Dancer Cyd Charisse died last Tuesday. According to the Reuters report, she was born Tula Ellice Finklea in Amarillo, Texas, and took her professional surname from her first husband, ballet instructor Nico Charisse. The moniker of Cyd was adapted from a childhood nickname, Sid, coined by her brother. After the end of her first marriage, and a romance with Howard Hughes, she married singer Tony Martin; the two had just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. She was 86.
I remember Ms. Charisse best as the sultry dancing partner to Gene Kelly in Singin' In the Rain. She appeared once on Broadway--according to the Broadway Database--in the musical Grand Hotel.
She also portrayed Fiona in the film version of Brigadoon, also with Mr. Kelly. Perhaps not the best example of their work. I've put the film on my Netflix list, so I'll come to it in due time. In the mean time, I'll remember Ms. Charisse as a very good dancer, who represents the golden age of Hollywood Movie Musicals.
I remember Ms. Charisse best as the sultry dancing partner to Gene Kelly in Singin' In the Rain. She appeared once on Broadway--according to the Broadway Database--in the musical Grand Hotel.
She also portrayed Fiona in the film version of Brigadoon, also with Mr. Kelly. Perhaps not the best example of their work. I've put the film on my Netflix list, so I'll come to it in due time. In the mean time, I'll remember Ms. Charisse as a very good dancer, who represents the golden age of Hollywood Movie Musicals.
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