Cyd charisse biography imdb game of thrones
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Initially appearing in small roles, her early work included dancing parts in films like Ziegfeld Follies (1945). During World War II, the ballet company disbanded, and Cyd Charisse, then known as Tula Ellis, got married and changed her name to Cyd Charisse.
Later, she caught the attention of filmmakers and went on to appear in over 50 films and television shows.
With Gene Kelly, it was like dancing with a man who had learned to dance by walking."
A famous quote in which she insightfully compared her two most legendary partners. Her performances were highly stylized but never stiff, graceful yet very human.
Major Awards & Honors
National Medal of the Arts (2006)
•Awarded by President George W.
Bush.
•This is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government.
•Recognized her lifetime contribution to American culture through her unique blend of dance and film.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
•Cyd Charisse has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 1601 Vine Street.
•This honor commemorates her impact on the motion picture industry, particularly her legacy in Hollywood musicals.
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Other Notable Honors
American Film Institute Recognition
•Though not the recipient of a specific AFI award, her films frequently appear in AFI retrospectives and tributes to classic Hollywood musicals.
•Singin’ in the Rain and The Band Wagon are often ranked among the greatest musicals of all time, in large part due to her performances.
Golden Boot Award (1992)
•Presented by the Motion Picture and Television Fund.
•Honors actors and actresses who have contributed to Westerns.
She brought a certain modernity to her characters: composed, confident women with emotional depth and autonomy. She was not only one of the greatest dancers in film history but also a pioneer who helped elevate dance as a central storytelling element in cinema. What began as therapy blossomed into a lifelong passion. Whether she played a mysterious Soviet envoy (Silk Stockings) or a cabaret dancer caught in a noir underworld (Party Girl), she carried herself with cool control and understated magnetism.
Doctors recommended physical activity to help her recover and regain strength, and it was this advice that first led her to dance. Her parents enrolled her in ballet classes after she recovered from polio. In her later life, she made occasional television appearances and participated in retrospectives of Hollywood's golden age.
In recognition of her contributions to film, she was awarded the National Medal of the Arts in 2006, and she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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Final Years and Death
In June 2008, Cyd Charisse was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack.
Shortly afterward, she married Tony Martin, a popular singer and actor, in 1948. Her acting style was visually expressive, deeply rooted in her training as a ballerina, and her performances often blurred the lines between dialogue and movement, lending a unique emotional resonance to her roles.
A Physical Language of Emotion
Charisse possessed an uncanny ability to tell a story through physicality.
Cyd Charisse gained true popularity after starring in films like "Singin' in the Rain," "Brigadoon," and "Silk Stockings," where she played leading roles.
By the end of the 1950s, when the era of movie musicals came to an end, Cyd Charisse stopped dancing on screen. Ariane Bouchet, a ballerina in a drama about rivalry and ambition in a ballet company.
1948
•On an Island with You – Played Yvonne Torro, a dancer in this musical romantic comedy set on a tropical island.
•The Kissing Bandit – Appeared as a dancer in this musical comedy about a man who reluctantly becomes a bandit.
•Words and Music – Portrayed Margo Grant in this musical biography of songwriting duo Rodgers and Hart.
1949
•East Side, West Side – Played Rosa Senta in this drama about infidelity and socialites in New York City.
•Tension – Portrayed Mary Chanler in this film noir about a man plotting to kill his wife's lover.
1951
•The Mark of the Renegade – Played Manuella de Vasquez in this swashbuckling adventure set in 19th-century California.
1952
•The Wild North – Portrayed an Indigenous woman who aids a trapper accused of murder in this adventure film.
•Singin' in the Rain – Featured as the long-legged woman in the "Broadway Melody" ballet sequence, showcasing her dance prowess.
1953
•Sombrero – Played Lola de Torrano in this romantic drama set in Mexico, involving three interwoven love stories.
•The Band Wagon – Portrayed Gabrielle Gerard, a ballerina in this musical comedy about a washed-up actor's Broadway comeback.
•Easy to Love – Uncredited cameo as a girl in a blue swimsuit in this musical set in a Florida water park.
1954
•Brigadoon – Played Fiona Campbell, a Scottish woman from a mystical village that appears once every hundred years, in this romantic musical.
•Deep in My Heart – Featured as a performer in the "Desert Song" sequence of this biographical musical about composer Sigmund Romberg.
1955
•It's Always Fair Weather – Portrayed Jackie Leighton, a TV producer in this musical about three war buddies reuniting after ten years.
1956
•Meet Me in Las Vegas – Played Maria Corvier, a ballerina who brings luck to a gambler in this romantic musical comedy.
1957
•Silk Stockings – Portrayed Ninotchka Yoschenko, a stern Soviet envoy who falls for an American producer, in this musical remake of "Ninotchka."
1958
•Twilight for the Gods – Played Charlotte King in this maritime drama about a troubled sea voyage.
•Party Girl – Portrayed Vicki Gaye, a showgirl who becomes involved with a mob lawyer, showcasing both her dramatic and dance talents.
1960
•Black Tights – Featured in the "La Femme" segment of this anthology film presenting four ballet-based stories.
1961
•Five Golden Hours – Played Baroness Sandra in this dark comedy about a man who exploits wealthy widows.
1962
•Two Weeks in Another Town – Portrayed Carlotta in this drama about a washed-up actor's attempt at a comeback in Rome.
•Something's Got to Give – Played Bianca Arden in this unfinished romantic comedy starring Marilyn Monroe and Dean Martin.
1965
•Assassination in Rome – Portrayed Shelley North in this thriller about a woman searching for her missing husband in Rome.
1966
•The Silencers – Played Sarita in this spy spoof featuring Dean Martin as secret agent Matt Helm.
1967
•Maroc 7 – Portrayed Louise Henderson in this crime film involving jewel theft and espionage in Morocco.
1976
•Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood – Appeared as the President's Girl in this comedy about a dog becoming a Hollywood star.
1978
•Warlords of Atlantis – She played Atsil, the Queen of Atlantis, in this science fiction adventure about a hidden underwater city.
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I wanted to be a dancer, and I wanted to be good."This humble admission speaks to her integrity as an artist and her focus on craft over fame.
•"When you dance with someone, you learn things about them that even a lover wouldn't know."
A poetic insight into the intimacy and communication inherent in dance, something she knew deeply.
•"Dancing is a very hard life.
She and Tony Martin were often seen at Hollywood events as a picture of old-school class and devotion.
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Passions and Legacy
Beyond her career, Cyd was passionate about fitness, fashion, and classic film preservation. (1974), That's Entertainment, Part II (1976), and That's Dancing!
Her portrayal of Vicki Gaye, a woman torn between love and survival in a violent world, hinted at a more naturalistic acting style, one that might have flourished if Hollywood had given her more varied opportunities.
Stylized Yet Human
Even within the artificial polish of Technicolor musicals, Charisse’s acting grounded the fantasy.
From a young age, it was clear she possessed a rare combination of poise, athleticism, and artistry. Unlike more overtly theatrical actresses of her time, Charisse had an almost European elegance, using silence and stillness as effectively as motion.
Sophistication and Control
There was always a sense of self-possession in Cyd Charisse's characters.
Over the next 30 years, she occasionally appeared in dramatic films, made television appearances, and in 1992, she made her Broadway debut as an aging ballerina in the play "Grand Hotel." Cyd Charisse is considered one of the brightest movie stars of the mid-20th century. However, her main genre in the film industry became musicals. She continued to dance well into her later years and often spoke fondly of the discipline and beauty of ballet.