'Route 66' Star George Maharis Died at 94 - He Had to Leave the Show 60 Years Ago or Would Have Ended Up 'Dead'

• Star of "Route 66" George Maharis died at 94 on May 25, 2023,
• He abruptly left the show after three years, and there were many speculations surrounding his departure
• But the actor addressed the rumors and the real reason he had to stop working for over two years

George Maharis, the actor famously known for his leading role as Buz Murdock in the hit series "Route 66," died on May 25, 2023, at 94.

Maharis played his charismatic role on "Route 66" from 1960 to 1963 and starred in 80 episodes until he suddenly had to leave the show.

In a Facebook post, one of his close friends Marc Bahn, announced his death, stating, "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. My dear friend, you'll be terribly missed."

Although the actor ventured into honing his career as a film star, his time on "Route 66" became his legendary role earning him an Emmy nomination.

Maharis built a successful career in the entertainment industry, but his parents had other plans for him. The actor was raised by Greek immigrant parents who owned a restaurant and hoped he would join the business.

He and six siblings grew up in Queens borough of Manhattan, but Maharis knew early on that he would not follow in his parent's footsteps. He expressed, "Growing up in Hell's Kitchen, at least for me, was all about 'I'm not gonna stay here. Life is all about the journey, the going. I had to get out."

Despite "Route 66" being one of his famous roles, his departure from the show was surrounded by allegations the actor needed to address.

Why George Maharis Left the "Route 66" Series

When Maharis left "Route 66," there were rumors that the actor was demanding more money or trying to get out of his contract to venture into making films.

The reasons behind his departure were far from the allegations. Maharis was diagnosed with hepatitis in 1962. He was hospitalized for a month a missed many episodes of the show.

But he went full force when he returned, pulling off 12 to 15 hours daily. Then one scene where he had to rescue a woman from a near-freezing creek made him relapse.

This was when doctors advised him to step down for a while before his health worsened. Mahrais recalled one of the doctors telling him, "If you don't get out now, you're either going to be dead, or you're going to have permanent liver damage."

Maharis explained that he was never interested in leaving the show. He even believed the series would have gone for two or three extra years had he stayed.

There were talks about taking the show to Europe, an adventure the actor looked forward to, but he had to put his health first. He was aggravated that people tried to turn his departure into lies, especially those insinuating that the actor was not diagnosed with hepatitis.

Maharis continued to reiterate, "I was just ill. It took me 2 1/2, three years to recuperate before I started working again. Ideally, the actor realized he needed to have taken it easier from the on-go and only worked a few hours daily.

However, one person that had interviewed Maharis brought in new details about his time on the show. Karen Blocher, an author and blogger, said the show's producer, Herbert B. Leonard, wanted a sexy well-built heartthrob for the show, which he got with Maharis.

Leonard was reportedly angry when he found out Maharis was gay. He felt betrayed that the actor had hidden his sexual orientation and considered him untrustworthy. The news brought much tension on set; according to Blocher, Maharis felt he was carrying all the weight for the show, but his efforts were unappreciated.

Therefore, as stated by the blogger, the reason behind the actor leaving was more than his sickness, but the lack of appreciation too.

A few years after Maharis left the show, he was reportedly arrested for "lewd conduct" in 1967 and again in 1974 on charges of "sex perversion" for lurking in men's bathrooms.

"The Most Deadly Game," Allum said he looked back at the episodes that aired after he left and felt the lack of chemistry that fans reportedly pointed out. There were many things that the actor could have done differently, but he was faced with unforeseen circumstances.

Outside of the tension behind Maharis leaving the show, "Route 66" was a show of its kind. It featured multiple guest appearances, including ​​Robert Redford, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Alan Alda. It was also filmed on location, meaning each episode was shot in a new town.

"Route 66" brought a sense of adventure to television, inspiring many people to explore and drive down the famous road.

What Happened to George Maharis after He Left the Series

Although his hepatitis put a standstill on his career, Maharis was able to pick it back up. He starred in the film "Sylvia," and then in 1965, he appeared in another feature film, "The Satan Bug."

In 1970, he returned to doing TV shows and starred in "The Most Deadly Game," but it only lasted three months. From there, Maharis made a few more guest appearances on shows like "Police Story," "The Bionic Woman," and "Fantasy Island" in the late 1970s and 1980s.

He stepped outside his comfort zone and posed nude for the cover of Play Girl in 1973. The actor kept hard at work and was featured in more films, some of which did not receive the best feedback, like the 1976 "Rosemary's Baby" sequel.

Towards the 1980s, he started to slow down and eventually made his final on-screen appearance in the horror film, "Doppelganger," in 1993.

By the time Maharis was 79, he had already been retired for 15 years. He spent most of his time at his home in Beverly Hills, indulging in a newfound interest in oil paintings.

His paintings could be found at Elizabeth Collection in Rochester, N.Y.; at that age, he could still converse concisely during his interviews. Maharis died with 70 credits in films and television, but being part of "Route 66" made him memorable to many generations.