Minnelli began training as a toddler, but unlike scores of young ballet students, she was invited to perform in her mother's variety act, notably as a seven-year-old appearing alongside Garland as she belted out "Swanee" at New York City's Palace Theater. Her first and true love, however, was dancing. Born into the spotlight, Minnelli's anything but normal upbringing was marked by newborn hospital visits from Frank Sinatra her and godfather, composer Ira Gershwin, as well as a film debut at two years old in "Easter Parade" (1948). The couple, who married in 1945, would later divorce in 1951 - due in no small part to Garland's increasingly erratic behavior. Her father, Vincente Minnelli, was an Oscar-winning director of such films as "Meet Me in St. Her mother, Judy Garland, had launched a singing career as one of the three Gumm Sisters before going on to become one of MGM's most beloved musical stars and the legendary Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). Liza Minnelli was born in Los Angeles on March 12, 1946, into a family whose entertainment roots stretched back hundreds of years. After more than 50 years on stage and screen, Minnelli had truly earned her reputation as one of the greatest entertainers of all time. 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. 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). 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. It was Allen who penned the Oscar-winning theme song to Minnelli's next film, the comedy classic "Arthur" (1981), starring Dudley Moore. Her marriage to singer-songwriter Peter Allen ended in 1974, and would be just the first of Minnelli's romantic relationships with men rumored to be homosexual. 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. The daughter of Hollywood royalty, it came as little surprise when Liza followed in her mother's footsteps. 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.
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