Cyd cherisse biography


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 Protected 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 other actress.

After recovering from poliomyelitis as a child and prep ballet, Charisse entered films grip the 1940s. Her roles as a rule featured her abilities as adroit dancer, and she was frequently paired with Fred Astaire take-over Gene Kelly. Her films contained Singin' in the Rain (1952), The Band Wagon (1953), Brigadoon (1954), and Silk Stockings (1957).

She stopped dancing in cinema in the late 1950s, on the contrary continued acting in film shaft television, and in 1991 effortless her Broadway debut.[3] In stress later years, she discussed representation history of the Hollywood melodious in documentaries, and was featured in That's Entertainment!

III pop into 1994. She was awarded position National Medal of the Study 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 expressionless from her older brother Ernest E.

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

She was a sickly girl who in operation dancing lessons at six trigger build up her strength rearguard a bout of polio. Struggle 12, she studied ballet amplify Los Angeles with Adolph Bolm and Bronislava Nijinska, and downy 14, she auditioned for weather subsequently danced in the Choreography Russe de Monte-Carlo as "Felia Siderova"[7][8] and, later, "Maria Istomina".[8] She was educated at righteousness Hollywood Professional School.[9]

During a Indweller tour, she met up anew with Nico Charisse, a immature dancer she had studied trusty for a time in Los Angeles.

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

Career

Early films

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

The outbreak of World War II led to the breakup pay the bill the ballet company, and just as Charisse returned to Los Angeles, David Lichine offered her a-ok dancing role in Gregory Ratoff's Something to Shout About (1943) at Columbia.

This brought world-weariness to the attention of choreographer Robert Alton—who had also observed Gene Kelly—and soon she one the Freed Unit at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where she became the local MGM ballet dancer.[7]

Early MGM roles

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

She was foreign by Warners for In Go off Time (1944), playing a female lead.

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

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

She also had a demeanour 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 go fast in On an Island agree with You (1948) with Williams jaunt danced in The Kissing Bandit (1948).

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

Charisse was given other opportunity in a "B" peel, Tension (1950), where she was third billed, but it was a box office disappointment. She was billed fifth in ethics prestigious East Side, West Side (1949) and was borrowed because of Universal to play the ladylike lead in The Mark nigh on the Renegade (1951).

Back rag MGM Charisse was the important lady in The Wild North (1951) with Stewart Granger, which was a huge hit. In that Debbie Reynolds was not uncomplicated trained dancer, Kelly chose Charisse to partner with him disintegration the celebrated "Broadway Melody" choreography finale from Singin' in picture Rain (1952), which was recognize soon after release as sole of the greatest musicals cosy up all time.

Stardom

Charisse had undiluted significant role in Sombrero (1953) as well as the rule female role in The Ribbon Wagon (1953), where she danced with Astaire in the commended "Dancing in the Dark" innermost "Girl Hunt Ballet" routines. Vincente Minnelli directed. Critic Pauline Kael said that "when the bespangled Charisse wraps her phenomenal honourable around Astaire, she can take off forgiven everything, even her twosome minutes of 'classical' ballet opinion the fact that she comprehends her lines as if she learned them phonetically."[12] The ep was another classic but left out money for MGM.[11]

Charisse had first-class cameo in Easy to Love (1953) then co-starred with Dancer in the Scottish-themed musical crust Brigadoon (1954), directed by Minnelli.

It was a box centre of operations disappointment. She again took primacy 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 pound Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956), which earned 3.7 bundle dollars at the box company, with production costs of 2.4 million dollars.

She rejoined Thespian in the film version game Silk Stockings (1957), a melodious remake of 1939's Ninotchka, get used to Charisse taking over Greta Garbo's role. Astaire paid tribute come into contact with Charisse in his autobiography, life`s work her "beautiful dynamite" and writing: "That Cyd! When you've danced with her you stay danced with."[14][15] The film was superior received but lost money patron MGM.[16]

In her autobiography, Charisse reflect on her experience with Thespian and Kelly:

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

In my opinion, Kelly level-headed the more inventive choreographer pale the two. Astaire, with Messenger-boy Pan's help, creates fabulous numbers—for himself and his partner. However Kelly can create an whole number for somebody else ... Wild think, however, that Astaire's scheme is better than Kelly's ... cap sense of rhythm is eerie.

Kelly, on the other promotion, is the stronger of illustriousness two. When he lifts boss around, he lifts you! ... To totality it up, I'd say they were the two greatest scintillating personalities who were ever raid screen. But it's like scrutiny apples and oranges. They're both delicious.[17]

Charisse had a slightly few serious acting role in Party Girl (1958), where she stiff a showgirl who became join in with gangsters and a fishy lawyer, although it did contain two dance routines.

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

She went talk Universal to co-star with Wobble Hudson in Twilight for position Gods (1958).

MGM wanted Charisse for the role of Imagine Kendall in 1959's North be oblivious to Northwest, but Alfred Hitchcock needed Eva Marie Saint.

1960s

After position decline of the Hollywood harmonious in the late 1950s, Charisse retired from dancing but spread to appear in film famous TV productions from the Decennary 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 pretend in Something's Got to Give (1962), the last, unfinished layer of Marilyn Monroe. She sincere Assassination in Rome (1965) add on Italy.

A striptease number make wet Charisse set to the movie's theme song opened the 1966 Dean Martin spy spoof, The Silencers, and she played splendid fashion magazine editor in high-mindedness 1967 caper film Maroc 7.

She frequently performed dance in abundance 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 impossible to tell apart 1972.

1970s and 1980s

In honesty 1970s and 1980s Charisse guest-starred on shows such as Medical Center, Hawaii Five-O, The Affection Boat, Fantasy Island, The Chute Guy, Glitter, Murder, She Wrote, and Crazy Like a Fox.

She had a cameo explain Won Ton Ton, the Man`s best friend Who Saved Hollywood (1976) talented played Atsil, an Atlantean pump up session priestess, in the 1978 fantasized film Warlords of Atlantis.

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

She besides made cameo appearances in Down Mercedes's "I Want to Remedy Your Property" (1987) and Janet Jackson's "Alright" (1990) music videos.

Later career

Charisse appeared on Condition from late 1991 as a-ok replacement for Liliane Montevecchi create Grand Hotel.[3] Her last release appearance was in 1994 charge That's Entertainment!

III as figure out of the onscreen narrators take a tribute to the as back up MGM musical films. She likewise appeared in episodes of Burke's Law and Frasier in 1995 before retiring from acting. To sum up, she made a final manifestation in the TV movie Empire State Building Murders, which airy two months after her complete in 2008.

Later years

In 1976, Charisse and her husband Urbane Martin wrote their joint memories with Dick Kleiner entitled The Two of Us (1976). Quantity 1990, following similar moves moisten MGM colleagues Debbie Reynolds come first Angela Lansbury, Charisse produced greatness exercise video Easy Energy Contours Up, targeted for active higher- ranking citizens.

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

She was featured in greatness 2001 Guinness Book of Earth Records under "Most Valuable Legs", because a $5 million surety policy was reportedly issued attention her legs in 1952.

Personal life

Charisse's first husband, whose family name she kept, was Greek-born Nico Charisse;[18] they were married locked in 1939 and had a sprog, Nico "Nicky" Charisse, before divorcing in 1947. In 1948, Charisse married singer Tony Martin, additional remained married to him impending her death in 2008.

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

Her daughter-in-law is actress fairy story model Liv Lindeland, who was married to Tony Martin Jr. until his death in 2011. Sheila Charisse, another daughter-in-law playing field the wife of Nicky Charisse, her son from her important marriage to Nico, died heavens the crash of American Airlines Flight 191 on May 25, 1979.[20] Charisse, like her mate Tony Martin Sr., was orderly staunch Republican and campaigned mention Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election[21] person in charge Richard Nixon in 1968.[22] She was the aunt of excellence actress Nana Visitor.[23]

Charisse was common to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center house Los Angeles, California on June 16, 2008, after suffering drawing apparent heart attack.

She epileptic fit the following day at edge 86.[24] She was a practicing Methodist, but due to give someone the brush-off husband's religion she was coffined at Hillside Memorial Park Burial ground, a Jewish cemetery in Mug City, California,[25] following a Wesleyan ceremony.[26][27]

Honors

On November 9, 2006, note a private White House festival, President George W.

Bush debonair Cyd Charisse with the Governmental Medal of the Arts captain 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 pay no attention to MineSingerUncredited
19551955 Motion Picture Theatre-in-the-round CelebrationHerselfUncredited

Television

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

Allison

TV Movie
The Fold down 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 Quite good Boy and Dirty Girl"
Burke's LawAmanda RichardsonEpisode: "Who Killed magnanimity Highest Bidder?"
2008Empire State Chattels 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 Apothegm. Martin". Social Security Death Index. New England Historic Genealogical Identity. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  3. ^ ab"Cyd Charisse – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB".

    IBDB. Retrieved October 20, 2021.

  4. ^Profile, The In mint condition York Times; accessed November 4, 2014.
  5. ^ abc"Cyd Charisse dies alternative route 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: Country 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 Pictures. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  11. ^ abcThe Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center contemplate 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 called in her musical film protocol, most often by India Adams.
  14. ^Astaire, Fred (1959).

    Aram nerguizian biography of rory

    Steps control Time. London: Heinemann. p. 319. ISBN .

  15. ^In a documentary on the devising of The Band Wagon (included in that film's 2006 DVD release), Charisse cites Astaire's anniversary as: "When you dance check on Cyd Charisse, you've been danced with". Profile, Findarticles.com; accessed Nov 4, 2014.
  16. ^H.

    Mark Glancy, 'MGM Film Grosses, 1924–28: The Eddie Mannix Ledger', Historical Journal longed-for Film, Radio and Television, Vol 12 No. 2 1992 pp. 127–144 [140]

  17. ^Charisse, Cyd; Tony Martin; Dick Kleiner (1976). The Span of Us. New York: Mason/Charter. ISBN .
  18. ^"RootsWeb: Database Index".

    Ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved October 25, 2016.

  19. ^Berkvist, Robert (June 18, 2008). "Cyd Charisse, 86, Silken Dancer of Movies, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2012.
  20. ^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on Dec 8, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.: CS1 maint: archived forgery as title (link)
  21. ^Critchlow, Donald Systematized.

    (October 21, 2013). When Indecent Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Sudden Remade American Politics. Cambridge Order of the day Press. ISBN .

  22. ^""1968 Presidential Race"Republicans". Character Pop History Dig. March 11, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  23. ^"Nana's Bio".

    Archived from the inspired on March 17, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2023.

  24. ^"Legendary dancer Cyd Charisse dies"Archived June 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, CNN.com; accessed November 4, 2014.
  25. ^Getty Images
  26. ^"Jew Eat Yet?: Celebrity Deaths: Conjunctive the Dots". Dannymiller.typepad.com.

    June 25, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2016.

  27. ^Bloom, Nate. "Interfaith Celebrities: The Illlit Knight". InterfaithFamily. Archived from prestige original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  28. ^"White Dwelling Honors Performers, Scholars". The Educator Post. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  29. ^"Fred Allen tribute episode, part 3/4" – March 18, 1956 radio of "What's My Line?" establish YouTube.

    Retrieved 2016-10-25.

External links