{"id":26564,"date":"2025-09-11T18:25:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=26564"},"modified":"2025-12-08T01:02:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T01:02:15","slug":"from-sickly-to-stunning-the-polio-survivor-who-became-a-hollywood-icon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=26564","title":{"rendered":"From sickly to stunning: The polio survivor who became a Hollywood icon"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"show-inline-featured-image wp-caption alignnone\">\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-main-thumbnail size-main-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-664x350.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 664px) 100vw, 664px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-664x350.jpg 664w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-400x210.jpg 400w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-412x216.jpg 412w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1.jpg 1200w\" alt=\"\" width=\"664\" height=\"350\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Cyd Charisse could do it all \u2014 sing, act, and dance like a goddess.<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"tuchv69fec4ab99f27\" ><div style=\"width:100%; max-width:1200px; margin:0 auto;\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/bolt-casino.com?r=0BFDBF1283\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n    <img \n      src=\"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f8693ebb-2018-480f-a2f7-0096810c07f0.jpg\" \n      alt=\"200% Deposit Bonus + 10% Cashback\" \n      style=\"width:100%; height:auto; display:block; border-radius:8px; cursor:pointer;\"\n    \/>\n  <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 1201px) {\r\n.tuchv69fec4ab99f27 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 993px) and (max-width: 1200px) {\r\n.tuchv69fec4ab99f27 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 769px) and (max-width: 992px) {\r\n.tuchv69fec4ab99f27 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 768px) {\r\n.tuchv69fec4ab99f27 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {\r\n.tuchv69fec4ab99f27 {\r\ndisplay: block;\r\n}\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\n<p><strong>And her legs? Absolutely legendary.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>She stood as a symbol of grace, elegance, and pure physical artistry during Hollywood\u2019s Golden Age.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-a-skinny-and-sickly-girl\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A skinny and sickly girl<\/h2>\n<p>Women like Cyd Charisse will always be remembered for their gifts to the silver screen. As actors and actresses from that golden era pass away, it\u2019s bittersweet \u2014because that time truly showcased a level of talent we may never see again.<\/p>\n<p>The Texas beauty embodied pure class \u2014 a true lady, graceful, kind, and effortlessly beautiful.<\/p>\n<p>With her long, sculpted legs, captivating gaze, and effortless command of the dance floor, Cyd Charisse earned her place among Hollywood\u2019s greatest dancers, standing shoulder to shoulder with legends like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.<\/p>\n<p>Yet her path to stardom was far from easy, and the story of her life is as compelling as the roles she brought to life on screen.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175839\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093030\/GettyImages-684142381.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093030\/GettyImages-684142381.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093030\/GettyImages-684142381-768x960.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cyd Charisse, circa 1950 \/ Silver Screen Collection \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922, in Amarillo, Texas, Charisse faced early adversity and she was a sickly kid. Her nickname, \u201dSid,\u201d came from her older brother who had trouble saying \u201cSis.\u201d Later, producer Arthur Freed adapted it into the spelling we know today: \u201dCyd.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After a bout of polio left her frail as a child, Cyd\u2019s parents enrolled her in ballet lessons to help strengthen her body.<\/p>\n<p>\u201dI was skinny, and it looked like a good way to build me up,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>The therapy sparked a lifelong passion for dance, shaping the trajectory of her future.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-inside-her-screen-magnetism\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inside her screen magnetism<\/h2>\n<p>By her teenage years, Tula\u2019s talent had already caught the attention of top dance instructors. She moved to Los Angeles to study under Adolph Bolm and later trained in London and Paris, honing her craft at prestigious ballet schools. During this time, she experimented with stage names \u2014 first adopting \u201cFelia Sidorova\u201d to emphasize a Russian ballet persona, and eventually settling on \u201cCyd Charisse,\u201d combining a childhood nickname with her married surname.<\/p>\n<p>Charisse\u2019s first steps into film came through dance rather than dialogue. She appeared, uncredited, as a ballet dancer in\u00a0<em>Something to Shout About<\/em>\u00a0(1943) and continued to take small roles as a background dancer. But her poise, beauty, and screen magnetism did not go unnoticed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175840\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093104\/GettyImages-522105825.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 813px) 100vw, 813px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093104\/GettyImages-522105825.jpg 813w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093104\/GettyImages-522105825-768x967.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"813\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Archive Photos \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>MGM recognized her potential and signed her during a period when studios were cultivating their own dance stars. Though initially cast in minor films, she captured the spotlight when she danced alongside Gene Kelly in\u00a0<em>Ziegfeld Follies<\/em>\u00a0(1945). Even in a brief role, her fluid movements and natural chemistry with Kelly drew attention.<\/p>\n<p>Her defining moment came in\u00a0<em>Singin\u2019 in the Rain<\/em>\u00a0(1952). Though she didn\u2019t speak a single line, her performance in the \u201cBroadway Melody\u201d sequence, clad in a shimmering green dress with her dark hair flowing and legs seemingly endless, became one of musical cinema\u2019s most iconic scenes.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-fred-astaire-or-gene-kelly\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly?<\/h2>\n<p>Charisse often expressed that movement allowed her to convey emotions better than words ever could. She stood 5 feet 6 inches tall, but in heels and full-length stockings, she appeared statuesque, moving with remarkable elegance. Her flawless features and glossy black hair only added to her aura of perfection.<\/p>\n<p>Her collaboration with Fred Astaire in\u00a0<em>The Band Wagon<\/em>\u00a0(1953) exemplified this philosophy. Their \u201cDancing in the Dark\u201d sequence showcased her perfect blend of subtlety, romance, and technical precision \u2014 earning Astaire\u2019s praise as \u201cbeautiful dynamite.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-inline-featured-image wp-caption alignnone\">\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-main-thumbnail size-main-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-664x350.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 664px) 100vw, 664px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-664x350.jpg 664w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-400x210.jpg 400w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-412x216.jpg 412w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1.jpg 1200w\" alt=\"\" width=\"664\" height=\"350\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Cyd Charisse could do it all \u2014 sing, act, and dance like a goddess.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And her legs? Absolutely legendary.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-7401dd93bdaf2c7f9950f63706948d34\" class=\"newsner-7401dd93bdaf2c7f9950f63706948d34 newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"newsner-208797879\" class=\"newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"\">\n<div id=\"bb-iawr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb_iawr\">\n<div id=\"bb-wr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb-media bb_wrapper bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\" data-flags=\"{}\" data-softembargoremainingtime=\"0\" data-sid=\"g3MSWEdtD8jx\" data-isready=\"true\" data-autoplaynextremainingtime=\"0\">\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-content-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-poster-layer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"bb-poster-image bb-poster-image-1\" alt=\"\" \/><img class=\"bb-poster-image bb-poster-image-2\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-timeline-layer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-subtitle-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-subtitledisplay\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-commercial-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-skin-layer bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\">\n<div class=\"bb-skin-container phase-init svelte-ft9qq1 playing\" lang=\"en\" tabindex=\"0\" data-cy=\"skin-mode-main\" aria-label=\"Blue Billywig video player. Press question mark for keyboard shortcuts\">\n<div class=\"cols-container svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"main-col svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"overlays svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"loading-overlay no-padding svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"keyboard-feedback no-padding svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"center-controls skinsize-S svelte-gpabtz\">\n<div class=\"left-right-button-container left svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"center-button-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-button-container right svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"logo-overlay svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"chrome svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"top-container svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"header-area svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"top-bar svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"metadata-wrapper svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"metadata svelte-ft9qq1\" role=\"contentinfo\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"share-button bar-button svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"button-content svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"normal slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggled slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-tooltip svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"tooltip svelte-cqgi39\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-content left svelte-cqgi39\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"center-controls-layer svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"center-controls skinsize-S svelte-sigv4p\">\n<div class=\"big-button big-play-pause-button svelte-sigv4p\">\n<div class=\"button-content svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"normal slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggled slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"overlays svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-context-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>She stood as a symbol of grace, elegance, and pure physical artistry during Hollywood\u2019s Golden Age.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-a-skinny-and-sickly-girl\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A skinny and sickly girl<\/h2>\n<p>Women like Cyd Charisse will always be remembered for their gifts to the silver screen. As actors and actresses from that golden era pass away, it\u2019s bittersweet \u2014because that time truly showcased a level of talent we may never see again.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-a4aa6699421ef2c01d5542fe5d705db4\" class=\"newsner-a4aa6699421ef2c01d5542fe5d705db4 newsner-incide_content_once\">\n<div id=\"newsner-1503828451\" class=\"newsner-incide_content_once\">\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article-thumbnails\" class=\"trc_related_container tbl-trecs-container trc_spotlight_widget trc_elastic trc_elastic_thumbnails-mid\" data-placement-name=\"Mid Article Thumbnails\">\n<div class=\"trc_rbox_container\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"trc_wrapper_2671235398\" class=\"trc_rbox thumbnails-mid trc-content-sponsored\">\n<div id=\"trc_header_2671235398\" class=\"trc_rbox_header trc_rbox_border_elm\">\n<div class=\"trc_header_ext\">\n<div class=\"logoDiv link-attribution\"><a class=\"trc_desktop_attribution_link trc_attribution_position_top\" href=\"https:\/\/popup.taboola.com\/en\/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=newsner-newsneren&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=thumbnails-mid:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails:\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" aria-label=\"Taboola Disclosure\">by Taboola<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"logoDiv link-disclosure attribution-disclosure-link-sponsored\"><a class=\"trc_desktop_disclosure_link trc_attribution_position_top\" href=\"https:\/\/popup.taboola.com\/en\/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=newsner-newsneren&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=thumbnails-mid:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails:\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" aria-label=\"Taboola Disclosure\">Sponsored Links<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"trc_rbox_header_span\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\">You May Like<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"outer_2671235398\" class=\"trc_rbox_outer\">\n<div id=\"rbox-t2m\" class=\"trc_rbox_div trc_rbox_border_elm\">\n<div 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non-feed-cta-item\" title=\"How to Trade ETH\/USD Without Holding Ether\" href=\"https:\/\/www.icmarkets.com\/global\/en\/trading-markets\/digitalcurrency\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\"><span class=\"video-label-box trc-main-label video-label-box-cta video-label-box-cta-non-ie\"><span class=\"video-label video-title video-label-flex-cta-item trc_ellipsis\" role=\"link\">How to Trade ETH\/USD Without Holding Ether<\/span><span class=\"branding video-branding-flex-cta-item\" role=\"link\" aria-label=\"IC Markets in Taboola advertising section\">IC Markets<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"video-cta-href\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_user_exclude_btn\" title=\"Remove this item\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_exclude_overlay trc_fade\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_exclude_undo_btn\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_clearer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Texas beauty embodied pure class \u2014 a true lady, graceful, kind, and effortlessly beautiful.<\/p>\n<p>With her long, sculpted legs, captivating gaze, and effortless command of the dance floor, Cyd Charisse earned her place among Hollywood\u2019s greatest dancers, standing shoulder to shoulder with legends like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.<\/p>\n<p>Yet her path to stardom was far from easy, and the story of her life is as compelling as the roles she brought to life on screen.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175839\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093030\/GettyImages-684142381.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093030\/GettyImages-684142381.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093030\/GettyImages-684142381-768x960.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cyd Charisse, circa 1950 \/ Silver Screen Collection \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922, in Amarillo, Texas, Charisse faced early adversity and she was a sickly kid. Her nickname, \u201dSid,\u201d came from her older brother who had trouble saying \u201cSis.\u201d Later, producer Arthur Freed adapted it into the spelling we know today: \u201dCyd.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After a bout of polio left her frail as a child, Cyd\u2019s parents enrolled her in ballet lessons to help strengthen her body.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-1390286563\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_175827_1\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CJLXgoyq0Y8DFYfpEQgdsF0A1A\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_0__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_0\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"6\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-0c5257dfc9bcb17ff95c7cbf64bef1c6\" class=\"newsner-0c5257dfc9bcb17ff95c7cbf64bef1c6 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p>\u201dI was skinny, and it looked like a good way to build me up,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>The therapy sparked a lifelong passion for dance, shaping the trajectory of her future.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-inside-her-screen-magnetism\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inside her screen magnetism<\/h2>\n<p>By her teenage years, Tula\u2019s talent had already caught the attention of top dance instructors. She moved to Los Angeles to study under Adolph Bolm and later trained in London and Paris, honing her craft at prestigious ballet schools. During this time, she experimented with stage names \u2014 first adopting \u201cFelia Sidorova\u201d to emphasize a Russian ballet persona, and eventually settling on \u201cCyd Charisse,\u201d combining a childhood nickname with her married surname.<\/p>\n<p>Charisse\u2019s first steps into film came through dance rather than dialogue. She appeared, uncredited, as a ballet dancer in\u00a0<em>Something to Shout About<\/em>\u00a0(1943) and continued to take small roles as a background dancer. But her poise, beauty, and screen magnetism did not go unnoticed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175840\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093104\/GettyImages-522105825.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 813px) 100vw, 813px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093104\/GettyImages-522105825.jpg 813w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093104\/GettyImages-522105825-768x967.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"813\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Archive Photos \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>MGM recognized her potential and signed her during a period when studios were cultivating their own dance stars. Though initially cast in minor films, she captured the spotlight when she danced alongside Gene Kelly in\u00a0<em>Ziegfeld Follies<\/em>\u00a0(1945). Even in a brief role, her fluid movements and natural chemistry with Kelly drew attention.<\/p>\n<p>Her defining moment came in\u00a0<em>Singin\u2019 in the Rain<\/em>\u00a0(1952). Though she didn\u2019t speak a single line, her performance in the \u201cBroadway Melody\u201d sequence, clad in a shimmering green dress with her dark hair flowing and legs seemingly endless, became one of musical cinema\u2019s most iconic scenes.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-fred-astaire-or-gene-kelly\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly?<\/h2>\n<p>Charisse often expressed that movement allowed her to convey emotions better than words ever could. She stood 5 feet 6 inches tall, but in heels and full-length stockings, she appeared statuesque, moving with remarkable elegance. Her flawless features and glossy black hair only added to her aura of perfection.<\/p>\n<p>Her collaboration with Fred Astaire in\u00a0<em>The Band Wagon<\/em>\u00a0(1953) exemplified this philosophy. Their \u201cDancing in the Dark\u201d sequence showcased her perfect blend of subtlety, romance, and technical precision \u2014 earning Astaire\u2019s praise as \u201cbeautiful dynamite.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-1125495202\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_175827_2\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"COKlkpSq0Y8DFVXwEQgdZLI9XA\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_1__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_1\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_1\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"7\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-3ddd3c19f78b7b8042cf0d171a4c0123\" class=\"newsner-3ddd3c19f78b7b8042cf0d171a4c0123 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175838\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10092938\/band.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10092938\/band.jpg 833w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10092938\/band-768x574.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"833\" height=\"623\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cyd_Charisse#\/media\/File:The_Band_Wagon_(1953)_trailer_3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Oscar Levant, Cyd Charisse,\u00a0Jack Buchanan,\u00a0Fred Astaire, and\u00a0Nanette Fabray in\u00a0<em>The Band Wagon<\/em>\u00a0(1953) \/ Wikipedia Commons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Unlike many dancers who relied purely on speed or technical skill, Charisse fused ballet elegance with expressive drama. Her mastery of jazz, modern, and classical dance styles made her versatile. And when asked whether she enjoyed dancing more with Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse replied:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d say they were the two greatest dancing personalities ever to grace the screen. Each has a unique style and is a delight to work with. But it\u2019s like comparing apples and oranges \u2014 they\u2019re both equally wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-cyd-charisse-husband\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cyd Charisse husband<\/h2>\n<p>Off-screen, she was known for her professionalism and discretion, steering clear of Hollywood\u2019s notorious party scene. Her focus on craft earned her immense respect from colleagues and choreographers alike.<\/p>\n<p>As the golden age of movie musicals waned in the 1960s, Charisse transitioned to television and stage work, making guest appearances on variety shows and starring in Broadway productions like\u00a0<em>Grand Hotel<\/em>\u00a0in the 1990s. She also toured with her husband in a nightclub act, proving that her grace and skill could captivate audiences well into her seventies.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175842\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093231\/GettyImages-166987570.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093231\/GettyImages-166987570.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093231\/GettyImages-166987570-768x614.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"819\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her contributions were formally recognized when she received the National Medal of Arts in 2006 from President George W. Bush, along with an honorary doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.<\/p>\n<p>Cyd Charisse married singer Tony Martin in 1948, a marriage that lasted over six decades until her passing. They met in classic Hollywood fashion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, he had an agent \u2014 Nat Goldstone \u2014 and I also had the same agent. Nat introduced me to Tony, and there happened to be a popular foreign film showing in town that everyone was eager to see. He invited me to go with him, and that\u2019s how we started dating,\u201d Cyd shared in an interview with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/interviews.televisionacademy.com\/interviews\/cyd-charisse?chapter=2&amp;clip=126373\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Television Academy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-when-tragedy-struck\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When tragedy struck<\/h2>\n<p>Together, they had one child, and Charisse also had a son from a previous marriage. Despite her glamorous image, her personal life mostly remained private, stable, and free from scandal \u2014 a rare feat in Hollywood.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CMWPkZyq0Y8DFbPtEQgdbGIhWQ\">\n<div class=\"show-inline-featured-image wp-caption alignnone\">\n<figure class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-main-thumbnail size-main-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-664x350.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 664px) 100vw, 664px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-664x350.jpg 664w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-400x210.jpg 400w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1-412x216.jpg 412w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093812\/icon1.jpg 1200w\" alt=\"\" width=\"664\" height=\"350\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Cyd Charisse could do it all \u2014 sing, act, and dance like a goddess.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And her legs? Absolutely legendary.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-7401dd93bdaf2c7f9950f63706948d34\" class=\"newsner-7401dd93bdaf2c7f9950f63706948d34 newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"newsner-208797879\" class=\"newsner-bluebillywig_instream\">\n<div id=\"\">\n<div id=\"bb-iawr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb_iawr\">\n<div id=\"bb-wr-newsner_english_playout-1601396675571335\" class=\"bb-media bb_wrapper bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\" data-flags=\"{}\" data-softembargoremainingtime=\"0\" data-sid=\"g3MSWEdtD8jx\" data-isready=\"true\" data-autoplaynextremainingtime=\"0\">\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-content-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-poster-layer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"bb-poster-image bb-poster-image-1\" alt=\"\" \/><img class=\"bb-poster-image bb-poster-image-2\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-timeline-layer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-subtitle-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-subtitledisplay\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-commercial-layer\">\n<div class=\"bb-fitme bb-head-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-skin-layer bb-muted bb-phase-init bb-mode-video bb-pendingplay\">\n<div class=\"bb-skin-container phase-init svelte-ft9qq1 playing\" lang=\"en\" tabindex=\"0\" data-cy=\"skin-mode-main\" aria-label=\"Blue Billywig video player. Press question mark for keyboard shortcuts\">\n<div class=\"cols-container svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"main-col svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"overlays svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"loading-overlay no-padding svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"keyboard-feedback no-padding svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"center-controls skinsize-S svelte-gpabtz\">\n<div class=\"left-right-button-container left svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"center-button-container svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"left-right-button-container right svelte-gpabtz\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"logo-overlay svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"chrome svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"top-container svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"header-area svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"top-bar svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"metadata-wrapper svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"metadata svelte-ft9qq1\" role=\"contentinfo\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"share-button bar-button svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"button-content svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"normal slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggled slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"button-tooltip svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"tooltip svelte-cqgi39\">\n<div class=\"tooltip-content left svelte-cqgi39\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"center-controls-layer svelte-ft9qq1\">\n<div class=\"center-controls skinsize-S svelte-sigv4p\">\n<div class=\"big-button big-play-pause-button svelte-sigv4p\">\n<div class=\"button-content svelte-p1twrl\">\n<div class=\"normal slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggled slot-content svelte-p1twrl\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"overlays svelte-ft9qq1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bb-layer bb-context-layer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>She stood as a symbol of grace, elegance, and pure physical artistry during Hollywood\u2019s Golden Age.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-a-skinny-and-sickly-girl\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A skinny and sickly girl<\/h2>\n<p>Women like Cyd Charisse will always be remembered for their gifts to the silver screen. As actors and actresses from that golden era pass away, it\u2019s bittersweet \u2014because that time truly showcased a level of talent we may never see again.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-a4aa6699421ef2c01d5542fe5d705db4\" class=\"newsner-a4aa6699421ef2c01d5542fe5d705db4 newsner-incide_content_once\">\n<div id=\"newsner-1503828451\" class=\"newsner-incide_content_once\">\n<div id=\"taboola-mid-article-thumbnails\" class=\"trc_related_container tbl-trecs-container trc_spotlight_widget trc_elastic trc_elastic_thumbnails-mid\" data-placement-name=\"Mid Article Thumbnails\">\n<div class=\"trc_rbox_container\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"trc_wrapper_2671235398\" class=\"trc_rbox thumbnails-mid trc-content-sponsored\">\n<div id=\"trc_header_2671235398\" class=\"trc_rbox_header trc_rbox_border_elm\">\n<div class=\"trc_header_ext\">\n<div class=\"logoDiv link-attribution\"><a class=\"trc_desktop_attribution_link trc_attribution_position_top\" href=\"https:\/\/popup.taboola.com\/en\/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=newsner-newsneren&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=thumbnails-mid:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails:\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" aria-label=\"Taboola Disclosure\">by Taboola<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"logoDiv link-disclosure attribution-disclosure-link-sponsored\"><a class=\"trc_desktop_disclosure_link trc_attribution_position_top\" href=\"https:\/\/popup.taboola.com\/en\/?template=colorbox&amp;utm_source=newsner-newsneren&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=thumbnails-mid:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails:\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\" aria-label=\"Taboola Disclosure\">Sponsored Links<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"trc_rbox_header_span\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\">You May Like<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"outer_2671235398\" class=\"trc_rbox_outer\">\n<div id=\"rbox-t2m\" class=\"trc_rbox_div trc_rbox_border_elm\">\n<div id=\"internal_trc_2671235398\">\n<figure id=\"taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-video\">\n<div id=\"_cm-css-reset\" class=\"_cm-div\" data-tracked=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"videoCube trc_spotlight_item origin-default textItem thumbnail_top videoCube_1_child syndicatedItem trc-first-recommendation trc-spotlight-first-recommendation trc_excludable\" data-item-id=\"~~V1~~-9195595559203926167~~LHmC3QUc3PUZAkB2uJy2qWGRIPd81ULY7EeqVPh-2eFX0Y1p638VbFQBn088-wXBMEs9oinnMdYvSJ0iz-L8TYtdhnadpNqu3-m2aHK53unXr_TOh-lktmAMTPFF2kg7NtVA7XuXRhhD-a9zEWdD7PahlbxE-JSTXU1EjX2IuDC69pTmy-gup3KDeY6jMirlXygjvzGbQcvt5Pg48XMRlL9gSinxPh9vP-fSQh-9XH8\" data-item-title=\"How to Trade ETH\/USD Without Holding Ether\" data-item-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.taboola.com\/libtrc\/static\/thumbnails\/7ef95066654f3828ccbfa561f19b7e3d.jpg\" data-item-syndicated=\"true\">\n<div class=\"thumbBlock_holder\">\n<div class=\"videoCube_aspect\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"item-label-href video-cta-style non-feed-cta-item\" title=\"How to Trade ETH\/USD Without Holding Ether\" href=\"https:\/\/www.icmarkets.com\/global\/en\/trading-markets\/digitalcurrency\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\"><span class=\"video-label-box trc-main-label video-label-box-cta video-label-box-cta-non-ie\"><span class=\"video-label video-title video-label-flex-cta-item trc_ellipsis\" role=\"link\">How to Trade ETH\/USD Without Holding Ether<\/span><span class=\"branding video-branding-flex-cta-item\" role=\"link\" aria-label=\"IC Markets in Taboola advertising section\">IC Markets<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"video-cta-href\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_user_exclude_btn\" title=\"Remove this item\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_exclude_overlay trc_fade\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_exclude_undo_btn\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"trc_clearer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Texas beauty embodied pure class \u2014 a true lady, graceful, kind, and effortlessly beautiful.<\/p>\n<p>With her long, sculpted legs, captivating gaze, and effortless command of the dance floor, Cyd Charisse earned her place among Hollywood\u2019s greatest dancers, standing shoulder to shoulder with legends like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.<\/p>\n<p>Yet her path to stardom was far from easy, and the story of her life is as compelling as the roles she brought to life on screen.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175839\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093030\/GettyImages-684142381.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093030\/GettyImages-684142381.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093030\/GettyImages-684142381-768x960.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cyd Charisse, circa 1950 \/ Silver Screen Collection \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922, in Amarillo, Texas, Charisse faced early adversity and she was a sickly kid. Her nickname, \u201dSid,\u201d came from her older brother who had trouble saying \u201cSis.\u201d Later, producer Arthur Freed adapted it into the spelling we know today: \u201dCyd.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After a bout of polio left her frail as a child, Cyd\u2019s parents enrolled her in ballet lessons to help strengthen her body.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-1390286563\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_175827_1\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CJLXgoyq0Y8DFYfpEQgdsF0A1A\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_0__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_0\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"6\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-0c5257dfc9bcb17ff95c7cbf64bef1c6\" class=\"newsner-0c5257dfc9bcb17ff95c7cbf64bef1c6 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p>\u201dI was skinny, and it looked like a good way to build me up,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>The therapy sparked a lifelong passion for dance, shaping the trajectory of her future.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-inside-her-screen-magnetism\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inside her screen magnetism<\/h2>\n<p>By her teenage years, Tula\u2019s talent had already caught the attention of top dance instructors. She moved to Los Angeles to study under Adolph Bolm and later trained in London and Paris, honing her craft at prestigious ballet schools. During this time, she experimented with stage names \u2014 first adopting \u201cFelia Sidorova\u201d to emphasize a Russian ballet persona, and eventually settling on \u201cCyd Charisse,\u201d combining a childhood nickname with her married surname.<\/p>\n<p>Charisse\u2019s first steps into film came through dance rather than dialogue. She appeared, uncredited, as a ballet dancer in\u00a0<em>Something to Shout About<\/em>\u00a0(1943) and continued to take small roles as a background dancer. But her poise, beauty, and screen magnetism did not go unnoticed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175840\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093104\/GettyImages-522105825.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 813px) 100vw, 813px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093104\/GettyImages-522105825.jpg 813w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093104\/GettyImages-522105825-768x967.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"813\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Archive Photos \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>MGM recognized her potential and signed her during a period when studios were cultivating their own dance stars. Though initially cast in minor films, she captured the spotlight when she danced alongside Gene Kelly in\u00a0<em>Ziegfeld Follies<\/em>\u00a0(1945). Even in a brief role, her fluid movements and natural chemistry with Kelly drew attention.<\/p>\n<p>Her defining moment came in\u00a0<em>Singin\u2019 in the Rain<\/em>\u00a0(1952). Though she didn\u2019t speak a single line, her performance in the \u201cBroadway Melody\u201d sequence, clad in a shimmering green dress with her dark hair flowing and legs seemingly endless, became one of musical cinema\u2019s most iconic scenes.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-fred-astaire-or-gene-kelly\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly?<\/h2>\n<p>Charisse often expressed that movement allowed her to convey emotions better than words ever could. She stood 5 feet 6 inches tall, but in heels and full-length stockings, she appeared statuesque, moving with remarkable elegance. Her flawless features and glossy black hair only added to her aura of perfection.<\/p>\n<p>Her collaboration with Fred Astaire in\u00a0<em>The Band Wagon<\/em>\u00a0(1953) exemplified this philosophy. Their \u201cDancing in the Dark\u201d sequence showcased her perfect blend of subtlety, romance, and technical precision \u2014 earning Astaire\u2019s praise as \u201cbeautiful dynamite.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-1125495202\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_175827_2\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"COKlkpSq0Y8DFVXwEQgdZLI9XA\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_1__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_1\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_1\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"7\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-3ddd3c19f78b7b8042cf0d171a4c0123\" class=\"newsner-3ddd3c19f78b7b8042cf0d171a4c0123 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175838\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10092938\/band.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10092938\/band.jpg 833w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10092938\/band-768x574.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"833\" height=\"623\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cyd_Charisse#\/media\/File:The_Band_Wagon_(1953)_trailer_3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Oscar Levant, Cyd Charisse,\u00a0Jack Buchanan,\u00a0Fred Astaire, and\u00a0Nanette Fabray in\u00a0<em>The Band Wagon<\/em>\u00a0(1953) \/ Wikipedia Commons<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Unlike many dancers who relied purely on speed or technical skill, Charisse fused ballet elegance with expressive drama. Her mastery of jazz, modern, and classical dance styles made her versatile. And when asked whether she enjoyed dancing more with Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse replied:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d say they were the two greatest dancing personalities ever to grace the screen. Each has a unique style and is a delight to work with. But it\u2019s like comparing apples and oranges \u2014 they\u2019re both equally wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-cyd-charisse-husband\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cyd Charisse husband<\/h2>\n<p>Off-screen, she was known for her professionalism and discretion, steering clear of Hollywood\u2019s notorious party scene. Her focus on craft earned her immense respect from colleagues and choreographers alike.<\/p>\n<p>As the golden age of movie musicals waned in the 1960s, Charisse transitioned to television and stage work, making guest appearances on variety shows and starring in Broadway productions like\u00a0<em>Grand Hotel<\/em>\u00a0in the 1990s. She also toured with her husband in a nightclub act, proving that her grace and skill could captivate audiences well into her seventies.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175842\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093231\/GettyImages-166987570.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093231\/GettyImages-166987570.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093231\/GettyImages-166987570-768x614.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"819\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her contributions were formally recognized when she received the National Medal of Arts in 2006 from President George W. Bush, along with an honorary doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.<\/p>\n<p>Cyd Charisse married singer Tony Martin in 1948, a marriage that lasted over six decades until her passing. They met in classic Hollywood fashion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, he had an agent \u2014 Nat Goldstone \u2014 and I also had the same agent. Nat introduced me to Tony, and there happened to be a popular foreign film showing in town that everyone was eager to see. He invited me to go with him, and that\u2019s how we started dating,\u201d Cyd shared in an interview with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/interviews.televisionacademy.com\/interviews\/cyd-charisse?chapter=2&amp;clip=126373\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Television Academy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-when-tragedy-struck\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When tragedy struck<\/h2>\n<p>Together, they had one child, and Charisse also had a son from a previous marriage. Despite her glamorous image, her personal life mostly remained private, stable, and free from scandal \u2014 a rare feat in Hollywood.<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsner-902940165\" class=\"newsner-article_inside_content\">\n<div id=\"ad-modul_intext_175827_3\" class=\"ad-space\" data-google-query-id=\"CMWPkZyq0Y8DFbPtEQgdbGIhWQ\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_2__container__\"><iframe id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_2\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" name=\"google_ads_iframe_\/125128856\/en_newsner_com\/modul_2\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-container-id=\"8\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsner-396c2b13886084c5fadc80328ebcea39\" class=\"newsner-396c2b13886084c5fadc80328ebcea39 newsner-amp_article_inside_content\"><\/div>\n<p>But tragedy struck Cyd Charisse\u2019s family on May 25, 1979, the start of the Memorial Day weekend, when American Airlines Flight 191 crashed just outside Chicago.<\/p>\n<p>The flight, bound from O\u2019Hare to L.A., lost an engine shortly after takeoff and plunged into a suburban trailer park in Des Plaines, Illinois, killing all 258 passengers, 13 crew members, and two people on the ground.<\/p>\n<p>Among the victims was Sheila Charisse, the 36-year-old wife of Nico Charisse, Cyd\u2019s son from her first marriage.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175843\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093443\/jef.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"373\" height=\"268\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/American_Airlines_Flight_191#\/media\/File:Aa191_ohare2.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Wikipedia Commons \/ Michael Laughlin<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The crash was the deadliest civilian air disaster in U.S. history before 9\/11, and it shook the flying public\u2019s confidence in the DC-10. The plane was soon largely relegated to cargo service, where it still serves both domestically and internationally. Today, the only memorial to the 273 lives lost is a weathered banner near the crash site \u2014 a quiet reminder of that devastating day.<\/p>\n<p>Nico Charisse, Sheila\u2019s husband, had a unique Hollywood upbringing. Born to Cyd Charisse and her first husband, Nico Charisse Sr., a much older dance teacher, Nico Jr. became practically adopted by Tony Martin after Martin married Cyd in 1948. With a new half-brother, Tony Martin Jr., and loving, healthy parents, Nico Jr. grew up in a stable, drama-free Hollywood household\u2014something rare in the industry.<\/p>\n<p>In the late 1960s, Nico had met Sheila Marie Snodgrass. They married, and life seemed full of promise. Nico had just been admitted to the California Bar in 1977 and was beginning his career as a lawyer. But just two years later, the family\u2019s world was shattered when Sheila died in the Flight 191 crash.<\/p>\n<p>The disaster not only took lives but also left an indelible mark on Cyd Charisse and her family \u2014 a heartbreaking reminder that even those surrounded by Hollywood glamour are not spared from tragedy.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-cyd-charisse-cause-of-death\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cyd Charisse cause of death<\/h2>\n<p>Cyd Charisse passed away on June 17, 2008, at age 86, following a heart attack.<\/p>\n<p>While her passing marked the end of an era, her influence continues to inspire dancers and performers worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>Her legacy goes beyond the films she starred in \u2014 she redefined what it meant to be a female dancer in Hollywood. She was never just a supporting presence; she often became the emotional and visual center of her films, combining athleticism, grace, and expressive artistry.<\/p>\n<p>Decades later, audiences and critics alike still marvel at her performances.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-175841\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093129\/GettyImages-166979681.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093129\/GettyImages-166979681.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/09\/10093129\/GettyImages-166979681-768x960.jpg 768w\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Silver Screen Collection\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Whether it\u2019s the sensual confidence she radiated in\u00a0<em>Singin\u2019 in the Rain<\/em>\u00a0or the romantic sophistication of\u00a0<em>The Band Wagon<\/em>, Cyd Charisse remains an enduring icon \u2014 a performer whose language was movement and whose legacy continues to dance on. Share this story to honor her.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cyd Charisse could do it all \u2014 sing, act, and dance like a goddess. And her legs? Absolutely legendary. She stood as a symbol of grace, elegance, and pure physical artistry during Hollywood\u2019s Golden Age. A skinny and sickly girl Women like Cyd Charisse will always be remembered for their gifts to the silver screen&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[19,17,11,20,24,15,12,25,22,18,16,21,14,23,13],"class_list":["post-26564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-chronic-diseases","tag-fitness","tag-health-tips","tag-healthcare-technology","tag-healthy-lifestyle","tag-healthy-living","tag-medical-advice","tag-medical-awareness","tag-medical-research","tag-mental-health","tag-nutrition","tag-patient-care","tag-preventive-care","tag-public-health","tag-wellness"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>From sickly to stunning: The polio survivor who became a Hollywood icon - VM News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=26564\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From sickly to stunning: The polio survivor who became a Hollywood icon - VM News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Cyd Charisse could do it all \u2014 sing, act, and dance like a goddess. 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