George Maharis, TV Heartthrob of 'Route 66,' Is Dead at 94
Source: NY Times
He appeared in Off Broadway roles before starring on CBS as one of two young men who find adventure crossing the country in a Corvette convertible.
By Anita Gates and Alex Traub
May 28, 2023
Updated 5:22 p.m. ET
George Maharis, the ruggedly handsome New York-born stage actor who went on to become a 1960s television heartthrob as a star of the series Route 66, died on Wednesday at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 94.
His longtime friend and caretaker, Marc Bahan, confirmed his death.
Mr. Mahariss greatest fame arose from the role of Buz Murdock, one of two young men who traveled the country in a Corvette convertible, finding a new adventure and drama (and usually a new young woman) each week on CBSs Route 66.
In a 2012 reappraisal of the show, the New York Times critic and reporter Neil Genzlinger praised the literary quality of the scripts and commented, This half-century-old black-and-white television series tackled issues that seem very 21st century.
George Maharis, left, as Buz Murdock and Martin Milner as Tod Stiles in 1960 with their Corvette from the television show Route 66. Mr. Maharis received an Emmy Award nomination in 1962 for his work on the show.Credit...CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/28/arts/television/george-maharis-dead.html
I have his and Martin Milner's autograph. It is a different pose, but it is both of them sitting on the hood of the Corvette. I got Martin's in person at a fan convention.
Peregrine Took
(7,490 posts)chicoescuela
(1,377 posts)tavernier
(13,031 posts)I actually waited on Edd Byrnes in a bar where I worked while I was in college. He was very nice.
turbinetree
(25,042 posts)stage left
(3,009 posts)I was all of twelve at the time.
Grins
(7,694 posts)Composed by Nelson Riddle. And with that jazz piano!
Paladin
(28,597 posts)stage left
(3,009 posts)I was all of twelve at the time. Rip 'Buzz"
NBachers
(17,808 posts)area51
(12,070 posts)littlemissmartypants
(23,742 posts)BumRushDaShow
(137,862 posts)and then with Martin Milner (also in Adam-12) who passed 8 years ago!
The show theme song was classic -
R.I.P.
PSPS
(14,024 posts)"Hawaii 5-0" was the same (Jack Lord just remained in Hawaii after the series wrapped.)
Not to be confused with "Hawaiian Eye" which had only a few exteriors filmed in Hawaii and the rest was shot on sound stages in Los Angeles. But it had a catchy tune too!
Paladin
(28,597 posts)Back when Austin was a sleepy university/government town. I can promise you it was on KTBC Channel 7---because that was the only commercial channel Austin was allowed to have, back then. If you wanted more than one channel, you had to put up an antenna to pull in stations from San Antonio.
I saw some re-runs of the show a few years ago---still way above average production values, and a lot darker in subject matter than I remembered from when I was young.