Cyd Charisse Dead

Actress Cyd Charisse, who starred in Singin' In The Rain, Brigadoon and It's Always Fair Weather, suffered a heart attack on June 16, 2008, and died on June 17.

Fast Facts

1. Birth name: Tula Ellice Finklea
2. Also billed as: Celia Siderova, Maria Istromena, Lily Norwood
3. Born: March 8, 1922
4. Birthplace: Amarillo, Texas
5. Took up dance while recovering from polio
6. 1936: Joined Ballet Russe
7. 1939: Married Nico Charisse
8. 1942: Son Nicky born
9. 1948: Divorced Nico
10. 1949: Married Tony Martin
11. 1950: Son Tony Jr. born
12. Legs were once insured for $1 million¹
13. Died at: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

Career

Charisse began her career when she was 14 as a dancer with the Ballet Russe. In 1943, she broke into with a small role in Something to Shout About. For the next 14 years, Charisse would star in a string of popular musicals. Though Silk Stockings was her last film musical, she would return to the genre on Broadway in 1992 as the star of the musical Grand Hotel. Charisse also had one of the longest-lived marriages in Hollywood; she and second husband Tony Martin had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary shortly before her death.

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