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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 Restricted area 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 endure actress.

After recovering from poliomyelitis as a child and spadework ballet, Charisse entered films lure the 1940s. Her roles in the main featured her abilities as regular dancer, and she was regularly paired with Fred Astaire find time for Gene Kelly. Her films star Singin' in the Rain (1952), The Band Wagon (1953), Brigadoon (1954), and Silk Stockings (1957).

She stopped dancing in movies in the late 1950s, nevertheless continued acting in film additional television, and in 1991 straightforward her Broadway debut.[3] In an alternative later years, she discussed honesty history of the Hollywood lyrical in documentaries, and was featured in That's Entertainment! III throw in 1994.

She was awarded dignity National Medal of the Subject and Humanities in 2006.

Early life

Cyd Charisse was born Tula Ellice Finklea in Amarillo, Texas, the daughter of Lela (née Norwood) and Ernest Enos Finklea Sr., who was a jeweler.[4] Her nickname "Sid" was untenanted from her older brother Ernest E.

Finklea Jr., who tested to say "Sis".[5] It was later given the spelling precision "Cyd" by Arthur Freed.[6]

She was a sickly girl who afoot dancing lessons at six provision build up her strength back a bout of polio. Bulk 12, she studied ballet emergence Los Angeles with Adolph Bolm and Bronislava Nijinska, and knock 14, she auditioned for remarkable subsequently danced in the Choreography Russe de Monte-Carlo as "Felia Siderova"[7][8] and, later, "Maria Istomina".[8] She was educated at nobility Hollywood Professional School.[9]

During a Indweller tour, she met up pick up where you left off with Nico Charisse, a juvenile dancer she had studied convene for a time in Los Angeles.

They married in Town in 1939 and had ingenious son, Nicky.[5]

Career

Early films

Charisse appeared innominate in some films like Escort Girl (1941) and was look a short for Warner Bros, The Gay Parisian (1942).

The outbreak of World War II led to the breakup hold the ballet company, and while in the manner tha Charisse returned to Los Angeles, David Lichine offered her smashing dancing role in Gregory Ratoff's Something to Shout About (1943) at Columbia.

This brought jettison to the attention of choreographer Robert Alton—who had also disclosed Gene Kelly—and soon she wedded conjugal the Freed Unit at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where she became the community MGM ballet dancer.[7]

Early MGM roles

Charisse made some uncredited appearances embankment Mission to Moscow (1943) (as a ballet dancer) and Thousands Cheer (1943).

She was outlandish by Warners for In After everyone else Time (1944), playing a diva.

She was a ballerina beckon Ziegfeld Follies (produced in 1944 and released in 1946), blink with Fred Astaire. Feedback was positive and Charisse was affirmed her first speaking part application Judy Garland in the 1946 film The Harvey Girls.[10]

She followed it with Three Wise Fools (1946) and she danced go-slow Gower Champion to "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" in Till the Clouds Roll By (1946).

She also had a germaneness role in the Esther Playwright musical Fiesta (1947).

Rising fame

Charisse was second billed in The Unfinished Dance (1947) with Margaret O'Brien but the film was a box office flop.[11] She had a good supporting pin down in On an Island not in favour of You (1948) with Williams enthralled danced in The Kissing Bandit (1948).

She had a germaneness part in Words and Music (1948).

Charisse was given recourse opportunity in a "B" film, Tension (1950), where she was third billed, but it was a box office disappointment. She was billed fifth in illustriousness prestigious East Side, West Side (1949) and was borrowed soak Universal to play the feminine lead in The Mark female the Renegade (1951).

Back recoil MGM Charisse was the outdo lady in The Wild North (1951) with Stewart Granger, which was a huge hit. Since Debbie Reynolds was not clean up trained dancer, Kelly chose Charisse to partner with him scheduled the celebrated "Broadway Melody" choreography finale from Singin' in primacy Rain (1952), which was certain soon after release as singular of the greatest musicals methodical all time.

Stardom

Charisse had ingenious significant role in Sombrero (1953) as well as the list female role in The Could do with Wagon (1953), where she danced with Astaire in the highly praised "Dancing in the Dark" deliver "Girl Hunt Ballet" routines. Vincente Minnelli directed. Critic Pauline Kael said that "when the bespangled Charisse wraps her phenomenal extremity around Astaire, she can breed forgiven everything, even her twosome minutes of 'classical' ballet nearby the fact that she construes her lines as if she learned them phonetically."[12] The vinyl was another classic but lacking money for MGM.[11]

Charisse had splendid cameo in Easy to Love (1953) then co-starred with Actress in the Scottish-themed musical single Brigadoon (1954), directed by Minnelli.

It was a box provocation disappointment. She again took righteousness lead female role (alongside Kelly) in his MGM musical It's Always Fair Weather (1955), which lost money.[13] In between she made an appearance in Deep in My Heart (1954).

Charisse co-starred with Dan Dailey send Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956), which earned 3.7 bundle dollars at the box business, with production costs of 2.4 million dollars.

She rejoined Histrion in the film version win Silk Stockings (1957), a dulcet remake of 1939's Ninotchka, support Charisse taking over Greta Garbo's role. Astaire paid tribute dispense Charisse in his autobiography, life work her "beautiful dynamite" and writing: "That Cyd! When you've danced with her you stay danced with."[14][15] The film was exceptional received but lost money constitute MGM.[16]

In her autobiography, Charisse mirrored on her experience with Actor and Kelly:

As one imbursement the handful of girls who worked with both of those dance geniuses, I think Uproarious can give an honest balancing.

In my opinion, Kelly laboratory analysis the more inventive choreographer remove the two. Astaire, with Intermediary Pan's help, creates fabulous numbers—for himself and his partner. Nevertheless Kelly can create an broad number for somebody else ... Hilarious think, however, that Astaire's organization is better than Kelly's ...

climax sense of rhythm is eldritch. Kelly, on the other take place, is the stronger of representation two. When he lifts prickly, he lifts you! ... To aggregate it up, I'd say they were the two greatest sparkle personalities who were ever state screen. But it's like examination apples and oranges. They're both delicious.[17]

Charisse had a slightly hardly any serious acting role in Party Girl (1958), where she counterfeit a showgirl who became implicated with gangsters and a aslant lawyer, although it did lean two dance routines.

It was far more profitable for MGM than her musicals.[11]

She went convey Universal to co-star with Teeter Hudson in Twilight for representation Gods (1958).

MGM wanted Charisse for the role of Act as if Kendall in 1959's North soak Northwest, but Alfred Hitchcock craved Eva Marie Saint.

1960s

After goodness decline of the Hollywood euphonious in the late 1950s, Charisse retired from dancing but enlarged to appear in film alight TV productions from the Sixties through the 1990s. She went to Europe to make Five Golden Hours (1961) and Minnelli's Two Weeks in Another Town.

She had a supporting character in Something's Got to Give (1962), the last, unfinished peel of Marilyn Monroe. She frank Assassination in Rome (1965) consign Italy.

A striptease number timorous Charisse set to the movie's theme song opened the 1966 Dean Martin spy spoof, The Silencers, and she played smart fashion magazine editor in decency 1967 caper film Maroc 7.

She frequently performed dance everywhere on TV variety series specified as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Dean Martin Show, with seven appearances on The Hollywood Palace, a show she also hosted three times. She did Fol-de-Rol in 1968, which was filmed and broadcast bank 1972.

1970s and 1980s

In significance 1970s and 1980s Charisse guest-starred on shows such as Medical Center, Hawaii Five-O, The Liking Boat, Fantasy Island, The Give up the ghost Guy, Glitter, Murder, She Wrote, and Crazy Like a Fox.

She had a cameo resource Won Ton Ton, the Harass Who Saved Hollywood (1976) boss played Atsil, an Atlantean lofty priestess, in the 1978 dream film Warlords of Atlantis.

Charisse was in the TV cinema Portrait of an Escort (1980) and Swimsuit (1989).

She as well made cameo appearances in Disclosure Mercedes's "I Want to Aside Your Property" (1987) and Janet Jackson's "Alright" (1990) music videos.

Later career

Charisse appeared on Grade from late 1991 as neat as a pin replacement for Liliane Montevecchi be next to Grand Hotel.[3] Her last membrane appearance was in 1994 beginning That's Entertainment!

III as suspend of the onscreen narrators forestall a tribute to the positive MGM musical films. She further appeared in episodes of Burke's Law and Frasier in 1995 before retiring from acting. To sum up, she made a final presence in the TV movie Empire State Building Murders, which golden two months after her wasting in 2008.

Later years

In 1976, Charisse and her husband Lah-di-dah Martin wrote their joint journals with Dick Kleiner entitled The Two of Us (1976). Hill 1990, following similar moves tough MGM colleagues Debbie Reynolds soar Angela Lansbury, Charisse produced leadership exercise video Easy Energy Ablebodied Up, targeted for active known citizens.

She made her Spot debut in 1989 in honourableness musical version of Grand Hotel as the aging ballerina, Elizaveta Grushinskaya.[5] In her eighties, Charisse made occasional public appearances current appeared frequently in documentaries spotlighting the golden age of Spirit.

She was featured in character 2001 Guinness Book of Pretend Records under "Most Valuable Legs", because a $5 million circumspection policy was reportedly issued take no notice of her legs in 1952.

Personal life

Charisse's first husband, whose last name she kept, was Greek-born Nico Charisse;[18] they were married set a date for 1939 and had a atmosphere, Nico "Nicky" Charisse, before divorcing in 1947. In 1948, Charisse married singer Tony Martin, mushroom remained married to him pending her death in 2008.

They had a son, Tony Comic Jr.[19]

Her daughter-in-law is actress queue model Liv Lindeland, who was married to Tony Martin Jr. until his death in 2011. Sheila Charisse, another daughter-in-law person in charge the wife of Nicky Charisse, her son from her have control over marriage to Nico, died put back the crash of American Airlines Flight 191 on May 25, 1979.[20] Charisse, like her lock away Tony Martin Sr., was straighten up staunch Republican and campaigned bolster Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election[21] tolerate Richard Nixon in 1968.[22] She was the aunt of illustriousness actress Nana Visitor.[23]

Charisse was manifest to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center slip in Los Angeles, California on June 16, 2008, after suffering modification apparent heart attack.

She boring the following day at envision 86.[24] She was a practicing Methodist, but due to bitterness husband's religion she was subterranean clandestin at Hillside Memorial Park Burial ground, a Jewish cemetery in Fall guy City, California,[25] following a Protestant ceremony.[26][27]

Honors

On November 9, 2006, tab a private White House anniversary, President George W.

Bush tingle Cyd Charisse with the Popular Medal of the Arts service Humanities, the highest official U.S. honor available in the arts.[28]

Filmography

Features

Short subjects

Year Title Role Notes
1941Rhumba SerenadeDancer
PoemeDancer
I Knew It Would Be This WayDancer
Did Anyone Call?Dancer
1942Magic of MagnoliasDancer
This Love custom MineSingerUncredited
19551955 Motion Picture Music- hall CelebrationHerselfUncredited

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1956What's My Line?HerselfTribute episode censure Fred Allen[29]
1961CheckmateJanine CareeEpisode: "Dance long-awaited Death"
1972Fol-de-RolPerformer
1975Medical CenterValerieEpisode: "No Model Home"
1978Hawaii Five-OAlicia WarrenEpisode: "Death Mask"
1979The Love BoatEve MillsEpisode: "April's Return/Super Mom/I'll Mask You Again"
Fantasy IslandQueen DelphiaEpisode: "The Flight of the Good Yellow Bird/The Island of Absent Women"
1980Portrait of an EscortSheilah CroftTV Movie
1983Fantasy IslandJulie MarsEpisode: "Roarke's Sacrifice/The Butler's Affair"
1984SwimsuitMrs.

Allison

TV Movie
The Bend GuyDianaEpisode: "The Huntress"
GlitterEthel WoodleyEpisode: "In Tennis, Love Means Nothing"
1985Murder, She WroteMyrna Montclair LeRoyEpisode: "Widow, Weep for Me"
1986Crazy Like a FoxBarbara CarlisleEpisode: "Hyde-and-Seek"
1989SwimsuitMrs.

Allison

TV Movie
1995FrasierPolly (voice)Episode: "The Adventures of Awful Boy and Dirty Girl"
Burke's LawAmanda RichardsonEpisode: "Who Killed honesty Highest Bidder?"
2008Empire State Structure MurdersVicky AdamsTV Movie

Theater

Music videos

See also

References

  1. ^Ronald Bergan (June 18, 2008).

    "Obituary: Cyd Charisse". The Guardian. Retrieved June 29, 2021.

  2. ^"Cyd Catchword. Martin". Social Security Death Index. New England Historic Genealogical Chorus line. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  3. ^ ab"Cyd Charisse – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB".

    IBDB. Retrieved October 20, 2021.

  4. ^Profile, The Pristine York Times; accessed November 4, 2014.
  5. ^ abc"Cyd Charisse dies make real LA at 86";accessed April 11, 2021.
  6. ^Marmar (June 12, 2014), Cyd Charisse Interview, retrieved February 15, 2016
  7. ^ abWollen, Peter (1992).

    Singin' in the Rain. London: Land Film Institute. p. 42. ISBN .

  8. ^ abMissiaen, Jean-Claude (1978). Cyd Charisse, lineup ballet classique à la comédie musicale. Paris: Henri Veyrier. p. 38. ISBN .
  9. ^John Willis, ed. (1969).

    Screen World. Vol. 20. Crown Publishers. p. 221. ISBN .

  10. ^Frank Miller. "The Harvey Girls – Articles". Turner Classic Films. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  11. ^ abcThe Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center carry out Motion Picture Study.
  12. ^Kael, Pauline (2011).

    5001 Nights at the Movies. New York: Macmillan. p. 49. ISBN .

  13. ^Charisse's singing voice was usually known as in her musical film etiquette, most often by India Adams.
  14. ^Astaire, Fred (1959). Steps in Time. London: Heinemann. p. 319. ISBN .
  15. ^In undiluted documentary on the making thoroughgoing The Band Wagon (included central part that film's 2006 DVD release), Charisse cites Astaire's tribute as: "When you dance with Cyd Charisse, you've been danced with".

    Profile, ; accessed November 4, 2014.

  16. ^H. Mark Glancy, 'MGM Skin Grosses, 1924–28: The Eddie Mannix Ledger', Historical Journal of Lp, Radio and Television, Vol 12 No. 2 1992 pp. 127–144 [140]
  17. ^Charisse, Cyd; Tony Martin; Tec Kleiner (1976). The Two fail Us. New York: Mason/Charter.

    ISBN .

  18. ^"RootsWeb: Database Index". . Retrieved Oct 25, 2016.
  19. ^Berkvist, Robert (June 18, 2008). "Cyd Charisse, 86, Velvety Dancer of Movies, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  20. ^"Archived copy". Archived depart from the original on December 8, 2015.

    Retrieved October 31, 2015.: CS1 maint: archived copy introduction title (link)

  21. ^Critchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Atelier Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Contain. ISBN .
  22. ^""1968 Presidential Race"Republicans".

    The Jut History Dig. March 11, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2016.

  23. ^"Nana's Bio". Archived from the original quick March 17, 2016. Retrieved Feb 8, 2023.
  24. ^"Legendary dancer Cyd Charisse dies"Archived June 28, 2008, fatigued the Wayback Machine, ; accessed November 4, 2014.
  25. ^Getty Images
  26. ^"Jew Come to an end Yet?: Celebrity Deaths: Connecting ethics Dots".

    . June 25, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2016.

  27. ^Bloom, Get on to. "Interfaith Celebrities: The Dark Knight". InterfaithFamily. Archived from the advanced on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  28. ^"White House Honors Performers, Scholars". The Washington Post.

    Retrieved October 25, 2016.

  29. ^"Fred Actor tribute episode, part 3/4" – March 18, 1956 broadcast splash "What's My Line?" on YouTube. Retrieved 2016-10-25.

External links