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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 ...
Cyd Charisse. Actress: Silk Stockings. Cyd Charisse was born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922, in Amarillo, Texas. Born to be a dancer, she spent her early childhood taking ballet lessons and joined the Ballet Russe at age 13. In 1939, she married Nico Charisse, her former dance teacher. In 1943, she appeared in her first film, Something to Shout About (1943), billed as Lily Norwood. The ...
- March 8, 1922
- June 17, 2008
Apr 17, 2020 · Cyd Charisse was born Tula Ellice Finklea but earned the nickname “Sid” from her younger brother Thomas. He was trying to say “sis” but pronounced it Sid. Clearly, "Sid" stuck. When Charisse took an agent, she insisted he let her keep the name. He made just one change: he transformed Sid to the more feminine and sophisticated "Cyd."
Jun 13, 2024 · Cyd Charisse (born March 8, 1922, Amarillo, Texas, U.S.—died June 17, 2008, Los Angeles, California) was an American dancer and actress known for her glamorous looks and sensual technically flawless dancing in 1950s movie musicals. Most notable were her appearances with actor Gene Kelly in the highly acclaimed musical film Singin’ in the ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Cyd Charisse. Actress: Silk Stockings. Cyd Charisse was born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922, in Amarillo, Texas. Born to be a dancer, she spent her early childhood taking ballet lessons and joined the Ballet Russe at age 13.
- January 1, 1
- Amarillo, Texas, USA
- January 1, 1
- Los Angeles, California, USA
May 25, 2021 · Cyd Charisse made her film debut in an uncredited bit as a flamenco dancer in the Continental Pictures production Escort Girl (1941) before signing with MGM in 1943, where she began working as a chorus dancer. For her professional name in movies, MGM producer Arthur Freed changed the spelling of her nickname to "Cyd" and used the last name of ...
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She garnered the attention of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), which hired her in 1946 and changed her name to Cyd Charisse, based on a childhood nickname. Charisse achieved star status with her dance routine—in which she did not speak a word—opposite Gene Kelly in the musical Singin’ in the Rain (1952).
