Judy Garland
Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922–June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. Garland achieved international recognition for her portrayal of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Her rendition of "Over the Rainbow" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and became Garland's signature song. Garland began her career at the age of two: performing with her two older sisters as a vaudeville act called The Gumm Sisters. In 1935, aged 13, she signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and was initially cast in supporting roles in ensemble musicals such as Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) and Thoroughbreds Don't Cry (1937). The success of The Wizard of Oz propelled her into leading roles in MGM musicals, including Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Easter Parade (1948), and Summer Stock (1950). In the 1950s and early 1960s, she expanded her range with dramatic performances in A Star Is Born (1954) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), both of which earned Academy Award nominations and demonstrated her capacity to convey vulnerability and resilience on screen. Beyond her film work, Garland had a distinguished singing career in recordings and live performance. Between 1939 and 1962, she recorded 11 studio albums. Several of her recordings were later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Her 1961 live album Judy at Carnegie Hall won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. In the same year she became the first woman to receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in motion pictures (aged 39 at the time, she remains the youngest recipient of that award). Her honors also include a Golden Globe Award, an Academy Juvenile Award for her early contributions, and a Special Tony Award for her role in reviving vaudeville. In 1997 she was posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 1999 the American Film Institute ranked her eighth among the greatest female screen legends of classic Hollywood cinema. Garland's personal life was marked by both public fascination and private struggle. She married five times and had three children, including actresses and singers Liza Minnelli and Lorna Luft. From her teenage years onward, she faced health challenges exacerbated by studio pressures on her appearance and performance. She developed dependencies on prescription medications that affected her physical and mental well-being. Financial difficulties, including substantial tax debts, added to her burdens. She died from an accidental barbiturate overdose at age 47 in 1969. Garland's resilience, artistic range and enduring recordings have ensured her lasting impact on popular culture and her reputation as a cultural icon.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Judy Garland", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
References
Title | Summary | |
---|---|---|
How About You | ... was performed in the movie by Judy Garland and Mickey ... |
Connection Chains
- From Keith Moon to Judy Garland in 17 Steps
- From January 10 to Judy Garland in 14 Steps
- From Skull Music to Judy Garland in 13 Steps
- From Illegal Picture Music to Judy Garland in 13 Steps
- From Chris Spedding to Judy Garland in 13 Steps
- From Randy Newman to Judy Garland in 13 Steps
- From Nicky Hopkins to Judy Garland in 12 Steps
- From Angie's Suite to Judy Garland in 12 Steps
- From Harry to Judy Garland in 12 Steps
- From Think About Your Troubles to Judy Garland in 12 Steps
- From Pussy Cats to Judy Garland in 12 Steps
- From November 28 to Judy Garland in 12 Steps
- From Judy Garland to She's Leaving Home in 12 Steps
- From Judy Garland to Barry Morgan in 11 Steps
- From Judy Garland to Frank Zappa in 11 Steps
- From Judy Garland to Gary Burr in 11 Steps
- From Lowell George to Judy Garland in 11 Steps
- From Scotty Turner to Judy Garland in 11 Steps
- From Van McCoy to Judy Garland in 11 Steps
- From Growin' Up to Judy Garland in 11 Steps
- From Andrew Bird to Judy Garland in 11 Steps
- From Harry Nilsson to Judy Garland in 11 Steps
- From Nilsson House to Judy Garland in 11 Steps
- From Judy Garland to Daylight Has Caught Me in 10 Steps
- From I Want You To Sit On My Face to Judy Garland in 10 Steps
- From September 12 to Judy Garland in 10 Steps
Connections
- Judy Garland is a parent of Liza Minnelli
- Liza Minnelli is the daughter of Judy Garland