Liza Minnelli was born on March 12, 1946, the daughter of Judy Garland and movie director Vincente Minnelli. She was practically raised at MGM studios while her parents worked long hours there and she made her film debut at fourteen months of age in the movie In the Good Old Summertime. Her parents divorced in 1951 and, in 1952, her mother married Sidney Luft, with sister Lorna Luft and brother Joey Luft subsequently being born. Her father, Vincente Minnelli, later married Georgette Magnani, mother of her step-sister Christiana Nina Minnelli.

At sixteen, Liza was on her own in New York City, struggling to begin her career in show business. Her first recognition came for the play "Best Foot Forward" which ran for seven months in 1963. A year later, Judy invited Liza to appear with her for a show at the London Paladium. This show sold out immediately and a second night was added to it. Liza's performance in London was a huge turning point in both her career and her relationship with her mother. The audience absolutely loved Liza and Judy realized that Liza was now an adult with her own career. It was at the Paladium that Liza met her first husband, Peter Allen, a friend of Judy's.

Liza won a Tony award at age nineteen and was nominated for her first Academy Award at age twenty-three for the role of Pookie Adams in The Sterile Cuckoo. Other dramatic roles followed and, in 1972, she won an Oscar for her performance as Sally Bowles in the movie Cabaret. The seventies were a busy time for Liza. She worked steadily in film, stage and music. She and good friend Halston were regulars at Studio 54, the trendiest disco club in the world. Marriages to filmmaker Jack Haley Jr. and Mark Gero, a sculptor who earned his living in the theater followed. Each marriage ended in divorce.

Over the past years, her career has leaned more towards stage performances and she has a long list of musical albums which she continues to add to. She teamed with Frank Sinatra in his "Duets" CD and Sammy Davis Jr. joined them for a series of concerts and TV shows which were extremely well-received.

She has had to deal with tabloid stories of drug abuse and ill-health and has had a number of high profile stays at drug-rehabilitation clinics. Her hectic schedule may have slowed down in recent years, but she still has a large following of immensely loyal fans who continue to cheer her on.
Cabaret (1972): $250 000
5/00: Cancelled 14 concert appearances after being hospitalized for additional surgery on her hips. Frequently attended legendary New York disco Studio 54 Has had 2 hip replacement surgeries and 3 knee surgeries. Says her mother gave her a sense of humor. Sees a psychiatrist and attends AA (as of December 1999). Sought treatment at the Betty Ford Center when she was 35. 1997: Had vocal surgery, after which she began watching her father's movies. This led to her starring in her renowned Broadway revue, "Minnelli on Minnelli". Ex-daughter-in-law of Jack Haley. Niece of Mary Jane Gumm and Virginia Gumm. 1999: Winner of the Board of Directors MAC Award. At her wedding to David Gest, Elizabeth Taylor and Marisa Berenson acted as co-matrons of honor, while Michael Jackson and Tito Jackson were co-best men. Her ex-husband, David Gest, is an event planner. Her parents named her after Ira Gershwin's song "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)" 1990: She received the Grammy Legend Award, making her one of the few artists who have won entertainment's top four awards - the Oscar, the Tony, The Emmy and the Grammy. 1977: Hit #104 on the Billboard Singles Charts with "Theme from New York, New York" (United Art. 1014). Was briefly managed by KISS lead singer/guitarist Gene Simmons in the 1980s. 5/25/03: Broke her knee while preparing for a concert with Luciano Pavarotti in Bologna, Italy. 10/19/00: Admitted to a Fort Lauderdale (FL) hospital where she was treated for viral encephalitis. Half-sister Christiane Nina Minnelli (known as Tina Nina) moved to Mexico and is the mother of 2 grown children. She attended Liza's wedding to David Gest in 2003. 2004: Made up with half-sister Lorna Luft. When she was young she befriended Marilyn Monroe. 1973: Became the seventh person to win the Triple Crown of Acting: Tony for "Flora, the Red Menace" (1965) and "The Act" (1977); Oscar, Best Actress for Cabaret; and Emmy in 1973 for Liza with a 'Z'. Her mother, Judy Garland, and former father-in-law, Jack Haley, starred together in The Wizard of Oz. 9/30/91: Received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was honored for her career in the live theatre. Her star is located at 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Has won three Tony Awards, two as Best Actress (Musical), for 1965's "Flora, the Red Menace" and 1978's "The Act," and, in 1974, a Special Tony Award "for adding lustre to the Broadway theatre season." She was also nominated as Best Actress (Musical) in 1984 for "The Rink," but lost that award to her co-star, Chita Rivera. One of only three actresses, along with Faye Dunaway and Halle Berry, to win both the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Razzie Award for Worst Actress. Dunaway shared her award with Bo Derek. Is portrayed by Zooey Deschanel in _Simply Halston (2007)_ and by several actresses in Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows. 1980: A co-presenter at the Academy Awards ceremony, she accepted the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role on behalf of Melvyn Douglas, who wasn't present. She and her mother, Judy Garland, were the first Oscar-nominated mother and daughter. Is mentioned in The School of Rock as a musical inspiration. Her mother Judy Garland was pregnant with her while filming her minor role in Till the Clouds Roll By. In order to hide her pregnant stomach she was hidden behind stacks of dishes while singing "Look For The Silver Lining". Was a huge fan of the TV show La Femme Nikita, so much so that in 1997, before Peta Wilson's first TV interview on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, Liza secretly called to have Peta's limo stop at her home on the way to the studio so she could meet her and give her advice on what to say. Wilson later confirmed this during the interview. Godparents were Ira Gershwin and Kay Thompson. Is Italian and French on her father's side and Irish and Scottish on her mother's. In the early 1980s during pre-production for a film version of "Evita", director Ken Russell auditioned her for the part. Russell was so impressed that he refused to do the film without her. He was promptly fired by producer Robert Stigwood and the film lay dormant for over 10 years until the Madonna version came out in 1996. Is portrayed by Donna Coney Island in Ghostlight Measurements in 1980: 33C - 28 - 31 Reports that she adopted a three-year-old daughter named Serena, with then-husband David Gest in early 2003, have proved to be untrue. Because Liza constantly traveled with her mother, she spent most of her childhood in hotels. She was the inspiration for the character of "Eloise", who grew up in the Plaza Hotel. The books were written by Liza's godmother, Kay Thompson. Childhood friend of Mia Farrow. Best friend is Cabaret co-star Marisa Berenson. In the early 60s, she lived in London with mother Judy Garland, half siblings Lorna Luft and Joey Luft and stepfather Sidney Luft. Sang part of the song "Mama" on My Chemical Romance's third studio album, "Welcome to the Black Parade". Born in the same hospital as Natalie Cole, Micky Dolenz, and former boyfriend Desi Arnaz Jr.. Childhood friend of Katy Manning. Only child of two Oscar-winners to win an Oscar herself. 2/3/07: Was honored at the "Steve Chase Awards", a charity gala in Palm Springs, CA, where she was awarded the humanitarian award for her many years of work with AIDS charities. She shared the honor with Bishop Desmond Tutu. The presenter of the award was her old friend, Joel Grey. The Oh in Ohio was her first theatrical feature in 15 years. Childhood friend of Cheryl Crane, daughter of Lana Turner and her second/third husband Steve Crane. 7/16/07: Was in attendance at the movie premiere of Hairspray. Became pregnant during her marriage to Jack Haley Jr., but suffered a miscarriage five months into the pregnancy. Is a close friend of singer Diana Ross. 12 December 2007: Collapsed on stage whilst performing a Christmas show in Stockholm, Sweden.