Liza Minnelli

Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, an Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and four Tony Awards. She is one of the few performers awarded a non-competitive EGOT having received two honorary Grammy Awards. Minnelli is a Knight of the French Legion of Honour. Her persona and her style have immortalized her as a gay icon.

Minnelli's parents were actress and singer Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli. After moving to New York City in 1961, she began her career as a musical theatre actress, nightclub performer, and traditional pop artist. She made her professional stage debut in the Off-Broadway revival of '' Best Foot Forward'' (1963).Scott Schechter (2004): ''The Liza Minnelli Scrapbook'', pp. 12–13. She became known for collaboration with John Kander and Fred Ebb, and later won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her roles in the Broadway musicals ''Flora the Red Menace'' (1965) and '' The Act'' (1978). She was Tony-nominated for '' The Rink'' (1984). She won Special Tony Awards for ''Liza at the Winter Garden'' (1974) and '' Liza at the Palace!'' (2009).

On film, she had her breakthrough performance in the drama film '' The Sterile Cuckoo'' (1969), earning her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She later received the award playing Sally Bowles in the musical film ''Cabaret'' (1972), which brought her to international prominence. She starred in a string of films such as ''Lucky Lady'' (1975), ''New York, New York'' (1977), ''Arthur'' (1981), '' Rent-a-Cop'' (1988), and '' Stepping Out'' (1991). On television, she had a career resurgence as a recurring guest star on the sitcom ''Arrested Development'' (2003–2013).

Her concert performances at Carnegie Hall in 1979 and 1987 and at Radio City Music Hall in 1991 and 1992 are recognized among her most successful. From 1988 to 1990, she toured with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. in ''Frank, Liza & Sammy: The Ultimate Event''. Minnelli is known for her renditions of American standards and is known for her signature songs which include ("New York, New York", "Cabaret", and " Maybe This Time"). Throughout her later years she has suffered serious health problems, she has avoided huge concert performances in favor of small retrospective performances. Her life was profiled in the 2024 documentary, '' Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story''.

Early life

Minnelli was born on March 12, 1946, at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Hollywood. She is the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli. Her parents named her after Ira Gershwin's song "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)". Minnelli has a half-sister, Lorna, and half-brother, Joey, from Garland's marriage to Sid Luft. She has another half-sister, Christiane Nina Minnelli (nicknamed Tina Nina), from her father's second marriage. Minnelli's godparents were Kay Thompson and Ira Gershwin.

Minnelli's first performing experience on film was at age three appearing in the final scene of the musical ''In the Good Old Summertime'' (1949); the film stars Garland and Van Johnson. In 1961 she moved to New York City, attending High School of Performing Arts and later, Chadwick School.

Career

Theatre

During 1961, Minnelli was an apprentice at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, Massachusetts. She appeared in the chorus of ''Flower Drum Song'' and played the part of Muriel in '' Take Me Along''. She began performing professionally at the age of 17 in 1963 in an Off-Broadway revival of the musical '' Best Foot Forward'', for which she received the Theatre World Award, and also toured in ''The Fantasticks'', opposite Elliott Gould.

The next year, her mother invited her to perform with her in concert at the London Palladium. Both concerts were recorded and released as an album. Minnelli attended Scarsdale High School for one year, starring in a production of '' The Diary of Anne Frank'' that then went to Israel on tour. She turned to Broadway at 19, and won her first Tony Award as a leading actress for ''Flora the Red Menace''. It was the first time that she worked with the musical pair John Kander and Fred Ebb.

Music

Minnelli began as a nightclub singer as an adolescent, making her professional nightclub debut at the age of 19 at the Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. That same year she began appearing in other clubs and on stage in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and New York City. Her success as a live performer led her to record several albums for Capitol Records: '' Liza! Liza!'' (1964), '' It Amazes Me'' (1965), and '' There Is a Time'' (1966). In her early years, she recorded traditional pop standards as well as show tunes from various musicals in which she starred. Because of this fact, William Ruhlmann named her "Barbra Streisand's little sister". The Capitol albums ''Liza! Liza!'', ''It Amazes Me'', and ''There Is a Time'' were reissued on the two-CD compilation ''The Capitol Years'' in 2001, in their entirety.

From 1968 to the 1970s, Minnelli also recorded her albums ''Liza Minnelli'' (1968), '' Come Saturday Morning'' and ''New Feelin''' (both 1970) for A&M Records. In 1973, Minnelli sang back up with Ronnie Spector for Alice Cooper's song "Teenage Lament '74" from the album '' Muscle of Love'' (1973). She released her solo albums '' The Singer'' (1973) and '' Tropical Nights'' (1977) on Columbia Records.

In 1989, Minnelli collaborated with the Pet Shop Boys on ''Results'', an electronic dance-style album. The release hit the top 10 in the UK and charted in the U.S., spawning four singles: " Losing My Mind"; " Don't Drop Bombs"; " So Sorry, I Said"; and " Love Pains". Later that year, she performed "Losing My Mind" live at the Grammys Award ceremony before receiving a Grammy Legend Award (the first Grammy Legend Awards were issued in 1990 to Minnelli, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Smokey Robinson, and Willie Nelson). With this award, she became one of only 16 people— a list that includes composer Richard Rodgers, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbra Streisand, and John Gielgud and others—to win an Emmy, Grammy, Tony Award and Academy Award.

In April 1992, Minnelli appeared at the tribute concert for her late friend Freddie Mercury, performing "We Are the Champions" with the surviving members of the rock band Queen at Wembley Stadium in London. In 1996, Minnelli released a studio album titled '' Gently''. It was a recording of jazz standards and included contemporary songs such as the cover of '' Does He Love You'' which she performed as a duet with Donna Summer. This album brought her a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

In 2006, Minnelli appeared on My Chemical Romance's album '' The Black Parade'', providing backing vocals and singing a solo part with Gerard Way on the track "Mama". Minnelli was nominated in 2009 for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her studio recording '' Liza's at the Palace...!'', based on her hit Broadway show. Minnelli released an album on the Decca Records label titled ''Confessions'' on September 21, 2010.Liza Minnelli's "Confessions" CD Due in September; Artwork Revealed
. Playbill.com (May 11, 2010). Retrieved on April 2, 2012.

Film

Minnelli's first appearance on film is as the baby in the final shot of her mother's film ''In the Good Old Summertime'' (1949). Her first credited film role was as the love interest in '' Charlie Bubbles'' (1967), Albert Finney's only film as director and star, although four years earlier, she did voiceover work for the animated film ''Journey Back to Oz'', a sequel to ''The Wizard of Oz''. Minnelli was the voice of Dorothy (a character played in the earlier film by her mother Judy Garland) in what would have been her first credited film role had it been released in 1964 as planned—the Filmation production was delayed, eventually being released in the UK during 1972.

Minnelli appeared in '' The Sterile Cuckoo'' (1969), Alan J. Pakula's first feature film as Director, as Pookie Adams, a needy, eccentric teenager. Her performance was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She played another eccentric character in '' Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon'' (1970), directed by Otto Preminger. A nude scene in that film, filmed in a Massachusetts cemetery, resulted in a misdemeanor complaint by family of those buried there, and a "Liza Minnelli Bill" was introduced the following year to penalise filming in Massachusetts cemeteries without permission.

Minnelli appeared in her best-known film role, Sally Bowles, in the film version of ''Cabaret'' (1972). She said that one of the things she did to prepare was to study photographs of actresses Louise Glaum and Louise Brooks and the dark-haired women of the era in which the film is set. Minnelli won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance, along with a Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, and also Sant Jordi Award and David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actress.

Following the success of ''Cabaret'', Bob Fosse and Minnelli teamed for '' Liza with a "Z"'', a concert for television that aired twice, then was not seen again until a 2005 restoration.

Minnelli appeared in three expensive flops in three years, with '' Variety'' suggesting by 1978 that she was the number-one choice for box office poison. First was ''Lucky Lady'' (1975), then she worked with her father in '' A Matter of Time'' (1976), co-starring Ingrid Bergman and then ''New York, New York'' (1977), which gave Minnelli her best known signature song. She sometimes performed duets on stage with Frank Sinatra, who recorded a cover version (for his '' Trilogy: Past Present Future'' album).

Minnelli made fewer film appearances from then on, but her next film, ''Arthur'' (1981), where she starred as Dudley Moore's love interest, was a big hit. She returned to film for '' Rent-A-Cop'' and '' Arthur 2: On the Rocks'' (both 1988) and '' Stepping Out'' (1991), a musical comedy drama. She later appeared in '' The Oh in Ohio'' in 2006 which received only a limited release in theatres.

Television

During the 1950s, Minnelli appeared as a child guest on Art Linkletter's show and sang and danced with Gene Kelly on his first television special in 1959. She was a guest star in one episode of ''Ben Casey'' and was a frequent guest on chat shows of the day, including making numerous appearances on shows hosted by Jack Paar, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Joe Franklin, Dinah Shore and Johnny Carson. During the 1960s, she made several guest appearances on ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' as well as other variety shows such as ''The Ed Sullivan Show'', ''The Hollywood Palace'', and '' The Judy Garland Show''.

In 1964, Minnelli appeared as Minnie in her first television dramatic role in the episode "Nightingale for Sale" on Craig Stevens's short-lived series '' Mr. Broadway''. In 1965, she starred in the television special, ''The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood''. A soundtrack was released to coincide with the specials. In 1970, she headlined her first television special, entitled ''Liza'', with guest stars Anthony Newley, and Randy Newman. In 1972, she starred in the Bob Fosse directed ''Liza with a Z.''

In 1980, she made two television specials, ''Goldie and Liza Together'', with Goldie Hawn, and ''An Evening with Liza Minnelli''. In 1984, she made a guest appearance as Princess Alecia in 'The Princess and the Pea' episode of Faerie Tale Theatre. In 1985, she starred in a made-for-TV movie, ''A Time to Live'', and in 1988, she appeared in ''Sam Found Out: A Triple Play''.

In December 1992, American Public Television aired ''Liza Minnelli Live from Radio City Music Hall'' produced by Phil Ramone and Chris Giordano. The show received six Emmy nominations and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics, awarded to Fred Ebb and John Kander. This was followed by appearances in two more made-for-TV movies: ''Parallel Lives'', and '' The West Side Waltz'', in 1994 and 1995, respectively.

Much later in her career, Minnelli made guest appearances on shows such as ''Arrested Development'', '' Law & Order: Criminal Intent'', '' Drop Dead Diva'', and '' Smash''. In the UK, she appeared on the Ruby Wax, Graham Norton and Jonathan Ross shows, and in October 2006, participated in a comedy skit on Charlotte Church's show and was featured on Michael Parkinson's show.

In November 2009, American Public Television aired ''Liza's at the Palace'', taped from September 30 to October 1, 2009, in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre. The executive producers of the taping, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, were previously involved with the 2005 rerelease of 1972's Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning '' Liza with a Z''.

Later career

Minnelli returned to Broadway in 1997, taking over the title role in the musical '' Victor/Victoria'', replacing Julie Andrews. In his review, ''New York Times'' critic Ben Brantley wrote "her every stage appearance is perceived as a victory of show-business stamina over psychic frailty. She asks for love so nakedly and earnestly, it seems downright vicious not to respond."

After a serious case of viral encephalitis in 2000, doctors predicted that Minnelli would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair and perhaps not be able to speak again. However, taking vocal and dance lessons daily (especially with Sam Harris, Luigi Faccuito, Ron Lewis, and Angela Bacari), she managed to recover. She appeared on a September 19, 2001, episode of ''The Rosie O'Donnell Show'', notable because it was Rosie's first show back following the September 11 attacks. Despite having had vocal surgery shortly before, she sang her signature song, "New York, New York", and received an enthusiastic ovation. She also returned to the stage in 2001 when asked by long-time friend Michael Jackson to perform at Madison Square Garden in New York City where she sang "Never Never Land" and the televised "You Are Not Alone" at the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special concert produced by future husband David Gest. Minnelli told reporters: "I am stable as a table."

Gest was so impressed with Minnelli's stamina and ability to stun audiences that he produced her in '' Liza's Back'' in Spring 2002, performing to rave reviews in London and New York City. The tour featured a tribute to her mother: after years of declining fans' pleas for her to sing Garland's signature song "Over the Rainbow", she concluded Act 1 with the final refrain of her mother's anthem to an instant ovation.

From 2003 through 2005, she appeared as a recurring character on the Emmy Award-winning TV sitcom ''Arrested Development'' as Lucille Austero (also known as "Lucille 2"), the lover of both the sexually and socially awkward Buster Bluth and Buster's brother Gob. Minnelli appeared in the role for the show's fourth season in 2013.

On December 14, 2004, Minnelli made her first appearance in the UK after a long absence, performing as a special guest at the annual Royal Variety Performance. The performance was presented by the BBC, and was attended by Charles, Prince of Wales. It was staged at the London Coliseum, celebrating both its centenary year and the theatre's re-opening after an extensive four-year restoration.

In 2005, Minnelli made her first film appearance in more than 15 years, in '' The Oh in Ohio''.

In September 2006, Minnelli made a guest appearance on the long-running drama '' Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' in "Masquerade", a Halloween-themed episode, broadcast on October 31, 2006.

Minnelli also completed guest vocals on My Chemical Romance's 2006 concept album '' The Black Parade'', portraying "Mother War", a dark conception of the main character's mother in the song "Mama".

In 2007, it was announced that Minnelli was working on an album in tribute to Kay Thompson. This turned into Minnelli's return to Broadway in a new solo concert at the Palace Theatre titled '' Liza's at The Palace...!'', which ran from December 3, 2008, through January 4, 2009. In her second act, she performed a series of numbers created by Thompson.

Minnelli was a character in the Australian musical '' The Boy from Oz'' (a biography of her first husband, Peter Allen) starring Hugh Jackman. In the show's Broadway production, she was portrayed by Stephanie J. Block. In October 2009, Minnelli toured Australia and appeared on ''Australian Idol'' as a mentor and guest judge. Minnelli made a cameo appearance in the May 2010 release of ''Sex and the City 2'', in which she covered Beyoncé's hit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and Cole Porter's " Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye". She made a starring appearance in December 2010 in '' The Apprentice''.

Also in 2010, Minnelli released an album of a number of American standards "unplugged" with long-time collaborator Billy Stritch, showing a sultrier and softer, more interpretive side to her artistry. The songs are said to have been recorded several years prior and later released as the album ''Confessions''.

On June 14, 2012, Minnelli headlined at Hampton Court Palace Festival. On May 9, 2014, Minnelli had a guest appearance on Cher's Dressed to Kill Tour in Brooklyn, performing "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" with Cyndi Lauper and Rosie O'Donnell.

In 2024, Minnelli announced her plans to release a memoir in 2026.

Personal life

Minnelli has long suffered from alcoholism and has been addicted to prescription drugs, originating from a Valium prescription after her mother died. Her use of recreational drugs in the 1970s was noted by Andy Warhol, who in a 1978 diary entry recalled Minnelli arriving at Halston's house and imploring the host to "Give me every drug you've got." Along with Warhol and Bianca Jagger, Minnelli made frequent appearances at New York City nightclubs during the late 1970s, including Studio 54. Minnelli left her 1984 musical '' The Rink'' to enter the Betty Ford Clinic.

Of the many physical aliments that Minnelli has, as a result of her long and demanding career as a dancer, one is inherited. She has lived and performed with scoliosis since her youth, and actually developed unique and signature dance moves and techniques because of the pain:
"I found out that because of the scoliosis, if I lean back one way it hurts. The only reason I do anything like I do is because it’s the only way I can do it without hurting! Literally. It’s really funny. It is so weird ... I’ve got two false hips, a wired-up knee, scoliosis, which I’ve always had, and three crushed disks, but I feel great. I dance every day.”

Minnelli is an Episcopalian.

Minnelli's friendships have included the singer Adam Ant, whom she advised on what to wear when he was presented to Queen Elizabeth II after the 1981 Royal Variety Performance at which his band Adam and the Ants performed. Ant in turn namechecked Minnelli in the track "Crackpot History and the Right To Lie" on his 1982 solo album '' Friend or Foe''.

During an Australian visit in 1964, Minnelli and her then-boyfriend Peter Allen were invited to the opening of the Compass Centre in Bankstown, Sydney. They were awarded the titles of King and Queen of the Compass Centre.

Marriages and relationships

Minnelli has married and divorced four times. Her first marriage was to entertainer Peter Allen on March 3, 1967. Australian-born Allen was Judy Garland's protégé in the mid-1960s. Minnelli and Allen agreed to a trial separation on April 9, 1970. Their divorce was finalized on July 24, 1974. Minnelli told ''The Advocate'' editor-in-chief Judy Wieder in September 1996, "I married Peter, and he didn't tell me he was gay. Everyone knew but me. And I found out ... well, let me put it this way: I'll never surprise anybody coming home as long as I live. I call first!"

After her separation from Allen, Minnelli was engaged to actor Desi Arnaz Jr and comic actor Peter Sellers.

Minnelli married Jack Haley Jr., a producer and director, on September 15, 1974. His father, Jack Haley, was Minnelli's mother's co-star in ''The Wizard of Oz''. They divorced in April 1979.

Minnelli was married to Mark Gero, a sculptor and stage manager, from December 4, 1979, until their divorce in January 1992.

Minnelli was married to David Gest, a concert promoter, from March 16, 2002, until their separation in July 2003 and divorce in April 2007. The wedding boasted over 1200 guests at the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, with Michael Jackson as the best man, Elizabeth Taylor as the matron of honor, and a bridal party that included Mia Farrow, Gina Lollobrigida, Petula Clark, Mya, and Janet Leigh among others. Gest was reportedly gay, as was her first husband. In a 2003 lawsuit, Gest alleged that Minnelli beat him in alcohol-induced rages during their marriage. Minnelli denied the accusations, claiming Gest was simply after her money. The suit was dismissed in September 2006 for lack of triable issue of fact.

She also had relationships with Rock Brynner (son of Yul Brynner), Mikhail Baryshnikov, Billy Stritch, and film director Martin Scorsese. Her close friendship with French pop singer Charles Aznavour was described by Aznavour as "more than friends and less than lovers."

Minnelli has no children despite numerous attempts; one pregnancy left her with a hiatal hernia as a result of the medical steps taken to try to save the baby.

Philanthropy

Throughout her lifetime, Minnelli has served on various charities and causes. She served on the board of directors of The Institutes for The Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP) for 20 years, a nonprofit educational organization that introduces parents to the field of child brain development. In a 2006 interview with Randy Rice at Broadwayworld.com, Minnelli said that she was the person who told Elizabeth Taylor about HIV/AIDS while talking about their mutual friend Rock Hudson. She has also dedicated much time to amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, which was co-founded by Taylor.

In 2007, she stated in an interview with ''Palm Springs Life'': "AmfAR is important to me because I've lost so many friends that I knew o AIDS.Holly O'Dell . ''Palm Springs Life'' In 1994, she recorded the Kander & Ebb tune "The Day After That" and donated the proceeds to AIDS research. The same year, she performed the song in front of thousands in Central Park at the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

Discography

;Studio albums
* '' Liza! Liza!'' (1964)
* '' It Amazes Me'' (1965)
* '' There Is a Time'' (1966)
* ''Liza Minnelli'' (1968)
* '' Come Saturday Morning'' (1969)
* ''New Feelin''' (1970)
* '' The Singer'' (1973)
* '' Tropical Nights'' (1977)
* ''Results'' (1989)
* '' Gently'' (1996)
* '' Confessions'' (2010)

Credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and nominations

In 1991, for her contribution to live performance, Minnelli was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard. She was made a Knight of the French Legion of Honour. She also received an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, a Grammy Award, and three Tony Awards.

See also

* List of persons who have won Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards

References

Further reading

* Leigh, Wendy (1993), ''Liza: Born a Star''. E.P. Dutton
* Mair, George (1996), ''Under the Rainbow: The Real Liza Minnelli''. Carol Publishing
* Schechter, Scott (2004), ''The Liza Minnelli Scrapbook''. Kensington Books/Citadel Press
* Spada, James (1983), ''Judy and Liza''. Doubleday

External links

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Liza Minnelli interview with KVUE-TV in 1988 about ''Arthur 2: On the Rocks''
from Texas Archive of the Moving Image

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minnelli, Liza

1946 births
Living people
American child actresses
American women pop singers
American film actresses
American musical theatre actresses
American television actresses
American vedettes
American voice actresses
Nightclub performers
Traditional pop music singers
American LGBTQ rights activists

Best Actress Academy Award winners
Best Actress BAFTA Award winners
Best Miniseries or Television Movie Actress Golden Globe winners
Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (film) winners
David di Donatello winners
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Primetime Emmy Award winners
Tony Award winners
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Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni

Actresses from Hollywood, Los Angeles
Actresses from New York City
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Special Tony Award recipients
20th-century American actresses
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21st-century American women singers
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American contraltos
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