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. Has had 2 hip replacement surgeries and 3 knee surgeries. Sees a psychiatrist and attends AA (as of December 1999). 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". Niece of Mary Jane Gumm and Virginia Gumm. 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 parents named her after Ira Gershwin's song "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)" 1977: Hit #104 on the Billboard Singles Charts with "Theme from New York, New York" (United Art. 1014). 5/25/03: Broke her knee while preparing for a concert with Luciano Pavarotti in Bologna, Italy. Half-sister Christiane moved to Mexico and is the mother of two grown children. She attended Liza's wedding to David Gest in 2003. When she was young she befriended Marilyn Monroe. Her mother, Judy Garland, and former father-in-law, Jack Haley, starred together in The Wizard of Oz (1939). 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. Is portrayed by several actresses at different ages in her life in Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) (TV). She and her mother, Judy Garland, were the first Oscar-nominated mother and daughter. Her mother Judy Garland was pregnant with her while filming her minor role in Till the Clouds Roll By (1946). In order to hide her pregnant stomach she was hidden behind stacks of dishes while singing "Look For The Silver Lining". Godparents were Ira Gershwin and Kay Thompson. 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. Measurements in 1980: 34C-28-36. 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. Best friend is Cabaret (1972) co-star Marisa Berenson. Sang part of the song "Mama" on My Chemical Romance's third studio album, "Welcome to the Black Parade". Only child of two Oscar-winners to win an Oscar herself. The Oh in Ohio (2006) was her first theatrical feature in 15 years. 7/16/07: Was in attendance at the movie premiere of Hairspray (2007). Is a close friend of singer Diana Ross. In 1972, after winning the Academy Award for Cabaret (1972), Marlene Dietrich said about her: "I'm annoyed when people keep comparing her to her mother [Judy Garland]. She's nothing to do with her mother. She's a completely different woman. The film Cabaret (1972) is a great hit for her and that's all one wants.". Portrayed by Stephanie J. Block in the play about Peter Allen's life. She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. She was awarded the 2009 Tony Award for her show, "Liza's At the Palace," for Special Theatrical Presentation at the Palace Theatre in New York City. She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.