Liza Minnelli - ©Theda Bara

The name I highlight in this post is that of the award-winning American actress, singer, and dancer Liza Minnelli, who became world-famous in the 1970s for her portrayal of “Sally Bowles” in the musical film “Cabaret” (1972), a film that earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1973. Liza is recognized for her powerful voice and impeccable performances, being considered one of the queens of Broadway and Hollywood.

Liza Minnelli is the daughter of the renowned actress Frances Ethel Gumm, better known by her stage name Judy Garland (1922-1969), and filmmaker Vincente Minnelli, pseudonym of Lester Anthony Minnelli (1903-1986).

Liza Minnelli, at 76 years old, made a moving appearance at the 2022 Oscars in a wheelchair alongside American singer, songwriter, and actress Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga (1986-), to present the Best Picture award, marking the 50th anniversary of “Cabaret”. Despite the warm reception, friends alleged that the star was “sabotaged” by the event's production, as she wanted to use a “director’s chair” and was forced to use a regular wheelchair (because the motorized chair could slip on stage during the presentation), all against her will.

In addition to the Oscar, Liza Minnelli won four Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical in 1965 and 1978, a Special Award in 1974, and an award for Best Special Event in Theatre in 2009. She also won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in 1973 for “Cabaret”; two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical in 1973 for “Cabaret” and Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film in 1986 for “A Time to Live” (1985); two Grammy Awards in 1973, in the category of Best Variety or Music Program for “Liza with a Z” and in 1991 for “Music Legend”.

The actress has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, in the Live Theatrical Performance category.

Liza May Minnelli was born on March 12, 1946, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, United States, and is currently 79 years old.

The actress has been married four times. Her first marriage was to Peter Allen (1944–1992), an acclaimed Australian singer, songwriter, and pianist, from 1967 to 1974; Liza Minnelli’s second marriage occurred in the same year as her separation, to Jack Haley Jr. (1933–2001), an acclaimed American director, producer, and screenwriter, from 1974 to 1979; her third marriage also occurred in the same year as her separation, to Mark Gero (1952-), an American sculptor without much talent, from 1979 to 1992; Finally, Liza married David Alan Gest (1953-2016), an American television promoter and producer, from 2002 to 2007. Liza Minnelli has no biological or adopted children.