Cyd Charisse
Cyd Charisse (born Tula Ellice Finklea; March 8, 1922 – June 17, 2008) was an American dancer and actress.
Cyd Charisse | |
|---|---|
Charisse in 1949 | |
| Born | Tula Ellice Finklea March 8, 1922 Amarillo, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | June 17, 2008 (aged 86) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Other names | Lily Norwood Felia Siderova Maria Istomina |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1939–2008 |
| Spouses | Nico Charisse
(m. 1939; div. 1947)Tony Martin
(m. 1948) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Nana Visitor (niece) |
After recovering from polio as a child and studying ballet, Charisse entered films in the 1940s. Her roles usually featured her abilities as a dancer, and she was paired with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly; her films include Singin' in the Rain (1952), The Band Wagon (1953), Brigadoon with Gene Kelly and Van Johnson (1954), and Silk Stockings (1957). She stopped dancing in films in the late 1950s, but continued acting in film and television, and in 1991 made her Broadway debut. In her later years, she discussed the history of the Hollywood musical in documentaries, and was featured in That's Entertainment! III in 1994. She was awarded the National Medal of the Arts and Humanities in 2006.