Musical queen, screen star and gay icon: but who is Liza Minnelli really? This daughter of two cinema legends knew how to find her voice (and what a voice!) and establish herself as one of the greatest performers of her time. Throwback to Liza's incredible journey with a Z!
Hollywood runs through his veins
Born on March 12, 1946, Liza Minnelli was destined to be an artist. His father, Vincente Minnelli is none other than the director of musical films An American in Paris, Gigi, Meet Me in St.Louis, etc. His mother is the immense Judy Garland, Hollywood star and eternal Dorothée of the film The Wizard of Oz. They name her Liza, in reference to the song “Liza” by George Gerswhin, sung here by Judy Garland.
She practically grew up in the studios of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It is therefore quite naturally at the age of 2 that Liza Minnelli made her cinematographic debut in the film In the Good Old Summertime. One thing is already certain: Liza Minnelli has inherited the talent of her parents.
Unfortunately, the couple separated in 1951.
Broadway, get ready!
In 1961, Liza Minnelli went to study theater in New York. She gets her first role at 16 in the musical Best Foot Forward which plays Off-Broadway and wins a Theater World Award. The following year, his mother invited him to go on stage during 2 concerts at the London Palladium. The crowd adores her and young Liza catches the eye of singer Peter Allen, whom she will marry a few years later.
In 1965, she won the Holy Grail: the lead role in the musical Flora, the Red Menace. This work, signed Kander & Ebb, earned her the Tony Award for Best Actress, at only 19 years old.
She becomes the muse of the duo Kander & Ebb who will play a big role in her notoriety of Liza Minnelli and who will offer her her greatest successes. That same year, she sang in nightclubs across the United States. She signed with Capitol Records and recorded three albums: Lisa! Lisa! Lisa!, It Amazes Me et There Is a Time. She performs pop music standards and her powerful voice earned her the nickname "Barbra Streisand's little sister".
His arrival in the world of entertainment is sensational and his career will be just as much.
star on screen
Liza Minnelli makes her television debut in an episode of the series Mr Broadway. In the cinema, she appears in the films Charlie Bubbles, Pookie (which earned him his first Oscar nomination) or even Tell me you love me Junie Moon.
In 1972, it is the consecration. Liza Minnelli gets an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for Cabaret, in which she plays Sally Bowles. The whole world discovers her talents as an actress, singer and dancer.
With the complicity of Bob Fosse and Kander & Ebb, she films a concert for television: Liza with a Z. The concert won 7 awards including 4 Emmy Awards.
Less successful films will follow like Lucky Lady, New York, New York alongside Robert De Niro, Rent-a-Cop et Stepping out. It is still in New York, New York that we find the interplanetary tube of the same name composed by Kander & Ebb.
Rumor has it that filming the scene including the title track took over 100 takes, with Liza Minnelli never being satisfied with her performance:
Nevertheless, success comes at a price. Judy Garland died of a barbiturate overdose in 1969. Like a curse, Liza Minnelli in turn develops an addiction to painkillers and alcohol…
A bespoke return to Broadway
For Madame Minnelli's 30th birthday, the duo Kander & Ebb wrote her a bespoke musical. The Act tells the story of a former movie star trying to make a comeback in Las Vegas as a singer. This musical showcases all of Liza's strengths: her overpowering voice, her comedic talents and her choreographic ease. On Broadway in 1977, she won her second Tony Award for this performance.
Her marriage to Jack Haley Jr., (the son of the Tin Man of Wizard of Oz, who shared the screen with his mother!) is short-lived. in 1974, she created her first musical solo on Broadway, Liza, for which she won another Tony Award. The following year, she replaced Gwen Verdon for a month and became Roxie Hart in Chicago.
In the 70s, she released 3 new albums then in 1979, she married the sculptor Mark Gero. She returned to the big screen in 1981, with the film Arthur, critically acclaimed.
Kander & Ebb offer him a new role alongside Chita Rivera in The Rink on Broadway. Despite these two headliners, the show received poor reviews and closed after a few weeks in 1984. Minnelli left the show to enter rehab.
A committed icon…
Until the end of the 90s, Liza Minnelli chained the televised concerts as well as the roles on the small screen. From 1988 to 90, she even went on tour with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.. Also in 90, she was awarded the Grammy Legend Award and became one of the few artists to obtain an EGOT (that is to say to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony).
She finds the boards of Broadway a few weeks in 1997 by replacing Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria.
She rises to legendary status thanks to her overflowing personality and the fact thatshe doesn't take herself seriously. Her voice is a rallying cry and her songs become hymns. She is also considered an LGBT icon for her support of AIDS research. In 1994, she donated all proceeds from her song “The Day After That” to HIV research.
Finally, Minnelli is a fashion icon because it must be said that she has a certain penchant for glitter. Her most memorable outfits are by Halston, her great fashion designer friend, who perfected the Liza look.
…but fragile
Unfortunately, his health deteriorated at the turn of the 2000st century. Consumed by her addictions, she entered rehab five times. In XNUMX, she was hospitalized with viral encephalitis. The doctors tell her that she will spend the rest of these days in a wheelchair. But Liza does not give up and follows dance and singing lessons every day. She had knee surgery and received two hip prostheses. Always full of humor, she declares in an interview: “upstairs, I am the daughter of Dorothy and downstairs, the daughter of the tin man”.
Anyway, in 2002, she went back on stage to record the album "Liza's Back" live. An album, produced by her husband #4, David Gest and which includes, you guessed it, Kander & Ebb songs!
Nothing stops him !
In 2003, Liza turns 57. She has a small role in the series Arrested Development, then, made a few appearances in the film The Boy from Oz (based on the life of her first husband, Peter Allen) and sings Beyonce in Sex and the City 2 !
In 2007, she returned to Broadway with Liza's at the Palace (to see in full on Youtube!). In this single on stage, she covers the songs that have marked her career and shares hilarious and touching anecdotes about her extraordinary journey.
For this show, she won her 4th Tony Award.
In 2010, she recorded with her great pianist friend, Billy Stritch, Confessions, an album of American standards. We can see her during a concert in London in 2012 and then on stage during Cher's concert in New York, two years later.
For several years, Liza Minnelli has been more discreet. She still made an appearance at the 2022 Oscars. In a wheelchair and looking disoriented, she could count on the support of Lady Gaga. They celebrated the 50th anniversary of the film Cabaret, before awarding the prize for Best Film to CODA.
Long Live Liza!
Now 77, Liza Minnelli continues to be a role model for aspiring actors and singers. This Liza with a "z" made an impression and will continue to do so until the end of time. With more than 20 films and just as many albums to his credit, memorable performances on Broadway, his legend is indeed eternal.
Moreover, a Twitter account also reports on all the events that Liza Minnelli has exceeded:
Long live Liza Minnelli!