Liza Minnelli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Liza Minnelli
Minnelli in 1973
Born	Liza May Minnelli (1946-03-12) March 12, 1946 (age 79) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer dancer
Years active	1949–present
Works	Discography performances
Spouse(s)	Peter Allen ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1974)​ Jack Haley Jr. ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1979)​ Mark Gero ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 1992)​ David Gest ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2007)​
Parent(s)	Vincente Minnelli Judy Garland
Relatives	Lorna Luft (half-sister) Joey Luft (half-brother)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Traditional pop musical theatre vocal disco
Labels	Capitol A&M Columbia Epic Angel Decca
Associated acts	Judy Garland Bing Crosby Frank Sinatra Sammy Davis Jr. John Kander Fred Ebb Pet Shop Boys

Liza May Minnelli (born March 12, 1946) is a famous American actress, singer, and dancer. She is known for her strong stage presence and powerful singing voice. Liza has won many important awards, 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 to have won an EGOT, which means she has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. She received two special Grammy Awards. Liza Minnelli is also a Knight of the French Legion of Honour, a very high honor. Many people see her as a cultural icon because of her unique style.

Liza's parents were the famous actress and singer Judy Garland and the director Vincente Minnelli. She moved to New York City in 1961 and started her career in musical theater and as a nightclub singer. Her first professional stage role was in Best Foot Forward in 1963. She became well-known for working with John Kander and Fred Ebb, who wrote many of her songs. She won Tony Awards for her roles in Flora the Red Menace (1965) and The Act (1978).

In movies, Liza became very famous for her role as Sally Bowles in the musical film Cabaret (1972). This role earned her an Academy Award. She also starred in other films like New York, New York (1977) and Arthur (1981). On television, she was a guest star on the show Arrested Development.

Her concerts at famous venues like Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall were very successful. She also toured with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. Her most famous songs include "New York, New York", "Cabaret", and "Maybe This Time". A documentary about her life, Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, was released in 2024.

Early Life and Family

Liza Minnelli was born on March 12, 1946, in Hollywood. Her parents were the famous actress and singer Judy Garland and the director Vincente Minnelli. They named her after a song called "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)".

Minnelli with her mother on the set of Summer Stock in 1950

Liza has a half-sister named Lorna and a half-brother named Joey from her mother's other marriage. She also has another half-sister, Christiane Nina Minnelli, from her father's second marriage. Liza's godparents were Kay Thompson and Ira Gershwin.

Liza first appeared in a movie when she was three years old. She was in the final scene of the musical In the Good Old Summertime (1949), which starred her mother. In 1961, she moved to New York City. She attended the High School of Performing Arts and later the Chadwick School.

A Star on Stage

Early Theater Roles

In 1961, Liza Minnelli worked as an apprentice at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, Massachusetts. She sang in the chorus of Flower Drum Song. She also played a part in Take Me Along.

Liza started performing professionally at age 17 in 1963. She was in an Off-Broadway show called Best Foot Forward. For this role, she won the Theatre World Award. She also toured in The Fantasticks with Elliott Gould.

The next year, her mother, Judy Garland, asked her to perform with her in London. These concerts were recorded and released as an album. Liza went to Scarsdale High School for one year. She starred in a play called The Diary of Anne Frank, which then toured in Israel.

Broadway Success

At 19, Liza made her debut on Broadway. She won her first Tony Award for her role in Flora the Red Menace. This was her first time working with the famous musical writers John Kander and Fred Ebb. They would work together many times throughout her career.

In 1974, Liza performed her own one-woman show on Broadway called Liza at the Winter Garden. She won a Special Tony Award for this show. She also took over the role of Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago in 1975. In 1978, she won another Tony Award for her role in The Act. She was nominated for a Tony Award again in 1984 for The Rink. In 2009, she won another Special Tony Award for her show Liza at the Palace!.

Music Career

Minnelli recording in 1971

Liza Minnelli started singing in nightclubs when she was a teenager. Her first professional nightclub performance was at age 19 in Washington, D.C. She soon performed in clubs and on stages in many cities. Her success as a live performer led her to record several albums. These included Liza! Liza! (1964), It Amazes Me (1965), and There Is a Time (1966) for Capitol Records.

In her early years, she sang classic American songs and tunes from musicals. From 1968 to the 1970s, she recorded more albums like Liza Minnelli (1968) and Come Saturday Morning (1970). She also released The Singer (1973) and Tropical Nights (1977).

In 1989, Liza worked with the Pet Shop Boys on an electronic dance album called Results. This album was very popular in the UK. Later that year, she performed "Losing My Mind" at the Grammy Awards. She then received a Grammy Legend Award. This award made her one of the few people to win an Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award.

In 1992, Liza performed at a tribute concert for her friend Freddie Mercury. She sang "We Are the Champions" with the band Queen. In 1996, she released a jazz album called Gently. This album earned her a Grammy nomination. In 2006, she sang on My Chemical Romance's album The Black Parade. In 2010, she released an album called Confessions.

Film Appearances

As Sally Bowles in Cabaret

Liza Minnelli's first movie appearance was as a baby in her mother's film In the Good Old Summertime (1949). Her first credited film role was in Charlie Bubbles (1967). She also did voiceover work for the animated film Journey Back to Oz, playing Dorothy.

She had a breakthrough role in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969). Her performance earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She then played another unique character in Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970).

Liza's most famous film role was as Sally Bowles in Cabaret (1972). She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for this role. She also won a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award. After Cabaret, Liza worked with director Bob Fosse on a TV concert called Liza with a "Z".

She starred in Lucky Lady (1975) and A Matter of Time (1976). In 1977, she starred in New York, New York. This movie gave her one of her most famous songs, "New York, New York".

Liza made fewer film appearances after that. However, her next film, Arthur (1981), was a big success. She returned to film for Rent-a-Cop and Arthur 2: On the Rocks (both 1988). She also starred in Stepping Out (1991). In 2006, she appeared in The Oh in Ohio. In 2010, she had a cameo in ... and the City 2.

Television Appearances

Mikhail Baryshnikov and Minnelli in Baryshnikov on Broadway, 1980

As a child, Liza appeared on Art Linkletter's show. She also sang and danced with Gene Kelly on his TV special in 1959. She was a frequent guest on many talk shows in the 1960s. She also appeared on variety shows like Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and The Ed Sullivan Show.

In 1964, Liza had her first dramatic TV role in an episode of Mr. Broadway. In 1965, she starred in the TV special The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood. In 1970, she had her own TV special called Liza. In 1972, she starred in the Bob Fosse-directed Liza with a "Z".

In 1980, she made two more TV specials: Goldie and Liza Together with Goldie Hawn, and An Evening with Liza Minnelli. She appeared in a TV movie called A Time to Live in 1985. In 1992, her concert Liza Minnelli Live from Radio City Music Hall aired on TV. It received six Emmy nominations.

Later in her career, Liza had a recurring role on the TV sitcom Arrested Development. She also made guest appearances on shows like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Drop Dead Diva, and Smash. In 2022, she co-presented the Best Picture award at the 94th Academy Awards with Lady Gaga.

Later Career and Health

Liza Minnelli returned to Broadway in 1997. She took over the main role in the musical Victor/Victoria.

In 2000, Liza had a serious illness called viral encephalitis. Doctors thought she might not be able to walk or speak again. However, she worked hard with vocal and dance lessons every day. She made an amazing recovery. She appeared on The Rosie O'Donnell Show in 2001 and sang "New York, New York". She also performed at a concert for her friend Michael Jackson in 2001.

In 2002, she performed in a show called Liza's Back in London and New York City. In this show, she paid tribute to her mother by singing a part of "Over the Rainbow". From 2003 to 2005, she continued her role as Lucille Austero on Arrested Development. She returned to the show for its fourth season in 2013.

In 2004, Liza performed at the annual Royal Variety Performance in the UK. In 2007, she announced she was working on an album to honor Kay Thompson. This led to her new solo concert on Broadway, Liza's at The Palace...!, which ran from 2008 to 2009.

In 2009, Liza toured Australia and was a guest judge on Australian Idol. She had a cameo in the 2010 movie ... and the City 2. In 2024, Liza announced that she plans to release a memoir in 2026.

Personal Life

Liza Minnelli has faced health challenges throughout her life. She has lived and performed with scoliosis since she was young. This condition affects the spine. She developed unique dance moves because of the pain. She has said, "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.”

Liza is a member of the Episcopal Church. She has been friends with many famous people, including singer Adam Ant.

Marriages

Liza Minnelli has been married and divorced four times. Her first marriage was to entertainer Peter Allen in 1967. They divorced in 1974.

Her second marriage was to producer and director Jack Haley Jr. in 1974. His father was her mother's co-star in The Wizard of Oz. They divorced in 1979.

Liza then married sculptor and stage manager Mark Gero in 1979. They divorced in 1992.

Her fourth marriage was to concert promoter David Gest in 2002. They separated in 2003 and divorced in 2007. Their wedding had many famous guests, including Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor.

Liza has no children. She has had close friendships with people like Mikhail Baryshnikov and director Martin Scorsese.

Helping Others

Liza Minnelli has supported many charities and causes throughout her life. She was on the board of directors for The Institutes for The Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP) for 20 years. This organization helps parents learn about child brain development.

She has also dedicated a lot of time to amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. This foundation was co-founded by her friend Elizabeth Taylor. Liza has said that amfAR is important to her because she lost many friends to AIDS. In 1994, she recorded a song called "The Day After That" and donated the money to AIDS research. She also performed the song in Central Park for 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 Honors

Liza Minnelli has received many awards for her work. In 1991, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was also made a Knight of the French Legion of Honour. She has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, a Grammy Award, and three Tony Awards.

Images for kids

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  Minnelli, in 1993, visiting the tomb of Eva Perón in Buenos Aires

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  Minnelli at The Heart Truth Fashion Show 2008

See also

In Spanish: Liza Minnelli para niños

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