Gus Trikonis


Gus Trikonis is a Greek-American actor, dancer, and director.

Career

Trikonis began his career as an actor and dancer, notably appearing in the hugely successful 1961 film West [Side Story (1961 film)|West Side Story] as Indio, one of the "Sharks", as well as dancing with Debbie Reynolds and Grover Dale to the frantic "He's My Friend" in 1964's The [Unsinkable Molly Brown (film)|The Unsinkable Molly Brown]. Although originally unbilled, on December 3, 1968, Trikonis got his second biggest exposure in front of any audience as one of two main male dancers who do Elvis Presley's choreography as he sings a Gospel medley as part of a widely watched NBC-TV Special entitled "Elvis".
As a director, Trikonis handled several projects from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, mostly low-budget "exploitation films". He made several films for Roger Corman at New World Pictures; Corman called Trikonis one of the best young directors he had ever worked with. His films included The [Student Body (1976 film)|The Student Body].
From the 1980s to the mid-1990s Trikonis mostly directed television series. He directed episodes of television series including Baywatch, Quantum Leap, Hunter, Beauty and the Beast and Wiseguy.

Personal life

Trikonis was married to actress Goldie Hawn from 1969 to 1976; he was her first husband and they have the same birthday. He was later married to costume designer Barbara Andrews from 1978 until her death in 2012 and they had one child together: a son Nicolas, born in 1981. His sister Gina also appeared in West Side Story as Graziella, Riff's girlfriend, later becoming a costumer and costume/wardrobe supervisor.

Filmography

Actor
YearTitleRoleNotes
1960BajourSteve
1961West Side StoryIndio
1963The Alfred Hitchcock HourGordie SykesEpisode "Diagnosis Danger"
1964The Unsinkable [Molly Brown (film)|The Unsinkable Molly Brown]Joe
1964Pajama PartyPajame Boy #13
1966The [Sand Pebbles (film)|The Sand Pebbles]Restorff
1967The St. [Valentine's Day Massacre (film)|The St. Valentine's Day Massacre]Rio
1968The HellcatsScorpio

Director Five the Hard Way / The Sidehackers Supercock The Swinging Barmaids The Student Body Nashville Girl Moonshine County Express The Evil She's Dressed to Kill Touched by Love Elvis and the Beauty Queen Take [This Job and Shove It (film)|Take This Job and Shove It] Dance of the Dwarfs