Minnelli was born in Hollywood, California into a well known artistic family; her maternal lineage had entertainers in the family going back six generations. Her famous mother, Judy Garland, had legendary success in film and in music, and her aunts had been part of a singing group, "The Gumm Sisters", with her mother. Her father, also from a theatrical family including circus performers, was acclaimed MGM film director Vincente Minnelli. Liza Minnelli's first film appearance was at the age of three in the final scene of the 1949 musical In the Good Old Summertime, starring her mother and Van Johnson.

Although Minnelli and her mother shared a warm personal relationship, during the London Palladium performances, Garland recognized Minnelli's talent and felt a sense of competition. Minnelli recalled a time where she was singing on stage: "I was onstage with my mother, but suddenly, she wasn't Mama ... she was Judy Garland.".

As a teenager with two younger siblings, Minnelli bore the brunt of Garland's substance abuse issues and instability, and often had to take responsibility for her mother and siblings. Minnelli's half-siblings through her mother and husband Sid Luft are sister Lorna Luft and brother Joe Luft. She also has a half-sibling Christiane Nina Minnelli (nicknamed Tina Nina) through her father's second marriage.

She has also been portrayed in the Australian musical The Boy From Oz starring Hugh Jackman. On Broadway, she was portrayed by Broadway star Stephanie J. Block. The show received four Tony nominations.

She is also known childhood friends with Mia Farrow, Cheryl Crane, Candice Bergen, Tisha Sterling, Natalie Cole, and Katy Manning.

5/00: Cancelled 14 concert appearances after being hospitalized for additional surgery on her hips.

Frequently attended legendary New York disco Studio 54

Has had 2 hip replacement surgeries and 3 knee surgeries.

Says her mother gave her a sense of humor.

Sees a psychiatrist and attends AA (as of December 1999).

Sought treatment at the Betty Ford Center when she was 35.

1997: Had vocal surgery, after which she began watching her father's movies. This led to her starring in her renowned Broadway revue, "Minnelli on Minnelli".

Ex-daughter-in-law of Jack Haley.

Niece of Mary Jane Gumm and Virginia Gumm.

1999: Winner of the Board of Directors MAC Award.

At her wedding to David Gest, Elizabeth Taylor and Marisa Berenson acted as co-matrons of honor, while Michael Jackson and Tito Jackson were co-best men.

Her ex-husband, David Gest, is an event planner.

Her parents named her after Ira Gershwin's song "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)"

1990: She received the Grammy Legend Award, making her one of the few artists who have won entertainment's top four awards - the Oscar, the Tony, The Emmy and the Grammy.

1977: Hit #104 on the Billboard Singles Charts with "Theme from New York, New York" (United Art. 1014).

Was briefly managed by KISS lead singer/guitarist Gene Simmons in the 1980s.

5/25/03: Broke her knee while preparing for a concert with Luciano Pavarotti in Bologna, Italy.

10/19/00: Admitted to a Fort Lauderdale (FL) hospital where she was treated for viral encephalitis.

Half-sister Christiane Nina Minnelli (known as Tina Nina) moved to Mexico and is the mother of 2 grown children. She attended Liza's wedding to David Gest in 2003.

2004: Made up with half-sister Lorna Luft.

When she was young she befriended Marilyn Monroe.

1973: Became the seventh person to win the Triple Crown of Acting: Tony for "Flora, the Red Menace" (1965) and "The Act" (1977); Oscar, Best Actress for Cabaret (1972); and Emmy in 1973 for Liza with a 'Z' (1972) (TV).

Her mother, Judy Garland, and former father-in-law, Jack Haley, starred together in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

9/30/91: Received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was honored for her career in the live theatre. Her star is located at 7000 Hollywood Blvd.

Has won three Tony Awards, two as Best Actress (Musical), for 1965's "Flora, the Red Menace" and 1978's "The Act," and, in 1974, a Special Tony Award "for adding lustre to the Broadway theatre season." She was also nominated as Best Actress (Musical) in 1984 for "The Rink," but lost that award to her co-star, Chita Rivera.

One of only three actresses, along with Faye Dunaway and Halle Berry, to win both the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Razzie Award for Worst Actress. Dunaway shared her award with Bo Derek.

Is portrayed by Zooey Deschanel in _Simply Halston (2007)_ and by several actresses in Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) (TV).

1980: A co-presenter at the Academy Awards ceremony, she accepted the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role on behalf of Melvyn Douglas, who wasn't present.

She and her mother, Judy Garland, were the first Oscar-nominated mother and daughter.

Is mentioned in The School of Rock (2003) as a musical inspiration.

Her mother Judy Garland was pregnant with her while filming her minor role in Till the Clouds Roll By (1946). In order to hide her pregnant stomach she was hidden behind stacks of dishes while singing "Look For The Silver Lining".

Was a huge fan of the TV show "La Femme Nikita" (1997), so much so that in 1997, before Peta Wilson's first TV interview on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996), Liza secretly called to have Peta's limo stop at her home on the way to the studio so she could meet her and give her advice on what to say. Wilson later confirmed this during the interview.

Godparents were Ira Gershwin and Kay Thompson.

Is Italian and French on her father's side and Irish and Scottish on her mother's.

In the early 1980s during pre-production for a film version of "Evita", director Ken Russell auditioned her for the part. Russell was so impressed that he refused to do the film without her. He was promptly fired by producer Robert Stigwood and the film lay dormant for over 10 years until the Madonna version came out in 1996.

Is portrayed by Donna Coney Island in Ghostlight (2003)

Measurements in 1980: 33C - 28 - 31

Reports that she adopted a three-year-old daughter named Serena, with then-husband David Gest in early 2003, have proved to be untrue.

Because Liza constantly traveled with her mother, she spent most of her childhood in hotels. She was the inspiration for the character of "Eloise", who grew up in the Plaza Hotel. The books were written by Liza's godmother, Kay Thompson.

Childhood friend of Mia Farrow.

Best friend is Cabaret (1972) co-star Marisa Berenson.

In the early 60s, she lived in London with mother Judy Garland, half siblings Lorna Luft and Joey Luft and stepfather Sidney Luft.

Sang part of the song "Mama" on My Chemical Romance's third studio album, "Welcome to the Black Parade".

Born in the same hospital as Natalie Cole, Micky Dolenz, and former boyfriend Desi Arnaz Jr..

Childhood friend of Katy Manning.

Only child of two Oscar-winners to win an Oscar herself.

2/3/07: Was honored at the "Steve Chase Awards", a charity gala in Palm Springs, CA, where she was awarded the humanitarian award for her many years of work with AIDS charities. She shared the honor with Bishop Desmond Tutu. The presenter of the award was her old friend, Joel Grey.

The Oh in Ohio (2006) was her first theatrical feature in 15 years.

Childhood friend of Cheryl Crane, daughter of Lana Turner and her second/third husband Steve Crane.

7/16/07: Was in attendance at the movie premiere of Hairspray (2007).

Became pregnant during her marriage to Jack Haley Jr., but suffered a miscarriage five months into the pregnancy.

Is a close friend of singer Diana Ross.

12 December 2007: Collapsed on stage whilst performing a Christmas show in Stockholm, Sweden.

In 1972, after winning the Academy Award for Cabaret (1972), Marlene Dietrich said about her: "I'm annoyed when people keep comparing her to her mother [Judy Garland]. She's nothing to do with her mother. She's a completely different woman. The film Cabaret (1972) is a great hit for her and that's all one wants.".

Was a huge friend of the singer Freddie Mercury.

Portrayed by Stephanie J. Block in the play about Peter Allen's life.

Stayed very close friends with first husband, Peter Allen, until his death in 1992.