What Happened To Judy Garland's Children?
Judy Garland was one of the most famous stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, per Biography. The talented singer and actress was an acclaimed and beloved performer at the height of her career, and is probably best known for starring in the classic film "The Wizard of Oz." Unfortunately, underneath that glitz and glam was a troubled woman with a serious substance abuse issues. Despite her personal struggles and her death at the age of 47, Garland had a successful career as well as a family. Garland's five marriages resulted in the births of three children — Liza Minnelli, and Lorna and Joey Luft. As the children of such a celebrated figure, what happened to Garland's kids, especially after her untimely death?
Judy Garland's eldest child is Liza Minnelli (via IMDb). Her father was Vincente Minnelli, a successful film and stage director and Judy's second husband. Liza followed in her mother's footsteps and is an award-winning singer, actress, and dancer. She has performed on the big screen, Broadway, and television, and has had a successful music career. In the midst of that professional achievement, however, she has reportedly battled with substance abuse, and has been married four times so far. As of 2022, Minnelli is still working, and is said to be contributing to an album with Michael Feinstein (per MSN). She made a surprise appearance at the 2022 Oscars (per ET Online) alongside pop sensation Lady Gaga. In regard to her relationship with her mother, she told Closer Weekly that she prefers to remember the positive memories of her, and that "for the rest of my life I will be proud to be Judy Garland's daughter."
A second daughter
In 1952, Judy Garland gave birth to the first of her two children with her third husband, Sid Luft — another daughter, Lorna Luft, per IMDb. Though Lorna refers to her childhood as "idyllic," by the time she reached the age of 12, she became aware of her mother's struggles and had to process Garland's divorce from her father. Following her mother's death in 1969, Luft also chose to pursue both a singing and acting career, going on to star in films like "Grease 2" and "My Giant." She met and married rocker John Hooker in 1977, and had two children before divorcing. Luft is now remarried and has four grandchildren, with the newest addition being born in March of 2022 (per "Today").
Luft has suffered a few medical setbacks in the last decade. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and had surgeries to remove it in 2012 and 2015. She was then diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2018. She has had that tumor successfully removed as well, per Refinery 29. Though she has not achieved the success of her mother or half-sister, she did write a book about her family in 1998 titled "Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir." Despite her own battle with cocaine during the '70s and '80s, she is now drug-free and published another book in 2019, titled "A Star Is Born: Judy Garland and the Film That Got Away."
Judy's only son
According to IMDb, Garland's only son and youngest child, Joey Luft, was born in 1955. Unlike his sisters, Luft decided to remain mostly out of the spotlight for the majority of his life. This doesn't mean he wasn't into show business; he just preferred to be behind the camera, according to the Los Angeles Times. In 2014, Luft created "A Judy Garland Concert with Joey Luft," a theater show featuring colorized clips from the "Judy Garland Show" with Luft and a family friend talking about the late star. As of 2022, Luft has also collaborated with producer, actress and singer Angela Ingersoll, who has received an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Judy Garland in "Get Happy: Angela Ingersoll Sings Judy Garland." Her performances have reportedly earned her the title of "heiress apparent to the Garland legacy" (per Broadway World).
Like his sister Liza, Joey does not "want to talk about the bad things" when it comes to his mom. Following Garland's death, he had to come to terms with her drug addiction, as he was only a teenager when she passed. Though it was a challenge to wrap his mind around, he believed that though his mom had her issues, she was still a great person. He describes her as a mother, that she loved people, and that she was a caring person with a great sense of humor. Though he did not reach the level of fame as his other family members, he still works on films and documentaries, many of which honor his mom.