Gwyneth Evelyn "Gwen" Verdon was born on January 13, 1925, in Culver City, California, to British immigrant parents. Her mother, Gertrude, was a former vaudevillian and dance teacher, while her father, Joseph, worked as an electrician at MGM Studios.

As a child, she suffered from rickets, which led to her being called "Gimpy" by other children and required her to wear orthopedic boots and leg braces. Despite this, her mother enrolled her in dance classes at the age of three, which helped strengthen her legs and improve her carriage. By age six, Gwen was already dancing on stage.

Her early career included a role as a solo ballerina in the musical romance film "The King Steps Out" (1936) and performing in a revival of "Show Boat" while attending Hamilton High School in Los Angeles. In 1942, she married family friend and tabloid reporter James Henaghan after becoming pregnant at 17, which led her to quit her dancing career to raise their child.

After their divorce, she returned to dance and worked as an assistant to choreographer Jack Cole, teaching dance to stars such as Jane Russell, Lana Turner, and Marilyn Monroe.

Her breakthrough came with her role in Bob Fosse's "Damn Yankees" (1955), where she played Lola. She married Fosse in 1960, and the couple collaborated on numerous theater and film projects. She originated many iconic roles on Broadway, including the title character in "Sweet Charity" and Roxie Hart in "Chicago".

She won four Tony Awards for her performances and was known for her dedication, professionalism, and perfectionism.

After Bob Fosse's death in 1987, she worked to preserve his legacy and continued to be involved in the entertainment industry until her death on October 18, 2000, at the age of 75.