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In June 1960, Beymer was cast in the lead role of Tony in West Side Story (1961), a huge hit. He shared a 1962 Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor with Bobby Darin and Warren Beatty .
- Natalie Wood as Maria. Wood played the lead female character of Maria in 1961's West Side Story. Maria is compared to Shakespeare's Juliet who falls in love with Tony's Romeo.
- Richard Beymer as Tony. Beymer played Tony, the male lead in 1961's West Side Story, who falls in love with Maria after their first encounter. Prior to the musical film, he appeared in 1959's The Diary of Anne Frank.
- Russ Tamblyn as Riff. Tamblyn played the snappy, tough guy and Jet leader Riff in 1961's West Side Story. This role wasn't what he intended to play when he first auditioned.
- Rita Moreno as Anita. Moreno played the unforgettable, Oscar-winning role of Anita, Maria's best friend, in 1961's West Side Story. She has had an impressive career and even plays a part in Spielberg's film (although she did not revive her role).
Dec 11, 2021 · Prior to being cast as Tony, Beymer's breakout role was in 1959's The Diary of Anne Frank. He went on to play the role of ruthless and mysterious businessman Ben Horne in David Lynch's ...
- Kelsie Gibson
- Maria: Natalie Wood and Rachel Zegler. Natalie Wood originally played Maria in the 1961 film. Even though the late Oscar-nominated actress had many notable roles throughout her career, including Miracle on 34th Street, Splendor in the Grass and Gypsy, her part in West Side Story is often regarded as one of her greatest.
- Tony: Richard Beymer and Ansel Elgort. Richard Beymer originally played Tony in the 1961 classic, for which he received two Golden Globe nominations for most promising newcomer and best actor in a comedy or musical.
- Riff: Russ Tamblyn and Mike Faist. After roles in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Peyton Place, which earned him an Oscar nomination in 1958, Tamblyn (yes, Amber Tamblyn's dad) played Riff, the leader of the Jets gang.
- Anita: Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBose. Moreno famously played Anita, Bernardo's girlfriend and Maria's best friend, in 1961's West Side Story. She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role (though she's since expressed regrets over the skin-darkening makeup she had to wear).
Richard Beymer ... Tony: Russ Tamblyn ... Riff: Rita Moreno ... Anita: George Chakiris ... Bernardo: Simon Oakland ... Schrank: Ned Glass ... Doc: William Bramley ... Krupke: Tucker Smith ... Ice: Tony Mordente ... Action: David Winters ... A-rab: Eliot Feld ... Baby John: Bert Michaels ... Snowboy: David Bean ... Tiger: Robert Banas ... Joyboy
Richard Beymer as Tony in West Side Story, 1961 John Springer Collection/Corbis/Getty After his breakout performance, Beymer had a big role in the WWII epic The Longest Day (1962), which garnered ...
Recently viewed. Learn more. Richard Beymer. Actor: West Side Story. Born in Avoca, Iowa and moved with his parents to Hollywood, California in the late 1940s, Richard Beymer acted in various films while attending North Hollywood High School. He enjoys making his own films and has a film used in a PBS series on the civil rights movement.
