Sunday, October 23, 2022

Italian American Heritage Month: Liza Minnelli

Liza Minnelli

A multiple award-winning legend, Liza Minnelli moved beyond the long shadow cast by her mother, Judy Garland, with an accomplished and prolific career of her own. Along the way, she became one of the few people to score an EGOT (winning the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony).
Of course, as the daughter of renowned director Vincente Minnelli and entertainer Judy Garland, it came as little surprise when Liza followed in her parent's footsteps. It's well known that she absolutely adored her father  and has often spoken with pride of her Italian heritage. 
Already a Tony-winning Broadway performer, Minnelli won an Oscar for her role as bohemian chanteuse Sally Bowles in "Cabaret" (1972) and followed with the Emmy-winning "Liza with a Z" (NBC, 1972) television special. Her marriage to singer-songwriter Peter Allen ended in 1974, and would be among the most stellar of Minnelli's many romantic relationships. It was Allen who penned the Oscar-winning theme song to Minnelli's next film, the comedy classic "Arthur" (1981), starring Dudley Moore. 
Although beloved by fans, the vulnerable performer suffered from addictions to alcohol and pills, much as her mother had, eventually seeking rehab for her issues. Ever the survivor, Minnelli continued to record and perform, reaching a new generation of fans with the concert special "Liza Minnelli Live from Radio City Music Hall" (PBS, 1992) and again with a hilarious recurring role as an over-sexed socialite on the acclaimed comedy series "Arrested Development" (Fox, 2003-06). Still going strong, she made a triumphant return to Broadway in the Tony Award-winning "Liza's at the Palace...!" in 2008 and continued to perform live for her devoted fans. 
After more than 50 years on stage and screen, the passionate and dazzling Liza Minnelli has truly earned her reputation as one of the greatest entertainers of all time.


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