Michael Sidney Luft (November 2, 1915 – September 15, 2005) was an American producer and businessman, the second husband of actress Lynn Bari, and later the third husband of actress and singer Judy Garland.

Early life

Luft was born in New York City, the son of Leonora (Meyers) and Norbert Luft, who were Jewish immigrants from Russia and Germany. His family moved to Westchester County, where he grew up.

Career

Luft was once an amateur boxer and bar-room brawler and had the nickname "One-Punch Luft". He was a pilot in the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

and in the early 1940s was a test pilot for Douglas Aircraft Company. Luft's first Hollywood assignment was as the secretary and manager of dancer Eleanor Powell. He is credited with keeping Judy Garland working and with setting up a deal with Warner Bros. to bankroll his wife's comeback film, a 1954 musical remake of '' A Star Is Born'' plus future projects. Luft's name is on the film's credits as producer. ''A Star Is Born'' was a major critical success. During its first release, the picture proved to be very popular with audiences and grossed an enormous amount of money, but it failed to recoup its production costs. This was considered a major factor in Garland not winning the Academy Award that year for Best Actress. As a result, the studio canceled the Luft–Garland contract.

Personal life

He was married five times: *In December 1940 to aspiring actress MaryLou Simpson. They divorced in 1942. * On November 28, 1943, to actress Lynn Bari. They had two children, a daughter who died shortly after birth and a son named John Michael Luft (born 1948). They divorced on December 26, 1950. * On June 29, 1952, to singer and actress Judy Garland. They had two children, Lorna Luft (born November 21, 1952, in

Santa Monica, California Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

) and Joseph Wiley "Joey" Luft (born March 29, 1955, in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

). They separated in 1963 and divorced in 1965. Garland accused him of drunkenness, gambling indebtedness and abuse. * In 1970, to Patti Hemingway (sometimes spelled Patty Hemingway). They divorced less than a year later. * On March 20, 1993, to Camille Keaton.

Death

Sidney Luft died on September 15, 2005, in

, apparently of a heart attack, at the age of 89.

Filmography

*1947: ''

Kilroy Was Here Kilroy was here is a meme that became popular during World War II, typically seen in graffiti. Its origin is debated, but the phrase and the distinctive accompanying doodle became associated with G.I. (military), GIs in the 1940s: a bald-head ...

'' *1948: '' French Leave'' *1954: '' A Star Is Born'' *1955: '' Ford Star Jubilee'' (TV) (Episode: "The Judy Garland Special") *1956: '' General Electric Theater'' (TV) (Episode: "Judy Garland Musical Special") *1997: ''Judy Garland's Hollywood''

References

External links

*
Sidney Luft movies

* ttps://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200512/sidney-luft The Least Worst Man: Sidney Luft (1915–2005)
Garland's Oscar statue lawsuit

* ttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4723844/I-couldnt-stop-Judy-falling-apart.html Luft's Daily Telegraph interview* ttps://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-09-16-sid-luft-obit_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA Luft USA Today obituary (Associated Press)
Washington Post obituary (Associated Press)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luft, Sidney 1915 births 2005 deaths American film producers American entertainment industry businesspeople American impresarios Male actors from New York City American people of Russian-Jewish descent American people of German-Jewish descent Businesspeople from New York City Royal Canadian Air Force officers