George Vlachos- one of the greats. He will be missed.
We at El Segundo headquarters are very sad to announce the passing of George Vlachos, who transitioned from this world Thursday morning, May 28, 2009.   He is survived by his wife and companion of many years, Gretchen MacLaine.
The memorial service will be held Thursday, June 11 @ 3pm
Rutgers Presbyterian Church 236 W. 73rd St. New York, NY 10023
In the meantime, I invite you to leave comments and memories of George in the comment section below.
I first met George in the late 90s in New York City, where he lived for his entire adult life.¬† I was a young actor, brash, stupid, and full of beans.¬† We were doing a production of Sam Shepard’s Geography of a Horse Dreamer.¬† Aside from the rigors of the show, it was a great experience.¬† I recall drunken evenings riding the subway uptown with George and Colter Rule, where they broke into song, loud and proud.¬† I was so cool, so mortified.¬† Years later, I understand the simple pleasure of singing out loud in public with friends.
I remember George’s stories, getting blow for Belushi, his walk on part in Wall Street, his youthful days as a dashing young Greek in the big city.¬† I spent many hours on the couch at George and Gretchen’s, getting shade from Milo the cat, laughing at the stories, feeling the love.¬† They were my model for how a couple can live as one in a small space, feed each other, and feed off each other. They were a vital part of my support system.¬† I brought my future wife to meet them before I ever made the decision to settle down.
When Roy and I wrote El Segundo, we had to write a role for George, and he was fantastic.  He WAS the Varmint, he was a great man, he was my friend.
I miss him terribly.
Hank Jacobs, Los Angeles, 5.29.09
Here is a fine example of George’s work, in the short film “Desk Jockey”, written and directed by Jeffrey Velazquez.
Not sure you’re ready to spend your hard earned money or time on an indie film? Here’s something to whet your appetite: the prologue to El Segundo. Animation by Jack Myers, narrated by Carlos Guzman.
Jeffrey Velazquez, our 1st AD and a great filmmaker in his own right, took this super 8 film detailing all the craziness happening behind the scenes that I didn’t even know about.
Another short film from the Gorilla Film Factory.?جø¬? This is your car on drugs.
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June 7th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
George…I will never forget staring into his blue eyes as he regaled you with song and even sometimes dance in the apartment he and his wife shared on the upper west side of Manhattan…
I was the artistic director of a rag tag vagabond troupe called Coyatl Works. George undoubtebly was the best actor, and my first to know and direct from this company. He became my surrogate father in New York City. Full of love and care for those around him, that meant sething. And he would do anything for his friends. One day, I was venting in full frustration thatthe deadline for my eligibility to join Actor’s Equity was about to expire and I needed 800 dollars. On the other side of the phone was George’s voice saying I’ll give you 800 dollars. And he did, and this kid from the barrios of Alice, Tx joined AEA.
I say he became my father because Gretchen one day on her way to the roof to practice Tai Chi saw us sitting near each other in their living room. She overheard me say to him how ironic it was that he worked at The Village Gate when it was a jazz club and how now I found myself working at the same venue only the name was The Village Theater.
Her comment was like father, like son. Walking past the security desk at his apartment building, the guard would call up and tell him that his son was on the way up. George provided a great many things for me in my life including a Park Avenue dentist and an entrez vous into the New York City mentality.
God wins. We lose.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Hey George,
I didn’t get to say goodbye to you, but know you must of suffered a lot considering the cancer you had to battle. I know cause I just buried my mother from the same thing. I feel the pain that your family and friends are going through now because your life was infectious to all of us. Like my mother, Mary, you both were straight shooters, to the point, honest and intelligent. Dry wit with biting cynicism that always sought the truth and never liked to start the day without a coffee/ tea and cigarette. You LIVED your life which is more then a lot of people can say that are still living. I’ll miss you my friend. It was an honor and priviledge to know and work with you. You will live in my thoughts and heart along with the many other souls that have inspired me. R.I.P. George Vlachos