Judy Garland
“The incomparable voice that wished upon a star and broke hearts for a lifetime.”
A teenage MGM contract player, Garland became an international star at 16 when she sang 'Over the Rainbow' as Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz.' The 1939 film, and a special juvenile Oscar, sealed her place as one of Hollywood's most beloved performers.
Vaudeville Child
Born Frances Ethel Gumm to vaudevillians, she performed from toddlerhood with her sisters. MGM signed her as a teenager and rebranded her Judy Garland.
Over the Rainbow
Cast as Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939), she sang 'Over the Rainbow' and won a special juvenile Oscar. Musicals like 'Meet Me in St. Louis' cemented her stardom.
Triumph and Tragedy
After studio struggles she rebounded with 'A Star Is Born' and a legendary Carnegie Hall concert. Personal hardships shadowed her until her death at 47 in 1969.
Career Timeline
- 1922Born Frances Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- 1935Adopts the name Judy Garland; signs with MGM
- 1939Stars as Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz'
- 1940Receives a juvenile Academy Award
- 1944Stars in 'Meet Me in St. Louis'
- 1948Dances with Fred Astaire in 'Easter Parade'
- 1954Stars in 'A Star Is Born'; Oscar-nominated
- 1961Triumphant 'Judy at Carnegie Hall' concert
- 1963Hosts 'The Judy Garland Show' on TV
- 1969Dies in London at age 47
Biggest Hits
- She took the name 'Judy' from a Hoagy Carmichael song while performing as the Garland Sisters.
- Her album 'Judy at Carnegie Hall' won five Grammys, including Album of the Year.
The Moment You Remember
A young girl in a gingham dress looks past a Kansas fence and sings of somewhere over the rainbow, and Judy Garland's voice fills the longing with such tenderness that the moment never fades.
Portrait: Eric Carpenter for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons