Judy Garland

Judy Garland

Born:

June 10, 1922

Born as:

Frances Ethel Gumm

Died:

June 22, 1969

Biography:

Born in Minnesota (USA) Frances was the child of vaudeville performers. She made her stage debut at the age of two, at her father's movie house and theatre.

In 1934 Frances and her two sisters performed in Chicago as the Gumm Sisters during the World's Fair. That is where Frances Gumm was advised to change her name to Judy Garland.

A few years later MGM boss Louis B. Mayer signed her to a contract after a personal audition.

Judy's first screen appearance was in short called Every sunday (1936) but she stole the show in Broadway melody of 1938 when she sang “Dear mr Gable” to a photograph of the star.

After a string of unsuccessful films, she landed the role of Dorothy in the classic film The Wizard of Oz (1939). Garland became a major star and she appeared in a long string of classic musicals, including Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Easter Parade (1948) and several (nine times in total) with her friend, Mickey Rooney.

In 1945, she married the now famous director Vincente Minnelli, with whom she had a daughter, Liza.

Judy became a drug addict because of the amphetamines and barbiturates the studio provided and in1950 she attempted suicide for the first time.

In 1954 she acted in George Cukor's remake of A Star Is Born but the comeback was short lived and a long period of inactivity started.

In the early sixties Garland began the weekly “The Judy Garland Show” but the show was cancelled after a year.

In 1969 Judy died by an accidental overdose of sleeping pills.

Academy awards:

1962 Nominated Best Actress for: Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
1955 Nominated Best Actress for: A Star Is Born (1954)
1940 Juvenile Award for her outstanding performance as a screen juvenile during the past year.

Selected movies:

  • The wizard of Oz (1939)
  • Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
  • Meet me in St. Louis (1944)
  • A star is born (1954)
  • Easter parade (1948)
  • A Child Is Waiting (1963)
  • The Pirate (1948)

Bibliography » Books:

Bibliography » Web:

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Cleveland leader - Judy Garland’s life on film
High-def digest - A star is born on Blu-ray
TV Shows on DVD - Judy Garland part 4
TV Shows on DVD - The Judy Garland show
Variety - Judy Garland’s lifestory