Cyd Charisse (born Tula Ellice Finklea; March , â€" June , ) was an
American dancer and actress.After recovering from polio as a child and
studying ballet, Charisse entered films in the s. Her roles usually
featured her abilities as a dancer, and she was paired with Fred
Astaire and Gene Kelly; her films include Singin' in the Rain (), The
Band Wagon (), Brigadoon with Gene Kelly and Van Johnson () and Silk
Stockings (). She stopped dancing in films in the late s, but
continued acting in film and television, and in made her Broadway
debut. In her later years, she discussed the history of the Hollywood
musical in documentaries, and was featured in That's Entertainment!
III in . She was awarded the National Medal of the Arts and Humanities
in .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. Her nickname "Sid" was taken from her younger brother,
Thomas Jarrell Finklea (June , ), who tried to say "Sis". It was later
given the more intriguing and exotic spelling of "Cyd" by Arthur
Freed.
American dancer and actress.After recovering from polio as a child and
studying ballet, Charisse entered films in the s. Her roles usually
featured her abilities as a dancer, and she was paired with Fred
Astaire and Gene Kelly; her films include Singin' in the Rain (), The
Band Wagon (), Brigadoon with Gene Kelly and Van Johnson () and Silk
Stockings (). She stopped dancing in films in the late s, but
continued acting in film and television, and in made her Broadway
debut. In her later years, she discussed the history of the Hollywood
musical in documentaries, and was featured in That's Entertainment!
III in . She was awarded the National Medal of the Arts and Humanities
in .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. Her nickname "Sid" was taken from her younger brother,
Thomas Jarrell Finklea (June , ), who tried to say "Sis". It was later
given the more intriguing and exotic spelling of "Cyd" by Arthur
Freed.
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