Cyd Charisse ~ The Legendary Dancer

Cyd Charisse was one of Hollywood's most talented and successful dancers

 She was born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922 in Amarillo, Texas. Her father, Ernest Finklea, was a jeweler. During her childhood she contracted polio and began dancing as a way to get her strength back. Cyd took ballet lessons and was educated at the Hollywood Professional School. At the age of seventeen she married dancer Nico Charisse. The couple had a son named Nicky. She made her film debut in the 1941 drama Escort Girl. MGM signed her to a seven year contract in 1945. Cyd was a featured dancer in the musicals Ziegfeld Follies, Words And Music, and Till The Clouds Roll By. Her marriage to Nico ended in 1947. The following year she married actor Tony Martin. She was cast in the film An American In Paris but had to quit when she became pregnant. Her son, Tony Martin Jr, was born in August of 1950. Gene Kelly chose her to dance with him in the hit 1952 musical Singin' In The Rain. Then she had starring roles in the musicals Brigadoon and The Band Wagon.

Cyd was considered to be one of Hollywood's most talented dancers and legs were insured for five million dollars! She costarred with Fred Astaire in the 1957 musical Silk Stockings and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance. During the 1960s she began to work less. Cyd and Tony enjoyed one of Hollywood's longest and happiest marriages. In 1976 they wrote a book together called The Two Of Us. She made guest appearances on numerous television shows including The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Murder She Wrote. At the age of sixty-eight of she appeared in Janet Jackson's music video Alright. Her final acting role was in the 2008 TV movie Empire State Building Murders. On June 17, 2008 she died from a heart attack at the age of eighty-six. Cyd was buried at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California.