Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 - June 22, 1969) was the stage name of the American actress who was born Frances Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
She was signed at the age of 13 by Louis B. Mayer to a contract with MGM without a screen test. At the age of 16, she got the role originally destined for Shirley Temple, that of Dorothy in the film of The Wizard of Oz (1939), and was forever afterwards associated with the song, "Over the Rainbow". After Oz, Garland became one of MGM's most important stars, proving particularly popular when teamed with Mickey Rooney in a string of "let's put on a show!" musicals.
Throughout the 1940s her films increased in popularity, the most critically and financially successful being Meet Me in St. Louis, in which she introduced three classics standards: "The Trolley Song," "The Boy Next Door," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Her other famous films include The Harvey Girls (1946), in which she introduced "On the Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe," Easter Parade (1948), A Star Is Born (1954), and Judgment at Nuremberg (1962). She received an honorary Academy Award for her performance in The Wizard of Oz, and was nominated for Best Actress in A Star is Born, and Best Supporting Actress for Judgment at Nuremberg.
When her MGM contract was terminated in 1950, Garland turned to television and live concert appearances. Throughout the 1950s and most notably in the early 1960s she made enormously successful appearances in both mediums. Her appearance at Carnegie Hall was a considerable highlight, called by many the "greatest single night in show business," and the live recording made of the event was a best seller and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and Grammy Award for Best Female Vocal of the Year. She had a critically praised television series in 1964.
The shortcomings of her childhood years became more apparent as Garland struggled to overcome various personal problems, including weight gain,heavy drinking, and drug addiction. Her children were Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, and Joey Luft. Garland's first four marriages all ended in divorce. At the time of her death, she had recently married for the fifth time, one reason for believing that the overdose which killed her was an accident rather than suicide.
Her marriages were to:
- David Rose (1910-1990; married 1941-1945)
- Vincente Minnelli (1903-1986, married 1945-1951)
- Sidney Luft (1952-1964)
- Mark Herron (1928-1996, married 1964-1967)
- Mickey Deans (née Michael DeVinko, 1934-2003) (married 1969)
Filmography
- I Could Go On Singing UA/Barbican, 1963
- A Child Is Waiting UA, 1963
- Gay Purr-ee Warner Bros/UPA, 1963
- Judgment at Nuremberg UA, 1961
- Pepe Columbia, 1960 (voice only)
- A Star Is Born Warner Bros, 1954
- Summer Stock MGM, 1950
- In the Good Old Summertime MGM, 1949
- Words and Music MGM, 1948
- Easter Parade MGM, 1948
- The Pirate MGM, 1948
- Till the Clouds Roll By MGM, 1946
- Ziegfeld Follies of 1946 MGM, 1946
- The Harvey Girls MGM, 1946
- The Clock MGM, 1945
- Meet Me in St. Louis MGM, 1944
- Thousands Cheer MGM, 1943
- Girl Crazy MGM, 1943
- Presenting Lily Mars MGM, 1943
- For Me and My Gal MGM, 1942
- We Must Have Music MGM short subject, 1941
- Babes on Broadway MGM, 1941
- Life Begins for Andy Hardy MGM, 1941
- Ziegfeld Girl MGM, 1941
- Little Nellie Kelly MGM, 1940
- Strike Up the Band MGM, 1940
- Andy Hardy Meets Debutante MGM, 1940
- If I Forget You MGM short subject, 1940
- Babes in Arms MGM, 1939
- The Wizard of Oz MGM, 1939
- Listen, Darling MGM, 1938
- Love Finds Andy Hardy MGM, 1938
- Everybody Sing MGM, 1938
- Silent Night MGM Christmas Trailer, 1937
- Thoroughbreds Don't CryMGM, 1937
- Broadway Melody of 1938 MGM, 1937
- Pigskin Parade Fox, 1936
- Every Sunday MGM short subject, 1936
- La Fiesta de Santa Barbara MGM short subject, 1935
- Bubbles Vitaphone short subject, 1929
- The Wedding of Jack and Jill Vitaphone short subject, 1929
- A Holiday in Storyland Vitaphone short subject, 1929
- The Big Revue Meglin short subject, 1929
