In the opening sequence in "West Side Story," there is an iconic image of George Chakiris. In a close-up, he stands with one hand pressed against a red brick wall brooding with anger after being harassed by members of a rival teen gang, the Jets. Stepping away, he begins to snap his fingers joined by two other Sharks. Then to surging Leonard Bernstein music, the three break into dance, first on a street than framed against the tenements of New York's West Side that were razed after the filming was completed. In this moment, the smoldering Chakiris establishes a formidable presence in this musical retelling of "Romeo and Juliet" set amongst infighting between juvenile gangs in New York. Hollywood agreed, awarding him (along with co-star Rita Moreno) a supporting performance Oscar. Up to that point, Chakiris had been in numerous films, but largely in small roles, usually as a dancer or chorus member in such films as "The Great Caruso," "Stars and Stripes Forever," "Call Me Madam," and "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T." He is famously seen in 1951's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" as one of the men with Marilyn Monroe in the "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" number. And in 1953 opposite Rosemary Clooney in "White Christmas" performing "Love, You Didn't Do Right by Me." A publicity photo from that scene generated so much fan mail to Paramount that the studio offered him a contract; but unhappy with his career, he moved to New York City in the late 1950s to pursue a stage career. After being cast as Riff in the London production of "West Side Story," he was flown to Hollywood to audition for either that role or his rival Bernardo for the film version, and worked with the show's creator Jerome Robbins for his audition. This led to him being cast in the film, overnight stardom and an Oscar. Then in November of 2012, he had the honor of placing his hand and footprints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in honor of the film's 50th anniversary. EDGE spoke to Chakiris about "My West Side Story: A Memoir." Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?? (?️: Steve Duffy, ?: George Chakiris / West Side Story / MGM)

In the opening sequence in "West Side Story," there is an iconic image of George Chakiris. In a close-up, he stands with one hand pressed against a red brick wall brooding with anger after being harassed by members of a rival teen gang, the Jets. Stepping away, he begins to snap his fingers joined by two other Sharks. Then to surging Leonard Bernstein music, the three break into dance, first on a street than framed against the tenements of New York's West Side that were razed after the filming was completed. In this moment, the smoldering Chakiris establishes a formidable presence in this musical retelling of "Romeo and Juliet" set amongst infighting between juvenile gangs in New York. Hollywood agreed, awarding him (along with co-star Rita Moreno) a supporting performance Oscar. Up to that point, Chakiris had been in numerous films, but largely in small roles, usually as a dancer or chorus member in such films as "The Great Caruso," "Stars and Stripes Forever," "Call Me Madam," and "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T." He is famously seen in 1951's "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" as one of the men with Marilyn Monroe in the "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" number. And in 1953 opposite Rosemary Clooney in "White Christmas" performing "Love, You Didn't Do Right by Me." A publicity photo from that scene generated so much fan mail to Paramount that the studio offered him a contract; but unhappy with his career, he moved to New York City in the late 1950s to pursue a stage career. After being cast as Riff in the London production of "West Side Story," he was flown to Hollywood to audition for either that role or his rival Bernardo for the film version, and worked with the show's creator Jerome Robbins for his audition. This led to him being cast in the film, overnight stardom and an Oscar. Then in November of 2012, he had the honor of placing his hand and footprints in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in honor of the film's 50th anniversary. EDGE spoke to Chakiris about "My West Side Story: A Memoir." Tap link in bio to continue on @EDGEmedianetwork ?? (?️: Steve Duffy, ?: George Chakiris / West Side Story / MGM)