- Born
- 7 July 1899New York City, USA
- Died
- 24 January 1983Los Angeles, USA · aged 83
George Cukor
A Hollywood director whose close attention to performance produced enduring comedies, dramas and musicals.
George Cukor was born in New York City in 1899. He began in the theatre before moving to Hollywood as the film industry adapted to sound. His understanding of actors became a defining part of his work.
He directed Katharine Hepburn in ten films, including “The Philadelphia Story” (1940) and “Adam’s Rib” (1949). His range also encompassed the suspense of “Gaslight” (1944), the musical drama “A Star Is Born” (1954) and “My Fair Lady” (1964), which earned him the Academy Award for Best Director.
Cukor’s homosexuality was known within his social circle but kept out of his public professional identity. Gatherings at his Hollywood home offered a private social world for gay men in an industry that demanded discretion. His removal from “Gone with the Wind” in 1939 has generated speculation about sexuality and studio politics, but no single explanation settles the matter.
He continued working into his eighties, directing “Rich and Famous” (1981) as his final feature. Cukor died in Los Angeles in 1983, aged 83, leaving a body of work that gave actors room for both emotional detail and comic precision.