FEATURED In This Month’s Body House Chronicles is the Graceful Beauty of…

CYD CHARISSE

Mini Bio of Cyd Charisse…

Cyd Charisse was born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922, in Amarillo, Texas.

Cyd spent her early childhood taking ballet lessons and joined the Ballet Russe at age 13.

In 1939, she married Greek-born, Nico Charisse, her former dance teacher when she was just 17. They had a son, Nico “Nicky” Charisse, before divorcing in 1947.

In 1943, she appeared in 2 films; Something to Shout About (1943) and Mission to Moscow (1943).

Then her career really began to build momentum in 1945.

Charisse was hired to dance with Fred Astaire in Ziegfeld Follies (1945). That one small role led to a seven-year contract with MGM.

Although Charisse appeared in a number of musicals in the next few years, it was Singin’ in the Rain (1952) with Gene Kelly that made her a star.

During the 1960s, musicals faded from the big screen and so did her career.

Charisse made appearances on television and performed in a nightclub revue with her second husband, singer Tony Martin. She and Tony remained married until her death in 2008. They had a son, Tony Martin Jr. By all accounts, it was a very happy marriage until the end.

Cyd Charisse died at age 87 of a heart attack on June 17, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

This is the only picture I could find of Cyd and her dance instructor turned husband Nico Charisse.

Below is Dance Instructor turned First Husband, Nico Charisse and a 17 or 18 year old Cyd…

Cyd Charisse’s second husband, singer Tony Martin…

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From Polio to Dancing Phenom

As a child, Charisse suffered from polio.

Charisse’s father encouraged her to start dance lessons at age 8 to build up the strength in her legs.

It became clear fast that Charisse an aptitude for dance and went on to study in Los Angeles with Adolph Bolm and Bronislava Nijinska.

She went on to join the prestigious Ballet Russes de Monte-Carlo which became defunct.

CYD CHARISSE PHOTO GALLERY

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Most Valuable Legs in the World

In 1952, MGM Studios allegedly insured Cyd Charisse’s legs for $5 million (about $48.5 million today). The sum was so huge that Charisse made her way into the 2001 Guinness Book for “Most Valuable Legs.”