Lorna Luft

Lorna Luft (born November 21, 1952) is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of Judy Garland and Sidney Luft, the sister of Joey Luft and the half-sister of Liza Minnelli.

Early life Luft was born on November 21, 1952, at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California to Judy Garland and Garland's third husband, Sidney Luft. She attended University High School in Los Angeles during her senior year and was a member of the school choir. She studied theatre at HB Studio in New York City.

Career Stage and television Luft made her show business debut at age 11, singing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" on the 1963 Christmas episode of Garland's CBS television series The Judy Garland Show. Siblings Liza Minnelli and Joey Luft also appeared. Garland sang the song "Lorna" to Luft on episode 19 of The Judy Garland Show in 1964: an original number composed by Mort Lindsey and Johnny Mercer especially for Luft at Garland's request. The song was later featured on the 2006 Garland compilation Great Day! Rare Recordings from the Judy Garland Show.

Luft soon joined the family act on a summer concert tour, the highlight of which was Garland's third and final appearance at New York's famed Palace Theatre on Broadway in 1967, two years before her mother's death. In this month-long engagement, Garland "shared" the bill with Luft (then 14 years old) and Joey (12 years old). The show was recorded live and released on ABC Records as Judy Garland at Home at the Palace.

Luft made her Broadway debut in 1971 at the Shubert Theatre as a replacement cast member in the musical Promises, Promises, adapted from the classic 1960 Billy Wilder film The Apartment. It is best known for the hit song "I'll Never Fall in Love Again".

On October 7, 1981, Luft performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, which was said to be the culmination of a lifelong dream. She starred in the 1981–82 national tour of They're Playing Our Song, and in 1982 she played Paulette Rebchuck in Grease 2. In 1983, she played Peppermint Patty in the off-Broadway production of Snoopy! The Musical, a sequel to You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Later that year, she costarred in Extremities with Farrah Fawcett.

Luft appeared as Nurse Libby Kegler on the CBS television series Trapper John, M.D. during its final season of 1985–1986. She also appeared as Patti Bristol in "Broadway Malady", a 1985 episode of Murder, She Wrote. In the episode, Luft played the daughter of Vivian Blaine, who had originated the role of Adelaide in Guys and Dolls on Broadway, while Luft would go on to play the same role in the 1992–1994 national and worldwide tours.

In 1996, Luft appeared in a production of Follies in Dublin with Mary Millar, Alex Sharpe, Christine Scarry, Aidan Conway, Enda Markey, Dave Willetts and Millicent Martin. In 2002, she starred as Mama Rose in a University of Richmond school production of Gypsy.

In December 1995, Luft released a cover version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", which was reworked as a "virtual duet" with Garland. Produced by Gordon Lorenz, it was issued as a CD single only in the U.K. by the Carlton Sounds label. A music video featured Luft performing the song in a studio interspersed with classic footage of Garland singing to a then-11-year-old Luft on the 1963 Christmas episode of The Judy Garland Show, all placed on the same screen.

From November 2006 through January 2007, Luft performed in the U.K. premiere tour of Irving Berlin's White Christmas: The Musical, a stage adaptation of the 1954 film. She reprised her role the following year, playing the Edinburgh Playhouse from November 19 to December 8, 2007, and the Wales Millennium Centre's Donald Gordon Theatre from December 13, 2007, through January 12, 2008.

Luft appeared in four episodes of the 2007–2009 Logo animated series Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World.

In October 2007, Luft released her debut album Lorna Luft: Songs My Mother Taught Me in the U.K. Produced by Barry Manilow and Luft's husband Colin R. Freeman, the album celebrates Garland's music. In 2005, Luft toured Ireland with her stage show "Songs My Mother Taught Me". In June 2006, she surprised audiences at Carnegie Hall by performing a duet with Rufus Wainwright on the song "After You've Gone" at the conclusion of Wainwright's tribute concert commemorating Judy Garland's 1961 comeback performance at the venue.

Luft appeared in The Wizard Of Oz, a stage version of the movie that made Garland famous, at The Lowry in Manchester, England. She portrayed the role of the Wicked Witch of the West.

In April 2009, Luft completed a successful U.K. tour of the Hugh Whitemore play Pack of Lies, where she played the role of Helen Kroger, starring alongside Jenny Seagrove, Simon Shepherd, and Daniel Hill. In May 2009 she appeared in W magazine as a special guest performer for the acclaimed avant-garde Theo Adams Company's latest project, "Performance", photographed by David Sims. In July 2009, she appeared at the Mermaid Theatre, London to record for the radio series Friday Night Is Music Night. Lorna Luft and Friends – A Tribute to Judy Garland also featured John Barrowman, Frances Ruffelle, and Linzi Hateley.

Between May and July 2015, Luft toured the U.K. in Judy - The Songbook of Judy Garland, a show highlighting Garland's life and music. The show featured her signature songs and recreations of film scenes from her MGM years.

Film Luft has appeared in the films Grease 2 (1982), Where the Boys Are '84 (1984), Fear Stalk (1989), 54 (1998) and My Giant (1998). She and her brother Joey made cameo appearances in the 1963 film I Could Go On Singing.

Author Luft is the author of the 1998 book Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir. Among its revelations is the fact that she had an affair with Barry Manilow in 1971. In 2001, the book was adapted as an Emmy-winning TV miniseries titled Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows. It stars Judy Davis as the adult Judy, Tammy Blanchard as the teenage Judy, Hugh Laurie as Vincente Minnelli, Victor Garber as Sid Luft, and Marsha Mason as Ethel Gumm. Luft is the co-author, along with film historian Jeffrey Vance, of the 2018 book A Star Is Born: Judy Garland and the Film That Got Away, which she states is "a vivid account of the film classic's production, loss, and reclamation."

Personal life

Luft participates in events which are held by various children's and AIDS-related charities, including the annual Los Angeles AIDS Walk and The Children's Wish Foundation International. Luft and her first husband Jerry Mamberg, also known as Jake Hooker, divorced in 1993. They had two children together, a son, Jesse, a daughter, Vanessa, and have four grandchildren. She currently resides in Palm Springs, California, with her second husband, the British-born composer and arranger, Colin Freeman.

Health Luft was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and she finished her last chemotherapy treatment in 2013. Two years later, the U.K. tour of Judy - The Songbook of Judy Garland concluded early on July 11, 2015, and she returned to the U.S. for surgical treatment following a re-emergence of the breast cancer.

In March 2018, Luft was diagnosed with a brain tumor after she collapsed following a performance in London. Later that month, Luft underwent successful surgery to remove the tumor.

Discography Studio albums Year Album Label 2007 Songs My Mother Taught Me First Night Records

Singles Year Single Label 1973 "Our Day Will Come" b/w "Is It Really Love At All" Epic 1978 "Head Over Heels" b/w "I Did It All For Love" Private Stock 1981 "Long Time" b/w "Something's Got A Hold On My Heart" DJM Records "Get It Up" b/w "A Few Dollars More" Silver Blue Records 1984 "Where the Boys Are" (with Village People) b/w "Prove Me Wrong" "The Whole World's Goin' Crazee" b/w "Jesse's Theme" 1989 "Born Again" b/w "Born Again (instrumental)" Dessca Records 1995 "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (with Judy Garland) Carlton Sounds 2011 "When You Wish Upon a Star" Silver Blue Records

Soundtracks Year Album Label Songs 1982 Grease 2: Original Soundtrack Recording RSO "Score Tonight" "Girl for All Seasons" "Who's That Guy?" "Reproduction" "Rock-A-Hula-Luau (Summer Is Coming)" "We'll Be Together" 1990 Girl Crazy (cast soundtrack) Elektra "Sam and Delilah" "I Got Rhythm" "I Got Rhythm" (Encore) (with Dick Hyman) "Finale: Act I" "Boy! What Love Has Done to Me!"

Album appearances

DVD releases Year Title Label 2002 Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows Buena Vista Judy Garland: The Concert Years Kultur Video 2006 Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl Image Entertainment 2007 Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy!: Live from the London Palladium Geffen 2009 Lorna Luft: Live in Oz Ovation

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1963 I Could Go On Singing Girl on Boat Uncredited 1982 Grease 2 Paulette Rebchuck 1984 Where the Boys Are '84 Carole Singer 1989 Fear Stalk Doris Television film 1998 My Giant Joanne 54 Elaine's Patron 2017 The Fabulous Allan Carr Herself – Interview Documentary 2024 Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story Herself – Interview Documentary

Television Year Title Role Notes 1973 Love, American Style Margie Currie Segment: "Love and the Blue Plate Special" 1975 McCloud Marlene Morgan Episode: "Park Avenue Pirates" 1985 The Twilight Zone Sheila Cunningham Segment: "Children's Zoo" 1985–86 Trapper John, M.D. Nurse Libby Kegler Main cast, 19 episodes (Season 7) 1986 Tales from the Darkside Christine Matthews Episode: "The Shrine" 1988 Hooperman Peaches Markowitz Episode: "The Naked and the Dead" 1990 Murder, She Wrote Patsy Dumont Episode: "If the Shoe Fits" 1995 The Nanny Cousin Susan Rosenberg Episode: "The Unkindest Cut" Caroline in the City Travel Agent Mindi Episode: "Caroline and the Christmas Break" 2001 Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows Miniseries; co-executive producer 2007–09 Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World Joanna Voice, 4 episodes 2014 Sean Saves the World Francine Episode: "The Wrath of Sean"

Theatre Year Title Role Venue 1967 Judy Garland at Home at the Palace Herself – Performer Broadway: Palace Theatre 1970 The Boy Friend Madcap Maisie The Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta 1971–72 Promises, Promises Fran Kubelik Broadway: Shubert Theatre 1980 Grease Sandy Dumbrowski E.J. Thomas Hall, Akron, Ohio Carnival! Lili Club Bene Dinner Theater, South Amboy, New Jersey 1981–82 They're Playing Our Song Sonia Walsk US National Tour 1983 Snoopy! The Musical Peppermint Patty Off-Broadway: Lamb's Theatre Extremities Terry Off-Broadway: Westside Theatre 1986 Little Shop of Horrors Audrey Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, California 1987 The Unsinkable Molly Brown Molly Brown Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre, Jupiter, Florida 1987–88 Mame Agnes Gooch 1988 Girl Crazy Kate Fothergill Birmingham Theatre, Detroit, Michigan 1992–94 Guys and Dolls Miss Adelaide North American Tour 1996 Follies Phyllis Stone National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland 2001 Caged Female Prisoner Town Hall, New York City 2002 Gypsy Mama Rose University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia 2004 Songs My Mother Taught Me: The Music of Judy Garland Herself West End: Savoy Theatre (London, England) 2006–07 White Christmas Martha Watson UK National Tour 2007 Babes in Arms Mrs. Phyllis Owen Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, England 2007–08 White Christmas Martha Watson UK National Tour 2008–09 The Wizard of Oz Wicked Witch of the West The Lowry, Manchester, England 2009 Pack of Lies Helen Kroger UK National Tour 2009–10 White Christmas Martha Watson US National Tour 2011 Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey 2015 Follies Hattie Walker Royal Albert Hall, London, England 2016–17 White Christmas Martha Watson US National Tour 2017 Holiday Inn Louise Badger 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, Washington 2019 White Christmas Martha Watson US National Tour 2022 UK National Tour

Published works , autobiography , biography , biography