Cyd Charisse

'Cyd Charisse' (qv) was born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1921 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' (qv), her former dance teacher. In 1943, she appeared in her first film, _Something to Shout About (1943)_ (qv), billed as Lily Norwood. The same year, she played a Russian dancer in _Mission to Moscow (1943)_ (qv), directed by 'Michael Curtiz' (qv). In 1945, she was hired to dance with 'Fred Astaire' (qv) in _Ziegfeld Follies (1945)_ (qv), and that uncredited appearance got her a seven-year contract with MGM. She appeared in a number of musicals over the next few years, but it was _Singin' in the Rain (1952)_ (qv) with 'Gene Kelly' (qv) that made her a star. That was quickly followed by her great performance in _The Band Wagon (1953)_ (qv). As the 1960s dawned, musicals faded from the screen, as did her career. She made appearances on television and performed in a nightclub revue with her second husband, singer 'Tony Martin' (qv). 'Cyd Charisse' (qv) died at age 87 of a heart attack on June 17, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.::Tony Fontana <[email protected]>