Dancer, Film Icon Cyd Charisse Dies at 87 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 06-17-2008, 07:26 PM

Link

Dancer and movie star Cyd Charisse died of cardiac arrest Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, her longtime business manager Stan Schneider disclosed. She was 86, Schneider said (though other sources indicate she was 87).

Amarillo, Texas, native is perhaps best known for her onscreen pairings with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, including roles in “The Band Wagon,” (1953), in which she performed the acclaimed routines “Dancing in the Dark” and “Girl Hunt Ballet” with Astaire, and “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952), which featured her classic “Broadway Melody” showstopper opposite Kelly.

Charisse (born Tula Ellice Finklea) studied ballet in L.A. with Adolph Bolm and Bronislava Nijinska and briefly danced in the Ballet Russes before joining MGM as a resident ballet dancer.

She first appeared with Astaire in a brief routine in “Ziegfeld Follies” (released in 1946) and reunited with him in 1957’s “Silk Stockings.”

Besides “Singin’ in the Rain,” she paired with Kelly in 1954’s “Brigadoon” and his 1956 pic “It’s Always Fair Weather.”

She continued to appear in film and TV productions from the 1960s through to the 1990s. Last July she appeared in “Back to the Empire State Building” for French TV, according to her longtime manager Budd Moss. The film, a tribute to American cinema that also featured Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis and Mickey Rooney, was filmed in English but has not been set for release outside of France, Moss said.

Charisse wrote a joint biography with her husband, singer Tony Martin, and Dick Kleiner entitled “The Two of Us” (1976) and was especially proud of two awards: She (along with Maurice Bejart) was specially honored at the first Nijinsky Awards in Monaco in 2001, and she was presented with the National Medal of the Arts and Humanities by President George W. Bush in 2006.

Charisse also produced the exercise video “Easy Energy Shape Up,” targeted at active senior citizens.

Besides her husband of 60 years, she is survived by two sons., a grandson and a granddaughter.

Services are pending.

catlover79 · 06-17-2008, 11:01 PM

I thought she'd passed on a long time ago (

), so I was surprised to hear the news on the radio on the drive home. What a wonderful lady and what a wonderful life she led!! May she

.

Liza · 06-22-2008, 10:51 AM

I was really sorry to hear of that. She was one of the last big MGM stars still around. She was a beautiful woman and a glorious dancer. I think Brigadoon was my favorite of hers.

Boy, of the female stars of MGM, I think only Jane Powell, Leslie Caron, Kathryn Grayson, Esther Williams, and Debbie Reynolds are the only ones left.

Chocolate Moose · 06-22-2008, 12:34 PM

ohhhhhhhhhhh..i liked her ....

06-17-2008, 07:26 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,399	Dancer, Film Icon Cyd Charisse Dies at 87 Link Dancer and movie star Cyd Charisse died of cardiac arrest Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, her longtime business manager Stan Schneider disclosed. She was 86, Schneider said (though other sources indicate she was 87). Amarillo, Texas, native is perhaps best known for her onscreen pairings with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, including roles in “The Band Wagon,” (1953), in which she performed the acclaimed routines “Dancing in the Dark” and “Girl Hunt Ballet” with Astaire, and “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952), which featured her classic “Broadway Melody” showstopper opposite Kelly. Charisse (born Tula Ellice Finklea) studied ballet in L.A. with Adolph Bolm and Bronislava Nijinska and briefly danced in the Ballet Russes before joining MGM as a resident ballet dancer. She first appeared with Astaire in a brief routine in “Ziegfeld Follies” (released in 1946) and reunited with him in 1957’s “Silk Stockings.” Besides “Singin’ in the Rain,” she paired with Kelly in 1954’s “Brigadoon” and his 1956 pic “It’s Always Fair Weather.” She continued to appear in film and TV productions from the 1960s through to the 1990s. Last July she appeared in “Back to the Empire State Building” for French TV, according to her longtime manager Budd Moss. The film, a tribute to American cinema that also featured Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis and Mickey Rooney, was filmed in English but has not been set for release outside of France, Moss said. Charisse wrote a joint biography with her husband, singer Tony Martin, and Dick Kleiner entitled “The Two of Us” (1976) and was especially proud of two awards: She (along with Maurice Bejart) was specially honored at the first Nijinsky Awards in Monaco in 2001, and she was presented with the National Medal of the Arts and Humanities by President George W. Bush in 2006. Charisse also produced the exercise video “Easy Energy Shape Up,” targeted at active senior citizens. Besides her husband of 60 years, she is survived by two sons., a grandson and a granddaughter. Services are pending.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

06-17-2008, 11:01 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I thought she'd passed on a long time ago ( ), so I was surprised to hear the news on the radio on the drive home. What a wonderful lady and what a wonderful life she led!! May she .
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-22-2008, 12:34 PM	#4
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,899	ohhhhhhhhhhh..i liked her ....
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

06-22-2008, 10:51 AM	#3
Liza BestYearsofOurLives Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 24, 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 6,537	I was really sorry to hear of that. She was one of the last big MGM stars still around. She was a beautiful woman and a glorious dancer. I think Brigadoon was my favorite of hers. Boy, of the female stars of MGM, I think only Jane Powell, Leslie Caron, Kathryn Grayson, Esther Williams, and Debbie Reynolds are the only ones left.