George Maharis has died at the age of 94.
His longtime friend and caretaker, Marc Bahan, took to Facebook to confirm that the Route 66 star died Wednesday, May 24.
“George Maharis passed away on Wednesday,” Bahan wrote in a Facebook post.
“George is well known for his stardom in Route 66, stage productions, singing, artist, and above all a great guy would do anything for anyone,” he added. “My dear friend, you’ll be terribly missed.”
9Honey reached out to Bahan for further comment.
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Prior to this, Bahan had made a Facebook post in January of this year claiming that Maharis was suffering from dementia.
“Christmas at George’s,” he wrote. “Presently has dementia and I am his caretaker. So sad! Staying in LA until he passes, then moving to northern Sacramento and purchasing a home closer to family.”
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Maharis rose to fame and became a Hollywood heartthrob after taking on the role of the charismatic Buz Murdock in the 1960s CBS drama Route 66.
After appearing on 82 episodes of the show – from 1960 to 1963 – and being offered an Emmy nomination in 1962 for the role, the star contracted hepatitis, leaving him unable to continue.
While speaking to Route 66 News in 2007, the actor recounted that a doctor told had warned him about the dire need for his immediate retirement.
“If you don’t get out now, you’re either going to be dead or you’re going to have permanent liver damage,” he recalled the doctor telling him.
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Despite attempts to keep the show alive, Maharis’ absence proved too detrimental to the show’s popularity, and Route 66 ended.
Maharis’ career didn’t stop at TV, the star also jumped into the world of film, starring in productions such as ’60s films Quick Before It Melts, Sylvia, A Covenant with Death and The Happening.
He made a list of other TV appearances in series like The Most Deadly Game, Rich Man, Poor Man, Marcus Welby, M.D., Night Gallery, McMillan & Wife, Search for Tomorrow, The Bionic Woman and Fantasy Island.
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Music was also a venture Maharis took on, establishing a music career after releasing a 1962 album with Epic Records titled George Maharis Sings!
Three more albums came after, including, Portrait In Music (Expanded Edition), Tonight You Belong to Me and New Route: George Maharis (Live).
The actor is survived by his brother Robert Maharis, who worked in Hollywood as a noteworthy location manager.
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