It’s been half a century since the world lost Judy Garland, and her absence still leaves a profound void in the hearts of her fans. On June 22, 1969, at the tender age of 47, she tragically passed away after an accidental overdose of barbiturates. Yet, her enduring legacy continues to shine brightly through her children—Liza Minnelli, 73, Lorna Luft, 66, and Joey Luft, 64—who keep her spirit alive with their own remarkable contributions to the arts.
“My mom was fully aware of just how much she was loved,” Lorna Luft once revealed to Closer Weekly. “She was incredibly generous and, when she loved, she did so with every fiber of her being.” Her words paint a vivid picture of a woman who gave her all to those around her, leaving an indelible mark on everyone fortunate enough to cross her path.
A Mother and a Star: The Complex Relationship Between Judy and Her Children
Despite her immense talent and worldwide fame, Judy Garland's life was far from perfect. Lorna Luft, in particular, has spoken candidly about her mother’s struggles with addiction. “I do think that my mom was a victim of the studio system,” Lorna explained during an interview with Australia’s Studio 10. “But at the same time, it gave her the opportunity to channel her extraordinary talent to us as an audience. It was truly a double-edged sword.”
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Interestingly, Judy's youngest daughter never harbored resentment toward the studio system that played a role in her mother's struggles. "I've never, ever been angry at the studio system because they really didn’t know what they were doing," Lorna told Closer Weekly. "They didn’t want to destroy her life. She was their biggest moneymaker!"
Life Under Judy’s Shadow: Lorna Luft's Perspective
In her heartfelt memoir, Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir, Lorna Luft delves into what life was like for her as a young child in her mother’s care. She recounts the responsibilities she took on at such a tender age, including managing her mother’s medication. “I learned to search through all of her clothes and even the drapes—anywhere she might hide pills—whenever she left the house,” she recalled. “It was my duty to lock up the pills and administer them on schedule.”
“I would carefully count out the pills, ensuring the right number of each color, and bring them to her with a glass of water,” Lorna added. “But my responsibilities didn’t stop there. I also had to care for her when her medications became unbalanced, or when she overslept and went into withdrawal. During those times, she’d sometimes pass out, or worse yet, have seizures.”
Judy Garland: The Star Behind the Curtain
Unfortunately, Judy Garland’s addiction began to take a toll on her career. Stevie Phillips, Judy’s manager from 1961 to 1964, described her client’s performances as nothing short of magical. However, the events surrounding those concerts were often tumultuous. In her 2015 memoir, Judy & Liza & Robert & Freddie & David & Sue & Me, Stevie wrote, “Sometimes it was plain awful, and a few times almost tragic.”
