Verdon was born in Culver City, California, the second child of Gertrude Lilian (née Standring; October 24, 1896 - October 16, 1956) and Joseph William Verdon (December 31, 1896 - June 23, 1978), British immigrants to the United States by way of Canada [REF].
By the time she was six, she was already dancing on stage.