Cyd Charisse (30 photos)

Cyd Charisse (March 8, 1922 – June 17, 2008) was an American actress and dancer.
Charisse was born as Tula Ellice Finklea in Amarillo, Texas. Her nickname "Sid" was taken from a sibling trying to say "Sis" (It was later spelled "Cyd" at MGM to give her an air of mystery.)
She was a sickly girl who started dancing lessons at six to build up her strength after a bout with polio. At 12, she studied ballet in Los Angeles with Adolph Bolm and Bronislava Nijinska, and at 14, she auditioned for and subsequently danced in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as "Felia Siderova" and, later, "Maria Istomina".
Charisse entered films in the 1940s. Her roles usually focused on her abilities as a dancer, and she was paired with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.
Charisse was married to singer Tony Martin from 1948 until her death. The marriage lasted 60 years. Charisse's first husband, whose surname she kept, was Nico Charisse (March 1906 – April 1970); they were married from 1939 to 1947.
Her height was 5' 7½" (1.71 m).
Cyd Charisse was featured in the 2001 Guinness Book of World Records under "Most Valuable Legs", since a $5 million insurance policy was reportedly accepted on her legs in 1952.