In Memoriam: Tula Ellice Finklea "Cyd" Charisse, 1922-2008

[thatcrazycajun]

It has been said of one of Cyd Charisse's contemporary colleagues, Ginger Rogers, that she did everything Fred Astaire did...backwards and in high heels. Ms. Charisse did all that her partners did the same way...and so much more, as anyone can attest who's seen her in films such as Singing in the Rain and Brigadoon keeping up with the legendary Gene Kelly and then some.

She died yesterday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications from cardiac arrest; MSN.com has her obituary. How a gal from Amarillo, Texas managed to become both a dancer in the world-famous Ballet Russe and an iconic movie star to generations is utterly beyond me to figure out...but maybe having a shitload of talent had something to do with it.

Goodbye, ma'am, and thank you for dazzling us all for so many years.

Comments

[voiceofkiki.livejournal.com]

Well... shit.

[luscious-words.livejournal.com]

May she keep dancing on a silver screen somewhere. So sad. =(

[msminlr.livejournal.com]

Somewhere I read that Fred Astaire once opined that Cyd Charisse was the *best* dancer of any of his movie dancing partners.

[sffilk.livejournal.com]

they're leaving us all too quickly and in way too high numbers.

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

I got teary-eyed when seeing the announcement; she was one of my idols. I even put _Silk Stockings_ in the DVD player and then didn't have the heart to watch it right yet. Maybe tonight...