Liza Minnelli is an iconic American actress, singer, dancer, and choreographer. She is best known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice. She is famous for being one of the very few performers awarded a non-competitive Emmy, Grammy (Grammy Legend Award), Oscar, and Tony (EGOT). She is also a Knight of the French Legion of Honour. Her Tony-winning debut in the 1963 revival of "Best Foot Forward" ignited a lifelong collaboration with John Kander and Fred Ebb, defining her as an enduring gay icon with anthems like "New York, New York" and "Cabaret." Her film journey peaked with the acclaimed "The Sterile Cuckoo" (1969) and an Oscar for "Cabaret" (1972), while Broadway successes like "The Act" (1977) and a diverse music career, including her collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys on "Results" in 1989, showcased her multifaceted talent. Overcoming health setbacks, she triumphantly returned to the concert stage in 2002 and graced "Arrested Development" between 2003 and 2013.
Liza Minnelli, the iconic EGOT winner, renowned for her stage presence and distinctive voice, achieved fame in film, Broadway, and music, with highlights including "The Sterile Cuckoo" (1969), "Cabaret" (1972), and her 1989 collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys.
Liza Minnelli, born on March 12, 1946, in Hollywood, California, USA, is the daughter of renowned parents: the singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli. She is American by nationality while her ethnicity is Mixed. Her name was inspired by the Ira Gershwin song "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)." Within her family, she has half-siblings, Lorna and Joey, from Garland's marriage to Sid Luft, and another half-sister, Christiane Nina Minnelli (known as Tina Nina), from her father's second marriage. Her godparents were Kay Thompson and Ira Gershwin.
Growing up, Liza was immersed in the world of showbiz, visiting studios and observing the filmmaking process. At just three years old, she made her debut film appearance alongside her mother in the 1949 musical "In the Good Old Summertime." Liza's educational journey included New York City's High School of Performing Arts and Chadwick School, with a brief attendance at Scarsdale High School before her career took off with her role in the production of "The Diary of Anne Frank."
Liza Minnelli embarked on her acting career from a young age, starting as an apprentice at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Massachusetts in 1961. Her early theatrical roles included appearances in the chorus of "Flower Drum Song" and the character Muriel in "Take Me Along." At the age of seventeen in 1963, she made her professional debut in an off-Broadway revival of the musical "Best Foot Forward," which earned her the prestigious Theatre World award. Over the next three years, her live performance career blossomed, and she recorded several albums, including notable ones like "Liza, It Amazes Me," and "There is a Time." In 1967, she made her first credited film appearance in "Charlie Bubbles." She continued her successful recording career throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, producing popular tracks like "Come Saturday Morning" and "New Feelin."
In 1989, Liza ventured into electronic dance-style music, releasing the album "Results" in collaboration with the British duo Pet Shop Boys, which reached the top 10 in the UK. Her diverse career also included a memorable performance alongside Michael Jackson at Madison Square Garden in 2001. Liza Minnelli's versatility extended to television, with a role in the Emmy Award-winning TV sitcom "Arrested Development" as Lucille Austero in 2004 and a guest appearance in the film "Sex and the City 2" in 2010. Her stage presence remained strong as she headlined at Hampton Court Palace Festival in 2012 and joined Cher's "Dressed to Kill Tour" in 2014 for a lively rendition of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" alongside Cyndi Lauper and Rosie O'Donnell.
Liza Minnelli has experienced four marriages in her lifetime. Her first venture into matrimony was with Australian singer and entertainer Peter Allen on March 3, 1967, a union that spanned seven years before concluding in divorce in 1974. Following this, she married producer and director Jack Haley Jr. in 1974, but this marriage also reached its end in April 1979. Her third marriage was to Mark Gero, a sculptor and stage manager, in 1979, marked by the heartbreaking experience of three miscarriages, ultimately leading to their divorce in 1992.
In 2002, she entered into a tumultuous marriage with concert promoter David Gest, marred by alcohol-induced violence and property disputes, lasting just about a year. Tragically, despite her various relationships, she remains childless due to medical complications stemming from a hiatal hernia incurred while attempting to save her pregnancy, and she currently remains single.
Liza Minnelli, the accomplished American actress, singer, and dancer, has a staggering net worth of $60 million as of 2023, with an annual income exceeding $5 million. Her main source of wealth comes from her illustrious career in the entertainment industry. Revered as one of the most distinguished stage actresses in history, Liza revels in a lavish lifestyle. Her substantial success has enabled her to own a multitude of properties across America, including residences in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, and New York City, among others. Notably, her passion extends to a remarkable collection of exquisite automobiles, featuring prized vehicles such as Mercedes, Jaguar F-Type, BMW, Ferrari, and more, showcasing her enduring passion for the finer things in life.
Liza Minnelli, the enchanting actress, stands gracefully at a height of 5 feet 4 inches and maintains a slim body type with a body weight of approximately 64 Kg. Her apple-shaped figure boasts measurements of 34-28-36 inches and is complemented by a 34B bra size. With captivating black eyes and a crown of dark brown hair, she exudes timeless charm and elegance, embodying a slim body type that has captured the hearts of audiences for generations.
Liza Minnelli made her official film debut at the incredibly young age of three, playing the daughter of her mother Judy Garland's character, Veronica, in the 1949 film "In the Good Old Summertime." This early appearance marked the start of her lifelong journey in the world of entertainment, a legacy that would see her become an EGOT-winning icon.
On March 12, 1946, the world welcomed Liza May Minnelli as the first and only child of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli. Her name, Liza, was a loving tribute to the song "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)," composed by George and Ira Gershwin with lyrics by Gus Kahn for the 1929 Ziegfeld production, Show Girl. This sentimental connection was further deepened as Judy Garland dedicated a radio performance of the song to her 8-month-old daughter as a soothing lullaby. Later, Judy would cover the song on her own show, and it even featured briefly during their memorable mother-daughter performance at the London Palladium in November 1964, forever intertwining Liza's name with the melodies of her iconic parents.
Continuing her mother's legacy, Liza Minnelli lent her voice to the character of "Dorothy" in the animated film "Journey Back to Oz." Remarkably, Minnelli and most of the cast recorded their lines for the film back in 1962 when she was just 15 years old. However, due to production delays, the movie didn't see the light of day until its release in 1974, allowing Minnelli to channel her talents into giving voice to the beloved character of Dorothy in this timeless animated adventure.
Liza Minnelli has faced a prolonged battle with alcoholism and a dependency on prescription drugs, stemming from a Valium prescription following her mother's passing. Her struggles with substance abuse, particularly in the 1970s, were documented, with artist Andy Warhol recounting in a 1978 diary entry an incident where Minnelli arrived at Halston's house and urgently requested, "Give me every drug you've got." These challenges have been part of her life journey, along with her enduring achievements in the entertainment industry.
Liza Minnelli's godmother is none other than the iconic Kay Thompson, celebrated author of the beloved Eloise series of children's books. Before gaining fame as a children's book author, Thompson had a remarkable career as a cabaret performer and vocal coach to luminaries such as Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball. She also made her mark in film, starring alongside Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 classic "Funny Face."
This multi-talented artist, and close friend to Judy Garland, held a special place in Minnelli's life as her "sophisticated fairy godmother." In a heartfelt tribute, Liza Minnelli paid homage to Kay Thompson by incorporating elements of Thompson's legendary nightclub act into her 2008 Broadway concert titled "Liza's at the Palace."