Supposedly a “spin-off” of Naked City (Maharis appeared in a 1959 episode), which was always set in New York City, Route 66 was filmed “on location” as the two “stars” drove their Corvette across the United States and had adventures and differing experiences/consequences of actions at new locations with new acquaintances each week.
The two young, all-American men were played by Martin Milner (Todd Stiles) and George Maharis (Buz Murdock), and they lived the “on the road” life about which many of us young men, at least upon some occasions, dreamed, or still dream now, about living—full of adventure, good-looking women, endless energy, and the “wind in our hair” feeling of racing down and around the highways in a Corvette Convertible with the “top down!”
Actually, “Buz” was one of the three main characters of this 4-seasons program, appearing in 71 of the 116 original episodes before George Maharis left the show.
The corvette came to be the transportation of Buz and Todd when Todd inherited it from his deceased dad, Lee, who had given Buz his first job and made him a supervisor, who ultimately became the supervisor of Todd, an “Ivy Leaguer.”
About halfway through the full run of the program, Buz became ill of a mysterious sickness, and although Todd periodically contacted him with letters and was heard talking to him on the phone, Buz was not seen—although he was given screen credit for being a cast member.
After more time passed without a view of Buz, he “ceased to exist” and was never mentioned again. Todd’s new partner/buddy became Lincoln Case (Glenn Corbett), who finished out the series.
“Buz” was in some ways the opposite of his well-educated and refined side-kick, Todd, but in some ways they were much alike—articulate, intelligent, witty—but Buz was more the musician and poet, although he often seemed to rant about what he considered to be injustices to mankind in general and also not to be afraid to revert to his rough and tumble past when it came old-fashioned fist-fighting—I don’t remember ever seeing him lose! George Maharis (born of Greek immigrants in 1928 in Queens, New York) spent 18 months in the Marines and recently died of hepatitis (which apparently was also the cause of some of his absences from Route 66 and which periodically caused him to have relapses during the remainder of his life) at age 94.
He received an Emmy nomination for his work in Route 66 and starred in a science fiction thriller titled, The Satan Bug, in 1965. He had also appeared earlier in 1955 in an NBC comedy, called Mister Peepers, and followed that with some off-Broadway parts. He was in the movie, Exodus, in 1960, and in the CBS soap opera, called Search for Tomorrow.
Not many seem to know this, but Maharis also recorded a record album in 1962 (Epic Records) and a single, “Teach Me Tonight,” that rose all the way to #25 on the Billboard Charts!
He had many roles during the following years. A few that I remember are as a private detective opposite Carol Baker (I remember her better!) in Sylvia (1965), The Happening (1967), as a criminologist in The Most Deadly Game (70s), Rich Man, Poor Man (1976), The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982), and The Evil Within (1993).
And I guess I will mention that he posed for Playgirl Magazine way back in 1973— I don’t remember his doing that, but I read it in one of his biographical sketches.
To end on what I consider a happier note and credit, “BUZ” (GEORGE MAHARIS) had appearances on Mission: Impossible and also Fantasy Island. I always enjoyed seeing THE PLANE when that show started!
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.