The Unbreakable Bond: Liza Minnelli And Judy Garland's Legendary Legacy

That voice! Those eyes! Those gams! Between Liza Minnelli and Judy Garland, those attributions seamlessly apply to both. In 1954, A Star Is Born was meant to be Garland's huge comeback — and comeback she did — but it was eight years prior that truly, her star was born in the form of daughter Liza on March 12, 1946.

With a career spanning 60 years, Liza has become a legend in film and on stage. Famous for her Academy Award-winning role in Cabaret and her Emmy Award-winning TV special Liza with a Z, Minnelli is one of those rare breeds who belong to the EGOT family: in fact, between 1965 and 2009, Minnelli has won a total of seven Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

Her mother, perhaps, could’ve given her talented daughter a run for her money in the accolades department had she not prematurely died at the age of 47 from a barbiturate overdose. But still, despite Garland's early death, the existing parallels between mother and daughter are uncannily striking.

Shared Experiences and Early Stardom

Both Judy and Liza had to grow up fast and be breadwinners for their families. At the tender age of two and a half, Judy made her first appearance on stage in a "Jingle Bells" Christmas performance at her father's movie theater along with her two older sisters. Managed by their vaudevillian mother, the three sisters became a traveling act, first known as the Gumm Sisters, and later billed as the Garland Sisters. Eventually, Judy signed a contract with MGM at the age of 13.

On the other hand, Liza grew up on the MGM lot and made her first appearance in her mother's musical In the Good Old Summertime. By 19, Liza was already on Broadway, becoming the youngest actress to win a Tony for her performance in Flora, the Red Menace.

During the opening of Flora, Judy proclaimed, "Can you believe that’s Liza up there? We did that!" showing her immense pride. Judy recognized her daughter's talent and saw her as both inspiration and motivation.

Complicated Relationships and Challenges

Judy's competitive spirit was apparent to Liza as she reflected, "It was the strangest feeling. One minute I was on stage with my mother, the next moment I was on stage with Judy Garland." As Liza's success grew, so did Judy's struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, leading Liza to become Judy's caretaker for a time.

Both women experienced the complexities of having gay fathers. Judy's father, Frank, faced rumors regarding his sexuality, while Liza's father, director Vincente Minnelli, was known to be gay or at least bisexual. These family dynamics shaped their lives and relationships, adding layers to their stories.

Judy married five times, and two of her husbands, Vincente Minnelli and Mark Herron, were gay. Liza mirrored this pattern, having four husbands, two of whom were also gay, including her first husband, Peter Allen, who had an affair with Judy's second husband.

Struggles with Substance Abuse

Both Judy and Liza faced struggles with drug and alcohol abuse. Judy became a victim of the Hollywood studio system's pressures, resulting in her early addiction to drugs and alcohol. Actress Lauren Bacall recalled that Judy was placed on drugs from childhood, impacting her life severely.

Similarly, Liza started using alcohol and prescription pills early in her career, becoming a part of the New York City nightclub scene in the '70s. She entered rehab at the Betty Ford Clinic in the early 1980s, highlighting the challenges they both faced in their personal lives.

Insecurities and Self-Perception

Both women struggled with insecurities about their looks. Judy, often critiqued harshly, felt ugly and fat compared to Hollywood's beauty standards. Studio executives enforced strict diets that were harmful, contributing to her lasting self-image issues.

Liza, too, dealt with similar insecurities. Biographer Emanuel Levy noted that like her mother, Liza felt insecure about her desirability as a woman. Both shared a unique physique and similar neuroses, leading to an ongoing search for validation and love from father figures.

Legends of Stage and Film

Judy is most famously known for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, but she also starred in classics like Meet Me in St. Louis and A Star Is Born. Her contributions earned her numerous awards, including a Golden Globe and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

In her mother's footsteps, Liza became part of the EGOT family and is celebrated for her performances on Broadway and in films such as Cabaret and Arthur. Liza's advocacy for gay rights and her shared talent with her mother solidified her status as a beloved figure in the LGBTQ+ community.

Ultimately, the legacies of Liza Minnelli and Judy Garland intertwine, showcasing their remarkable talents while illuminating the struggles they faced. Like mother, like daughter, their stories continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.