Cyd Charisse was born on March 8, 1921 in Amarillo, Texas.
Charisse's birthname is Tula Ellice Finklea. Cyd spent her
early childhood taking ballet lessons and joined the Ballet
Russe at 13. At the age of 18 Charisse married her dance teacher,
Nico Charisse, and made her film debut with him in a handful
of SOUNDIES musical shorts in 1941.
Cyd's first film, SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT (1943), billed
as Lily Norwood. In 1945 Charisse was hired to dance with
Fred Astaire in ZIEGFELD FOLLIES, and that uncredited appearance
got her a seven-year contract with MGM.
In 1952 Cyd Charisse had a $5-million insurance policy accepted
on her legs. Cyd worked sporadically in Hollywood, mostly
in TV, often accompanied by her second husband, singer-actor
Tony Martin. Their joint autobiography, THE TWO OF US was
published in 1976.
In 1952 Cyd Charisse became a star with her performance in
SINGIN
IN THE RAIN.
In 1992 Cyd made her Broadway debut in the musical GRAND
HOTEL and released an exercise video.
Cyd Charisse's other notable credits include...
VISIONI PRIVATE (1989)
WARLORDS OF ATLANTIS (1978)
WON TON TON, THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD (1976)
THE SILENCERS (1966)
FIVE GOLDEN HOURS (1961)
SILK STOCKINGS (1957)
WAST SIDE, WEST SIDE (1949)
THIS LOVE OF MINE (1944)
SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT (1943)
