At the age of 94, veteran actor George Maharis passed away. He was best recognized for his work on the vintage television shows Route 66 and Fantasy Island. His close companion and caregiver, Marc Bahan, broke the news of the actor’s departure on Wednesday, May 25, by posting it to Facebook.
George Maharis passed away on May 25th, he wrote. George is highly recognized for his role as a Route 66 celebrity, stage performances, singing, and art. You will be missed, dear buddy.
How Did George Maharis Die?
George Maharis, a ruggedly attractive actor who starred in the movie Route 66, died after a protracted battle with hepatitis. While he was producing the Route 66 series, his condition became known for the first time. The actor once acknowledged that he departed the program for health-related reasons, in part because of the demanding schedule and challenging circumstances while filming on location. I have to safeguard my future, he declared. If I continue moving forward at this rate, I’m a fool. He stated in a 1963 interview that even with $4 million in the bank, you cannot purchase another life.
Maharis had to quit the CBS drama in 1962 during the third season due to health problems, particularly hepatitis for which he remained a month in the hospital. He starred in the first three seasons of the television show Route 66 as Buz Murdock. Maharis recorded several pop music CDs at the height of his success. Later, he appeared as the lead in The Most Deadly Game on TV.
Maharis made his start in the business in 1958 courtesy of a role in Jean Genet’s Deathwatch that he played off-Broadway. In the 1960 film Exodus, Maharis played a freedom warrior in his debut performance. Maharis had his appearance on the big screen in the drama Search for Tomorrow before getting cast in Naked City. Along with Quick Before It Melts (1964), A Covenant with Death (1967), Sylvia (1965), and The Happening (1967), Maharis has also acted in other motion pictures. Maharis also appeared in the 1970s on TV programs such as Mission: Impossible, The Most Deadly Game, and Fantasy Island.
