairdresser George when he asked for a loan in "Shampoo." But Furth was no small fry when it came to the Great White Way. His second role on Broadway was in the musical satire "Hot Spot," which featured additional music composed by Stephen Sondheim, who was just then coming into his own as a Broadway powerhouse. Thus began a fruitful collaboration between the two; Furth was also a playwright and librettist. He wrote the book for the conceptual musical "Company," which consisted of a series of vignettes, while Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics. This play, which dealt with graver and more realistic subject matter than most of the works in its frequently frivolous genre, became a smash hit. They worked together on another vignette play, "Twigs," which Furth later adapted for a TV version starring Carol Burnett and Ed Asner, as well as "Getting Away with Murder" and "Merrily We Roll Along," which were not so well received. But Furth was able to support his behind-the-scenes career with one in front of the camera; aside from numerous guest spots on shows like "All in the Family" and "The Monkees," he graced the big screen for a couple of classics: the Western "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," Mel Brooks's spoof "Blazing Saddles," and the darkly comic political satire "Bullworth"--where he worked again with his longtime friend Beatty.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

Goodbye Lover (1999)
Mr Merritt
Bulworth (1998)
The Man With Two Brains (1983)
Megaforce (1982)
Eggstrum
Doctor Detroit (1982)
Arthur Skridlow
Young Doctors In Love (1982)
The Cannonball Run (1981)
The Scarlett O'Hara War (1980)
Hooper (1978)
Airport '77 (1977)
Oh, God! (1977)
Charlie Cobb: Nice Night For A Hanging (1977)
Conroy
Norman...Is That You? (1976)
Let's Switch (1975)
Shampoo (1975)
Mr Pettis--Bank Officer
Blazing Saddles (1974)
The Third Girl From the Left (1973)
What Are Best Friends For? (1973)
Barry Chambers
Sam Hill: Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster? (1971)
Myra Breckinridge (1970)
Charlie Flager, Jr.
Myra Breckinridge (1970)
Charlie Flager Jr
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Woodcock
P. J. (1968)
Sonny Silene
How To Save a Marriage--And Ruin Your Life (1968)
Roger
Nobody's Perfect (1968)
Hamner
What's So Bad About Feeling Good? (1968)
Murgatroyd
The Boston Strangler (1968)
Lyonel Brumley
Games (1967)
Terry
The Cool Ones (1967)
Howie
Tammy and the Millionaire (1967)
Dwayne Whitt
A Rage To Live (1965)
Paul Reichelderfer
A Very Special Favor (1965)
Pete
The NEW Interns (1964)
Dr. Phil Osterman
The Best Man (1964)
Tom

Cast (Special)

Mickey and Nora (1987)

Writer (Special)

Twigs (1982)
Writer
Twigs (1975)
Writer
Twigs (1975)
Play As Source Material
Ma and Pa (1974)
Play As Source Material ("Twigs")
Ma and Pa (1974)
Writer

Special Thanks (Special)

Twigs (1982)
Writer
Twigs (1975)
Writer
Twigs (1975)
Play As Source Material
Ma and Pa (1974)
Play As Source Material ("Twigs")
Ma and Pa (1974)
Writer

Life Events

Bibliography