Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse
Charisse in 1949
Born
Tula Ellice Finklea

(1922-03-08)March 8, 1922
DiedJune 17, 2008(2008-06-17) (aged 86)
Resting placeHillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Other namesLily Norwood
Felia Siderova
Maria Istomina
Occupations
  • Actress
  • dancer
Years active1939–2008
Spouses
Nico Charisse
(m. 1939; div. 1947)
(m. 1948)
Children2
RelativesNana Visitor (niece)

Cyd Charisse (born Tula Ellice Finklea; March 8, 1922 – June 17, 2008)[1][2] was an American dancer and actress.

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.[3] 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.

  1. ^ Ronald Bergan (June 18, 2008). "Obituary: Cyd Charisse". The Guardian. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Cyd C. Martin". Social Security Death Index. New England Historic Genealogical Society. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  3. ^ "Cyd Charisse – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". IBDB. Retrieved October 20, 2021.