Judy Garland's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) 60 Minutes II Judy Garland Here's Hollywood Judy Garland The Judy Garland Show Judy Garland

Main Movie Roles 2007 - P.S. I Love You 2005 - The Family Stone 1985 - That's Dancing! 1962 - Gay Purr-ee 1961 - Judgment at Nuremberg 1954 - A Star Is Born 1950 - Summer Stock 1949 - In the Good Old Summertime 1948 - Easter Parade 1948 - The Pirate 1948 - Words and Music 1946 - The Harvey Girls 1946 - Till the Clouds Roll By 1944 - Meet Me in St. Louis 1943 - Girl Crazy 1943 - Thousands Cheer 1943 - Presenting Lily Mars 1942 - For Me and My Gal 1941 - Ziegfeld Girl 1941 - Life Begins for Andy Hardy 1941 - Babes on Broadway 1940 - Strike Up the Band 1940 - Little Nellie Kelly 1940 - Andy Hardy Meets Debutante 1939 - Babes in Arms 1939 - The Wizard of Oz 1938 - Love Finds Andy Hardy 1938 - Everybody Sing 1937 - Broadway Melody of 1938

BIOGRAPHY:

She immediately attracted attention in such films as Pigskin Parade (1936), Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) and Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937), but Judy Garland didn't truly become a star until she was cast in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Her performance as Dorothy won her a special Juvenile Oscar, and it was this role, of course, that gave her her most famous song, "Over the Rainbow." She then appeared in a long string of classic MGM musicals, including Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Easter Parade (1948) and several with her friend, Mickey Rooney (I). Unfortunately, the same studio that made her a star unwittingly made her a drug addict, providing her with amphetamines to keep her energy level high and her weight level down. This in turn kept her wide awake at night, unable to sleep, so she was given barbiturates to help her sleep. She soon couldn't live without these "wonder drugs." She also couldn't seem to live without a man, as she went through several affairs, often with older men, and by 1950 had been married twice, to bandleader David Rose (I) and director Vincente Minnelli. She had a daughter, Liza Minnelli, with Vincente. All during this time her drug intake had increased dramatically, which led to increasingly erratic behavior and she often failed to show up on time at the studio. MGM eventually couldn't take it any more, and her contract was terminated in 1950. She divorced Minnelli the following year and married producer Sidney Luft. Luft, the father of her daughter Lorna Luft and son Joey Luft, took it upon himself to orchestrate her comeback with a series of very successful concert tours. He also produced the film A Star Is Born (1954), in which many feel she gave her greatest performance. By now she was concentrating on her career as a singer, which was winning her more legions of fans. She continued touring throughout the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in three more films and starring in her own television variety show in 1963, which had to be canceled after one season because the competition, "Bonanza" (1959), was too strong. She divorced Luft and married actor Mark Herron (I); she divorced him when she found out he was gay, and married disco manager Mickey Deans. Throughout this time, however, she still continued her dependency on prescription drugs, and finally the inevitable happened: on the night of June 22, 1969, she overdosed on barbiturates and died. Thousands mourned the world over. It was a sad way to end, but she has left a great legacy: her many films and recordings, as well as her children. Liza and Lorna are now singers as well, carrying on the family tradition.


TRIVIA:

• Was pregnant with her first child 'Liza Minnelli' (qv) while filming her minor role in _Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)_ (qv). In order to hide her pregnant stomach she was hidden behind stacks of dishes while singing "Look For The Silver Lining". She had also recorded a song "Do You Love Me", which was cut before release. Her scenes were directed by her then husband 'Vincente Minnelli' (qv).
• Dated 'Tyrone Power' (qv), 'Orson Welles' (qv), 'Frank Sinatra' (qv) and 'Robert Stack' (qv). She remained close friends with each man even after dating.
• The only witnesses present at her Las Vegas wedding to 'David Rose (I)' (qv) in 1941 were her mother and stepfather.
• Replaced 'June Allyson' (qv) in the film _Royal Wedding (1951)_ (qv) after she became pregnant, but her failure to report to the set led to her being replaced by 'Jane Powell (III)' (qv).
• During her first marriage to 'David Rose (I)' (qv), Judy was forced to undergo an abortion at the insistence of MGM studio head 'Louis B. Mayer' (qv) who feared that pregnancy would hurt her good-girl image. The event left her traumatized for the rest of her life.
• Always had crooked front teeth, for which an MGM dentist fitted her with removable caps to wear in her films, including _The Wizard of Oz (1939)_ (qv).
• She discouraged her children from entering show business, pointing out her financial and health problems resulting from the nature of the entertainment business. Nevertheless, two of her children, 'Liza Minnelli' (qv) and 'Lorna Luft' (qv) both became entertainers. Her son Joe lives in relative anonymity as a freelance photographer.
• 6/12/64: She married 'Mark Herron (I)' (qv), although her divorce from 'Sidney Luft' (qv) was not settled. They were married in Mandarin by a Buddhist monk, and the validity of this marriage is not clear.