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| Musical star Charisse dies in LA | Musical star Charisse dies in LA |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Cyd Charisse, a former co-star of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, has died in Los Angeles aged 86, her publicist says. | |
| The actress-dancer from Texas died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering an apparent heart attack on Monday, her publicist Gene Schwam said. | The actress-dancer from Texas died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering an apparent heart attack on Monday, her publicist Gene Schwam said. |
| The long-legged star appeared in a number of films, but her fame came from the musicals of the 1940s and 1950s. | The long-legged star appeared in a number of films, but her fame came from the musicals of the 1940s and 1950s. |
| She sang and danced with legends Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain, and Fred Astaire in Silk Stockings. | She sang and danced with legends Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain, and Fred Astaire in Silk Stockings. |
| At the height of her fame the film company said her long legs were insured for a million dollars. | At the height of her fame the film company said her long legs were insured for a million dollars. |
| But a BBC correspondent says she did not need such publicity stunts - her talent was enough to make her an essential part of the golden age of Technicolor musicals. | But a BBC correspondent says she did not need such publicity stunts - her talent was enough to make her an essential part of the golden age of Technicolor musicals. |
| 'Beautiful dynamite' | 'Beautiful dynamite' |
| Born Tula Ellice Finklea in 1921, Charisse began her career dancing with the Ballet Russe as a teenager. During a European tour she met Nico Charisse, a young French dancer with whom she had trained in Los Angeles. They married in Paris in 1939. | Born Tula Ellice Finklea in 1921, Charisse began her career dancing with the Ballet Russe as a teenager. During a European tour she met Nico Charisse, a young French dancer with whom she had trained in Los Angeles. They married in Paris in 1939. |
| When we were dancing, we didn't know what time it was Fred Astaire Obituary: Cyd Charisse | When we were dancing, we didn't know what time it was Fred Astaire Obituary: Cyd Charisse |
| She appeared in her first Hollywood film in 1943, performing a ballet sequence in the musical, Something to Shout About. | She appeared in her first Hollywood film in 1943, performing a ballet sequence in the musical, Something to Shout About. |
| Her exploits attracted the attention of the studio, MGM, which gave her a seven-year contract and changed the spelling of her childhood nickname, Sid, to "Cyd". | Her exploits attracted the attention of the studio, MGM, which gave her a seven-year contract and changed the spelling of her childhood nickname, Sid, to "Cyd". |
| She was married to her second husband, the singer Tony Martin, and a new mother, when she starred with Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain. | She was married to her second husband, the singer Tony Martin, and a new mother, when she starred with Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain. |
| She later worked with Kelly again in Brigadoon and partnered Fred Astaire in The Band Wagon and her favourite film, Silk Stockings. | She later worked with Kelly again in Brigadoon and partnered Fred Astaire in The Band Wagon and her favourite film, Silk Stockings. |
| Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse's marriage lasted more than 60 years | Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse's marriage lasted more than 60 years |
| Astaire later described Charisse as "beautiful dynamite". | Astaire later described Charisse as "beautiful dynamite". |
| "She wasn't a tap dancer, she's just beautiful, trained, very strong in whatever we did," he said in an 1983 interview. | "She wasn't a tap dancer, she's just beautiful, trained, very strong in whatever we did," he said in an 1983 interview. |
| "When we were dancing, we didn't know what time it was." | "When we were dancing, we didn't know what time it was." |
| Charisse also appeared in The Unfinished Dance, Words and Music, It's Always Fair Weather and Invitation to the Dance. | Charisse also appeared in The Unfinished Dance, Words and Music, It's Always Fair Weather and Invitation to the Dance. |
| Later, she was in Two Weeks in Another Town, made some films in Europe, including Warlords of Atlantis, and appeared in several TV dramas. | Later, she was in Two Weeks in Another Town, made some films in Europe, including Warlords of Atlantis, and appeared in several TV dramas. |
| She made her Broadway debut in 1992 at the age of 70 in the musical, Grand Hotel, reprising Greta Garbo's role, and continued to play small TV roles. | She made her Broadway debut in 1992 at the age of 70 in the musical, Grand Hotel, reprising Greta Garbo's role, and continued to play small TV roles. |
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| What are your memories of Cyd Charisse? Did you know her, or did you ever meet her? Send us your comments using the form below: | What are your memories of Cyd Charisse? Did you know her, or did you ever meet her? Send us your comments using the form below: |
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