Liza Minnelli, what would showbusiness be without this incredible dame, or should that be ‘dame’ with a D ?
And most certainly what would Liza be without a stage, a microphone, a crowd and a spotlight ? well, we don’t want to know. Because that is all this amazing entertainer needs to weave her own special brand of magic time and time again.
Liza is undertaking a tour de force of Great Britain right now and she looks brilliant in every way; slim, radiant and just as gutsy as ever. Her show in London last night drew several standing ovations and she deserved it, as always.
Okay, she’s a little stiff - the result of two hip replacements; a little shaky on certain notes - the result of a life as tumultous as a tidal wave - but to be able to reduce an audience to weeping, cheering adoration…that takes true ability indeed. London audiences can be fickle but where Liza is concerned she can do no wrong.
But Liza has enjoyed an almost lifelong love affair with British audiences; they adored her mother, Judy Garland, and carried her along in their collective arms during her toughest times…all she had to do was sing and she had them in the palm of her hands. Like mother like daughter.
Liza took over walking that yellow brick road when her mother, Judy, grew too tired to go on and it has been just as bumpy a ride for Liza as Judy; with all the same hills and dips that occasionally got in the way. But Liza is a survivor – and a successful one at that.
Liza Minnelli Trivia:
* Liza was born on March 12 1946 by Caesarian Section.
* She was named by her father, Vincente Minnelli, after the famous George Gershwin song ‘ Liza’. ( Liza, Liza, skies are gray
But if you smile on me, all the clouds will roll away )
* Her mother, Judy Garland, appeared in a musical sequence in the film ‘ Till the Clouds Roll Away ‘ ( 1946) as the famous singer Marilyn Miller singing ‘ Look for the Silver Lining ’ whilst heavily pregnant with Liza. The scene was filmed ( directed by Vincente) with Judy singing the song whilst standing behind a sink and washing up in order to hide her ‘ Liza-bump’. This was 1940′s America of course…
* Liza made her very first film appearance in the movie ‘ In the Good Old Summertime ‘ ( 1948 ) starring her Mum and Van Johnson – it was directed by her father, Vincente Minnelli. Liza, aged two, appears right at the end of the film in the closing sequence when Van Johnson lifts her up and cuddles her along with Judy. Cute to boot !
* Not long after Liza also appeared in the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz movie ‘ The Long Long Trailer ‘ ( 1951) and had a brief unscripted role in their wedding sequence. Unfortunately the scene in which Liza appeared was cut from the released film…bummer!
* Liza was a very bright and perceptive little girl at an early age and liked to be taken seriously. Once when she was aged about four her father, Vincente Minnelli, was sitting in a chair after a days work at the studio reading a newspaper. He put the paper down, looked at little Liza sitting playing near him and said…” You know Liza, I think De Gaulle is not the right person to lead France “. Liza, astonished that her father was speaking to her so maturely called out to her mother, Judy…” Mama, Daddy is TALKING to me ! “
* Liza married gay Australian entertainer Peter Allen ( one half of the duo ‘The Allen Brothers’ ) in 1967; they were married for seven years and remained the closest of friends after their divorce in 1974 and until his death from AIDS in 1992. Close friends say the two remained deeply in love with each other to the end.
* In 1974 Liza married Jack Haley Jnr. Her new husband was the son of Jack Haley Snr who played the role of the ‘Tin Man’ in the film ‘ The Wizard of Oz ‘ with her mother Judy Garland ( in the role of Dorothy).
* Liza spent most of her teen years living with her father Vincente Minnelli. She attended school in England.
* Liza was a very close friend of artist Andy Warhol and reputedly owns over $20 million worth of his works.
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Writing an obit is never fun but when people in the entertainment industry make so many people happy through their work they certainly deserve to be remembered and acknowledged. It is sad enough when stars pass away after many years in the industry, of course people get old and die, but when it is an actor who was only eighteen years of age and on the cusp of a wonderful career it is heartbreakingly tragic.
