Fictional character biography
Georgie Elmer Denbrough (also known as "Georgie") was born September 18, 1951 (1954 in the 1990 TV miniseries and 1981 in the 2017 theatrical film adaptation) to Zack and Sharon Denbrough and is the younger brother of Bill Denbrough. Georgie has a very positive relationship with his older brother, considering him to be his best friend.Encounter with Pennywise
On one October night in 1957 (1960 in the 1990 TV miniseries and 1988 in the theatrical film series), Georgie makes a paper boat with his older brother on a rainy day. Bill is too sick to accompany Georgie outside, so he helps him make the boat and sends him on his way. The boat ends up falling down a storm drain, much to Georgie's dismay. Georgie then encounters an evil clown monster (called "Pennywise") in the storm drain (who offers him a red balloon) and tells him about how people float down in the sewers. Pennywise offers Georgie his boat back, but when Georgie attempts to reach out to it, Pennywise grabs Georgie's arm and bites it off, leaving Georgie to bleed to death in the rain. In the theatrical film series, Georgie (instead of being left bleeding to death) is dragged down the sewers by the monster, after his arm is dismembered by the latter as he desperately tries to cling to his life calling Bill's name as no one hears.Being used by Pennywise
Not long after his death, Georgie's appearance would be 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.Adaptations
1990 TV miniseries
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.Theatrical film series
Georgie Denbrough was portrayed byDeath and controversy
The violent nature of Georgie's death (in the 2017 film adaptation of ''It'') received a polarizing response from some 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 Georgie attempt to crawl away was seen by some as being "downright disturbing" and "too graphic".2019 short fan film
Georgie Denbrough is the main character of ''Georgie'', a 2019 short fan film based on the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of the novel, with Tony Dakota reprising 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.Analysis
Throughout the novel and theatrical film series, Pennywise uses the "ghost of Georgie" to play on Bill's survivor's guilt. This is further explored in ''In popular culture
The character has also been referenced many times in different forms of media. He is mentioned numerous times by American heavy metal and metallic hardcore band Ice Nine Kills in their 2019 song "It Is The End" (which is based upon and inspired by the 2017 film adaptation of the novel). The song is from the band's fifth studio album '' The Silver Scream'' (in which all the songs are inspired by horror films). The scene where Georgie meets Pennywise (in the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of the novel) has become an internet meme depicting Pennywise attempting to coerce Georgie to come down to the sewers with different things. Georgie was also referenced in King's novel ''References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Denbrough, Georgie It (novel) Stephen King characters Child characters in film Literary characters introduced in 1986 Fictional characters from Maine Fictional child deaths Fictional ghosts Fictional murdered people Film and television memes Internet memes Horror television characters