George Ford

Born

1905-03-31

Died

1983-07-30

Birthplace

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Biography

Tall distinguished looking George Ford started out as a contract player in the early 1930s but like most contract players, it didn't work out. Never discouraged, Ford moved on to roles as dancers, socialites, and chorus boys. Ford would occasionally have dialog but he was constantly used for his good looking appearance and his unique ability to ballroom dance. During the 1950s, Ford developed a reputation for being one of the best dancers in Hollywood. Musicals weren't his specialty though, it was the nice ballrooms and the socialite parties. He continue to work these throughout his career. He also managed to appear in a lot of various war films playing soldiers and high ranking military officers. With the popularity of television westerns increase, Ford found himself frequently appearing at square dances and as a dancer to show the leading ladies off. Eventually he became a regular townsman for a few years on Gunsmoke appearing in the bar scenes and playing bank tellers and town dignitaries. By 1968, Ford's work started to decrease and he decided to retire to Colorado where he could take up skiing and where he and his wife regularly competed in ballroom dancing contest. Like many extras, Ford's talents were not known to the general film public but he leaves behind a legacy of making the other dancers he danced with look better than they were and a large amount of film work that can be appreciated by future generation.