Hollywood Child Stars

Judy Garland (1922-1969): A Life of Tragedy and Triumph

Born into a vaudevillian family, the legendary child actress and singer we remember as Judy Garland was given the name Frances Ethel Gumm at the time of her birth on June 22, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Seemingly destined to be a star, “Baby Gumm” (an early nickname) made her first public appearance before her third birthday with a holiday debut of “Jingle Bells.”

Becoming Judy Garland
In 1926, following allegations that her father sexually harassed the male ushers at the theater he owned and operated, the family moved to Lancaster, California. The move, although propelled by scandal, would prove to be a profitable one for Baby Gumm.

In time, the cherub-like toddler was transformed into a charming tween and her career blossomed due in large part to the careful tending of her mother. At the suggestion of comedian George Jessel, her name was changed to Judy Garland. It was during these early years that Judy would get her first taste of both great fame and tremendous loss. Soon after her first movie contract with MGM and a radio debut featuring her hallmark song, “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart,” her father succumbed to spinal meningitis in 1935.

Drugs and Divorce
Despite her early success as an actress, Judy Garland was intimidated by her young colleagues Ava Gardner and Elizabeth Taylor who she felt were much more beautiful and sophisticated than she would ever be. In fact, even before Garland’s acclaimed role as Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ at the age of sixteen, the vulnerable star became disenchanted with her looks, and under pressure from the film industry which insisted that she wear caps on her teeth and discs to reshape her nose, she began taking amphetamines to help her lose weight. This early introduction to drugs would pave the way for Garland’s life-long battle with morphine and sleeping pills.

Although Garland attempted to escape her on-screen “girl-next-door” image, starring in several glamorous roles as an adult, she never fully came to terms with her appearance and experienced the most success and joy doing what she did best—singing.

Unfortunately, whether due to her haunting insecurities, the use of drugs, or the overwhelming pressures of her career, most of Garland’s adult life was plagued with distress and heartbreak. After four divorces, a nervous breakdown, and two known suicide attempts, Garland’s life ended in 1969, at the age of 47. The cause: accidental overdose of barbiturates. She was survived by her husband Mickey Deans and her three children: Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, and Joey Luft.

Her Legend
Despite her personal struggles and untimely demise, Judy Garland’s legend lives on. Numerous television series, plays, and books (one written by her own daughter Lorna Luft) have commemorated her life and her achievements. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Garland in 1997, 28 years after her death. The American Film Institute has named her one of the Greatest Female Stars of All Time. Her performance of “Over the Rainbow” in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ has been named the “number one movie song of all time”. Moreover, Garland has been featured on two U.S. postage stamps. Both of her daughters, Liza and Lorna, have upheld their mother’s legacy by following in her footsteps in the world of entertainment.

More on Judy Garland
Judy Garland Biography, Judy Garland's Career