Her legs were worth millions

By Brian Frederick

LOS ANGELES, CA (Hollywood Today) 6/19/08 – - “Ms Charisse died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering an apparent heart attack on Monday,” publicist Gene Schwam said.

You may not remember her dance musicals unless you are a movie buff of Hollywood’s golden age but Cyd Charisse was the talent that made some of Hollywood’s great classic musical movies in the 1950s.

She starred in the musical hit ‘Singin’ in the Rain,’ with Gene Kelly and ’Silk Stockings,’ with Fred Astaire.

Not only was she a star in her own right, Charisse was known for having the nicest legs in Hollywood. Guinness Book reportedly listed her legs as being the most expensive in the world due to a $5 million insurance policy taken out on them.

After the 1960s, movie musicals began to decline and the demand for long legged ballet dancers declined with them. Before her decline in musicals, her celebrity status was sealed as one of the best dancers in Hollywood.

Cyd had a supporting role in ‘Something’s Got To Give,’ starring Marilyn Monroe. The film is one of Hollywood’s most notorious unfinished films. Monroe died during production.

The Texas native was born Tula Ellice Finklea in Amarillo. Her nickname was Sid as a child and she changed it to Cyd when she arrived in Hollywood. Sid is a variation of Sis given to her by her brother.

In 2006, she was presented with the National Medal of the Arts and Humanities by President Bush in 2006. The medal is officially highest U.S. honor for the arts.

Charisse is survived by her second husband Tony Martin and her two sons Tony Martin Jr. from her second marriage and Nico “Nicky” Charisse from her first marriage to her dance instructor, Nico Charisse.