Georgie Denbrough

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Lore & Background

George Elmer Denbrough was born on September 18, 1947 (1953 in the 1990 TV miniseries and 1981 in the 2017 theatrical film adaptation) to Zack and his wife (referred to only as Mrs. Denbrough in the novel). He is the younger brother of Bill Denbrough, with whom he has a very positive relationship, considering him to be his best friend. On a rainy day in October 1958 (1960 in the 1990 TV miniseries and 1988 in the theatrical film series), Bill helps Georgie make a paper boat, as Bill is too sick to accompany Georgie outside. As Georgie goes out alone, the boat falls down a storm drain. In the drain, Georgie encounters the clown Pennywise, who offers him a red balloon and tells him how people float down in the sewers. Pennywise offers Georgie his boat back, but when Georgie attempts to reach for it, Pennywise grabs Georgie's arm and bites it off, leaving Georgie bleeding to death in the rain. In the theatrical film series, Georgie is instead dragged down the sewers while, after his right arm is dismembered, calling Bill's name. Shortly after his death, Georgie's appearance is utilized by Pennywise to taunt and provoke Bill. While this aspect of the novel is not represented in the 1990 TV miniseries, Georgie appears to Bill several times throughout the theatrical film series.

In Their Own Story

On a rainy day in October 1957 (1960 in the 1990 TV miniseries and 1988 in the theatrical film series), Bill helps Georgie make a paper boat, as Bill is too sick to accompany Georgie outside. As Georgie goes out alone, the boat falls down a storm drain. In the drain, Georgie encounters the clown Pennywise, who offers him a red balloon and tells him how people float down in the sewers. Pennywise offers Georgie his boat back, but when Georgie attempts to reach for it, Pennywise grabs Georgie's arm and bites it off, leaving Georgie bleeding to death in the rain. In the theatrical film series, Georgie is instead dragged down the sewers while, after his right arm is dismembered, calling Bill's name. Shortly after his death, Georgie's appearance is utilized by Pennywise to taunt and provoke Bill. While this aspect of the novel is not represented in the 1990 TV miniseries, Georgie appears to Bill several times throughout the theatrical film series.

Reader's Guide

Georgie Denbrough was portrayed by Tony Dakota in the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation. This iteration remains faithful to the source material, however, Georgie is killed by Pennywise off-screen. Georgie Denbrough was portrayed by Jackson Robert Scott in the 2017 film adaptation of the King novel as well as its 2019 sequel. This adaptation of the character features the onscreen demise of Georgie as well as showing more of Pennywise using Georgie to affect Bill psychologically. Behind the scenes of the 2017 film, the young actor stated that he was not afraid of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise and formed a bond with the actor. Scott's performance as Georgie was acclaimed by fans and critics. The violent nature of Georgie's death (in the 2017 film adaptation) received a polarizing response from critics. While most people felt that the graphic nature of Georgie's death was necessary to show the danger of Pennywise, some viewers felt that Pennywise ripping a child's arm off and watching him attempt to crawl away was "downright disturbing" and "too graphic". Georgie Denbrough is the main character of Georgie, a 2019 short fan film based on the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of the novel; Tony Dakota reprised his role as the title character. This short fan film shows an undead adult Georgie (being resurrected through drawing). This is the only adaptation to show Georgie as an adult.

Did You Know?

• Georgie was born on September 18, 1947 in the novel, but in the 1990 TV miniseries he was born in 1953, and in the 2017 theatrical film adaptation he was born in 1981.
• In the 1990 TV miniseries, Georgie is killed by Pennywise off-screen, whereas in the theatrical film series his death is shown onscreen.
• Tony Dakota, who played Georgie in the 1990 TV miniseries, reprised his role in a 2019 short fan film titled Georgie, which imagines if Georgie had survived.
• In the 2017 film, actor Jackson Robert Scott stated he was not afraid of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise and formed a bond with the actor.
• The character is referenced by American heavy metal band Ice Nine Kills in their 2019 song "It Is The End", which is based on the 2017 film adaptation.