ACTOR · BORN 1922 · DIED 2008
Cyd Charisse
- Born
- 8 March 1922, Amarillo, Texas, USA
- Died
- 16 June 2008
- Known for
- Singin' in the Rain (1952), Frasier (1993), Murder, She Wrote (1984), The Band Wagon (1953)
40 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
All facts (40)
- #001
Cyd Charisse, regarded as one of the greatest female dancers in cinema history, had to use dubbing for almost all of her singing performances in films. Among the best-known of these dubbings were her singing with Carol Richards's voice in the 1954 production Brigadoon and the dubbing by the young Vikki Carr in the 1966 production The Silencers. This situation shows how her vocal talent, overshadowed by her dancing ability, was handled in the Hollywood studio system of the era.
- #002
Cyd Charisse used to say that her husband Tony Martin could tell from the marks on her body whom she had danced with that day on the MGM set. When she came home with bruises, it was clear she had been working with Gene Kelly, who was extremely meticulous and demanding about dancing; if there were no bruises, it meant she had danced with Fred Astaire, known for his smooth and elegant movements. This humorous observation also reveals the difference between the working styles of the two legendary dancers.
- #003
Cyd Charisse met her first husband, Nico Charisse, when she was still a very young dancer and took lessons from him for a time in Los Angeles. They married in Paris in 1939, when she was still in her late teens. When the Ballet Russe company disbanded with the outbreak of World War II, the newly married couple moved to Hollywood, where she took her first steps into a film career.
- #004
After their golden years in cinema, Cyd Charisse and her husband Tony Martin became a popular song-and-dance duo performing on television and in nightclubs. Cabaret shows and television programs allowed the couple to introduce their talents to new generations. This period is regarded as the second act of their artistic lives.
- #005
In his 1959 memoir "Steps in Time," Fred Astaire referred to Cyd Charisse as "beautiful dynamite." This compliment is one of the finest examples of the respect Astaire held for the dancers he worked with throughout his career. Both Charisse's elegance and her powerful stage presence had earned such a phrase in Astaire's memory.
- #006
While dancing with the Ballet Russe company, Cyd Charisse used Russian stage names such as Maria Istomina and Felia Sidorova. These names were part of the company's policy of emphasizing its Russian identity. Charisse would later carry the classical ballet experience she gained during this period into Hollywood musicals.
- #007
Cyd Charisse's dark and exotic appearance brought her roles mostly portraying ethnic characters early in her career. In the 1947 production Fiesta she played Ricardo Montalban's fiancée, and in the 1948 Esther Williams musical On an Island with You she appeared before audiences as a Polynesian woman. These roles demonstrated her ability to adapt to different characters as well as her dancing talent.
- #008
Cyd Charisse's Hollywood adventure began when Ballet Russe star David Lichine was engaged for a ballet sequence being prepared by Columbia Pictures for the musical Something to Shout About (1943). Charisse, then known as Lily Norwood, drew attention with her performance in this scene. This breakthrough brought many film offers, including an invitation to dance with Fred Astaire in Ziegfeld Follies (1945), and ultimately led to her signing a seven-year contract with MGM.
- #009
Colonel W. de Basil, director of the Ballet Russe company, saw Cyd Charisse dancing when he visited her school and invited her to join the company. Charisse accepted the invitation and went on tour with the company. In 1939, while on tour in France, she married Nico Charisse; a son named Nico Charisse Jr. was born from this marriage. The couple divorced in 1947.
- #010
Cyd Charisse began ballet lessons at the encouragement of her father, Ernest. As a child she had a weak and sickly constitution and had suffered polio, so she was advised to dance in order to gain strength. Charisse showed talent for dance in a short time, and through this she both regained her health and laid the foundations of her future artistic life.
- #011
Cyd Charisse's daughter-in-law Sheila Charisse lost her life on May 25, 1979, when American Airlines Flight 191 crashed shortly after taking off from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. This tragic accident was recorded as one of the deadliest crashes in aviation history. The Charisse family was deeply shaken by this painful event.
- #012
Unlike many leading female dancers of the golden age of film musicals, Cyd Charisse had trained in the Russian ballet tradition. This classical ballet background gave her dance style technical depth and elegance. Unlike other dancers in Hollywood, the traces of this serious training were clearly visible in her stage performances.
- #013
Cyd Charisse's stage name comes from a nickname her brother gave her. Because her brother could not pronounce the word 'sister,' he called her 'Sid'; Charisse adopted this nickname and persuaded her agent to keep this spelling of the name. Her agent, thinking the name 'Sid' was too masculine, preferred the spelling 'Cyd.'.
- #014
In 1952, Cyd Charisse's legs were insured with a policy worth 5 million dollars in the currency of the time. This event is a striking example showing her value in the dance world and how important her legs were to her career. Similar practices in Hollywood were a common promotional and insurance method for the stars of the era.
- #015
Cyd Charisse missed two of the most important MGM musical roles of her career for various reasons. An injury to her knee while dancing in a film caused her to lose the role of Nadina Hale in Easter Parade (1948); Ann Miller took on this role. She also had to give up the female lead in An American in Paris (1951) because of her pregnancy, and this role made Leslie Caron a star.
- #016
Cyd Charisse grew up in the town of Amarillo, Texas, known for its dust storms. Her father, Ernest, was a Baptist jeweler and a secret ballet fan; for this reason he started his daughter in ballet lessons for health reasons. Her mother was Lela Norwood Finklea. This modest beginning laid the foundation for Charisse later becoming one of Hollywood's brightest stars.
- #017
Although Cyd Charisse was buried in Hillside Memorial Park, a well-known Jewish cemetery in Los Angeles, she herself adhered to the Methodist faith. Her funeral service was conducted by Dr. Gary Allen Dicky, pastor of the Westlake Village United Methodist Church. Although this situation has led to some misunderstandings about her religious identity, her true faith is clearly documented.
- #018
Cyd Charisse had two sons: Nicholas Charisse (born May 7, 1942) and Tony Martin Jr. (August 28, 1950 – April 10, 2011). Nicholas was born from her first marriage, and Tony Jr. from her second husband, Tony Martin. Charisse was also known for her devotion to her family.
- #019
In 2006, Cyd Charisse was awarded the American National Medal of Arts in Washington, DC, by the National Endowment for the Arts for her services to dance. This award is an indication that her contributions to American culture and art were recognized at the highest level. By receiving this honor, Charisse once again proved her legendary status in the dance world.
- #020
Cyd Charisse is one of the few, and perhaps the only, world-famous prima ballerinas to appear in a popular hip-hop music video. She had a brief role in the music video for Janet Jackson's 1990 song "Alright." This cameo shows her openness to different musical genres and to a new generation of artists.
- #021
Although Cyd Charisse's first feature film is generally cited as Something to Shout About (1943), she is known to have appeared in at least six Soundies before that film. Soundies were short musical films played on the jukebox-like machines popular at the time. Her actual film debut may have been the low-budget 1941 production Escort Girl, in which an uncredited dancer who closely resembles Charisse performs in her distinctive style.
- #022
Cyd Charisse played the "other woman" in Something's Got to Give (1962), Marilyn Monroe's last and unfinished film. The film was never completed or released because of Monroe's death. Charisse's presence in the production means she witnessed one of the most tragic productions in Hollywood history.
- #023
When Cyd Charisse was 12 years old, her family took a vacation to Los Angeles and enrolled her in ballet classes at a school in Hollywood. One of her teachers there was Nico Charisse, who would later become her first husband. This chance encounter became one of the turning points of both her personal and her artistic life.
- #024
Cyd Charisse appeared in two films selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically" significant: Singin' in the Rain (1952) and The Band Wagon (1953). These films are counted among the masterpieces of American cinema history, and Charisse's performances in them cemented her place in film history.
- #025
At the age of 70, Cyd Charisse went on stage as an understudy in the long-running Broadway play "Grand Hotel," and the experience ended disastrously. She could not sing, and her voice had been dubbed in all of her films. This led to criticism because she lacked the vocal ability the stage performance required.
- #026
On February 8, 1960, Cyd Charisse was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1601 Vine St. The award is regarded as a lasting mark of her contributions to the worlds of film and dance. Her star can be visited by fans on one of Hollywood's most prestigious sidewalks.
- #027
Cyd Charisse is one of the few actresses in film history to have danced with both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. This select group also includes Judy Garland, Rita Hayworth, Vera-Ellen, Debbie Reynolds and Leslie Caron. Working with these two legendary dancers shows how high the level of her dancing ability was.
- #028
Cyd Charisse first drew attention with the famous Ballet Russe company, joining the corps de ballet at the age of 14 and touring the United States and Europe. Because the company required its members to use Russian names, Charisse was billed at various times as Natacha Tulaelis, Celia Siderova and Maria Istromena. This period formed the foundation of her classical ballet training.
- #029
Cyd Charisse's first speaking role in film was given to her by director George Sidney in The Harvey Girls. The film was an important step in her career as an actress who showed presence not only in dance but also in dialogue. Sidney was one of the people who recognized Charisse's talent.
- #030
Cyd Charisse turned down the offer to play the role of Jo Stockton in Funny Face (1957). The role was ultimately played by Audrey Hepburn and became an important part of Hepburn's career. Charisse's decision led her to choose a different direction in her career.
- #031
Over the course of her career, Cyd Charisse appeared in six films with Ricardo Montalban: Fiesta (1947), On an Island with You (1948), The Kissing Bandit (1948), Mark of the Renegade (1951), Sombrero (1953) and Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976). This long-running collaboration shows the pair's on-screen chemistry and Montalban's importance in Charisse's career.
- #032
Cyd Charisse was initially cast in Call Her Mom (1972) to play the role originally played by Gloria DeHaven. During production, however, she was first replaced by Ann Miller, and then DeHaven took over the role. These changes are an example of the cast turnover common in Hollywood productions.
- #033
Cyd Charisse worked with Gene Kelly on eight films: Thousands Cheer (1943), Ziegfeld Follies (1945), Words and Music (1948), Singin' in the Rain (1952), Brigadoon (1954), Deep in My Heart (1954), It's Always Fair Weather (1955) and That's Entertainment! III (1994). These films are important productions that display the pair's dance chemistry and Kelly's choreographic vision.
- #034
When the cast of Damn Yankees (1958) was being assembled, the studio initially considered Cyd Charisse for the role of Lola and Cary Grant for the role of Applegate. In the end, Gwen Verdon won the right to recreate her stage role on screen, and Ray Walston played the devilish Applegate. Charisse was thought to be unavailable, though she later played the role on the theatrical stage.
- #035
Cyd Charisse was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in Austin in March 2002. The honor recognizes her contributions as an artist of Texas origin to the state's cultural heritage. Charisse became a name remembered with respect by her home state as well.
- #036
In 1942, Cyd Charisse performed the song "This Love of Mine" in a Soundies production. Soundies were one of the popular entertainment formats of the era, showing short musical films on jukeboxes. This performance was recorded as one of her early works at the start of her film career.
- #037
Cyd Charisse, along with Laraine Day, Rhonda Fleming and Coleen Gray, was an honorary member of the National Federation of Republican Women. This membership reflects her political views and her sense of social responsibility. Beyond her artistic career, Charisse was also an active figure in social and political spheres.
- #038
Cyd Charisse danced with Fred Astaire in three films: Ziegfeld Follies (1945), The Band Wagon (1953) and Silk Stockings (1957). These films entered film history for the pair's elegant and harmonious dance performances. Working with Astaire is regarded as one of the most important collaborations of Charisse's career.
- #039
In June 2021, Cyd Charisse was honored as Turner Classic Movies' Star of the Month. The award is an indication that her place in classic Hollywood cinema and her legacy are still kept alive. Throughout the month, TCM introduced her films to new generations by broadcasting them.
- #040
Through marriage, Cyd Charisse was the aunt of actresses Nana Visitor, Ian Tucker and Zan Charisse. She was also the mother-in-law of Liv Lindeland. These family ties show that she was part of a broad network of relatives in Hollywood.
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