Liza Minnelli

Season 12, Episode 1208

Original Airdate: February 5, 2006

The daughter of legendary actress Judy Garland and filmmaker Vincente Minnelli, Liza Minnelli was born to be a star. Her tremendous singing and acting talent made Liza a famous entertainer in her own right during her late teen years, and she became the youngest actress to win a Tony Award at the age of 19.

Liza's entertainment career began at the age of two, when she appeared in the film in “The Good Old Summertime” with her mother. While at first she did not want to pursue a career in entertainment, Liza went on to become one of the world's most multitalented and popular entertainers. She moved from her native Los Angeles to New York City to sing and dance on stage and in cabarets at the age of 16. In 1964, she released her first album, “Liza! Liza!”.

She toured with several off-Broadway productions, and debuted on Broadway in “Flora,” “The Red Menace,” the show for which she won a Tony, in 1965. In 1972, Liza won the Oscar for Best Actress for the film “Cabaret,” as well as an Emmy for her television special Liza with a “Z.” Through the 1970s and 1980s, she continued to star in several Broadway productions, movies (including the Arthur films with Dudley Moore) and television appearances, including the 1985 television movie “A Time to Live,” for which she won a Golden Globe. In 1988 and 1989, Liza joined her lifelong friend Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra on a world tour called “The Ultimate Event.”

In the 1990s, Liza enjoyed a very successful concert series at Radio City Music Hall in 1991 and a stint substituting for Julie Andrews in “Victor/Victoria” on Broadway in 1997. In 2002, Liza released a new album entitled “Liza's Back!”, exhibiting her tremendous voice yet again.

Liza's vitality, acting talent and beautiful singing voice have made her a quintessential entertainer for the last four decades, and she continues today to be one of America's brightest stars.