What nationality is cyd charisse

Cyd Charisse

Actress| DancerBorn Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922in Amarillo, Texas

Died June 17, 2008 of heart attack in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Calif.

Cyd Charisse brought sizzle and sophistication to dance in such classic movie musicals as "Singin' in the Rain" and "Silk Stockings."

Charisse captured moviegoers' attention in a quick succession of films, starting with 1952's "Singin' in the Rain," in which she partnered with dancer and actor Gene Kelly in a steamy ballet.

She was strong, lithe and "drop-dead gorgeous to look at," dance/film historian and author Larry Billman said of Charisse in her breakthrough performance. She partnered with Kelly again in "Brigadoon" in 1954 and "It's Always Fair Weather" the following year.

Unlike many top female dancers in the era of movie musicals, Charisse was trained as a ballerina in the Russian tradition.

Although she occasionally performed solo, "she was at her best when she was partnered," Billman said. "She had technique, ability and she didn't do anything to take away from her partner."

— Mary Rourke in the Los

Cyd Charisse

American dancer and actress (1922–2008)

Cyd Charisse

Charisse in 1949

Born

Tula Ellice Finklea


(1922-03-08)March 8, 1922

Amarillo, Texas, U.S.

DiedJune 17, 2008(2008-06-17) (aged 86)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Resting placeHillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Other namesLily Norwood
Felia Siderova
Maria Istomina
Occupations
Years active1939–2008
Spouses

Nico Charisse

(m. 1939; div. 1947)​

Tony Martin

(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 often paired with Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly. Her films included Singin' in the Rain (1952), The Band Wagon (1953), Brigadoon (1954), and

Cyd Charisse Biography

Date of Birth:
Mar 8, 1922Birth Place:
Amarillo, Texas, USA

Biography

Born Tula Ellice Finklea, Cyd Charisse was born in Amarillo, Texas, in 1922. She suffered from polio as a young girl and took up dancing as part of her recovery. As a teenager, she was sent to California for professional dance training and landed in the touring troupe of the Ballet Russe Monte Carlo, where she met her first husband, Nico Charisse. After a couple of anonymous background dancing roles, Charisse appeared earned her first credit in "Something to Talk About" (1943) using the name Lily Norwood. She landed a contract at MGM and producer Arthur Freed changed her name to Cyd Charisse for her appearance in "Zeigfeld Follies" (1945), directed by Vincente Minelli. Freed cast Charisse again in "Singin' in the Rain" (1952), this time in a single dance scene with Gene Kelly, but it was enough to make her the leading lady in her next film, "The Band Wagon" (1953) with Fred Astaire, again produced by Freed and directed by Minelli. She proved to be a reliable lead in musical/da

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