Movie Musical Legend Cyd Charisse Dead at 87

Cyd Charisse, the Hollywood musical legend who made her Broadway debut in Grand Hotel, died on June 17. According to the Associated Press, she was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on June 16 after suffering an apparent heart attack. She was believed to be 87, although some sources listed her age as 86.

Born on March 8, 1921, in Amarillo, Texas, Charisse started dancing at an early age, joining the Ballet Ruse when she was just 13. After starring in some minor film roles, Charisse appeared as a dancer in the Fred Astaire vehicle Ziegfeld Follies in 1946 and was soon offered a seven-year contract with MGM at the height of the Golden Age of movie musicals. She starred in many classic musicals including Singin' in the Rain, The Band Wagon, Brigadoon, It's Always Fair Weather and Silk Stockings.

At the age of 70, Charisse made her Broadway debut in the role of ballerina Elizaveta Grushinskaya in Tommy Tune's Tony-winning Grand Hotel.

Charisse is survived by husband Tony Martin, with whom she celebrated her 60 year wedding anniversary in May, and sons Nicholas Charisse and Tony Martin, Jr.