Episode 119 - Hollywood, Broadway, and Beyond: A Deep Dive with Lorna Luft
In this captivating new episode of Hollywood Obsessed , host Tony Miros welcomes the incomparable Lorna Luft —performer, author, and daughter of entertainment icons Judy Garland and Sidney Luft, and half-sister to Liza Minnelli . Best known for her roles in “ Grease 2 ” and “ Where the Boys Are” , Lorna shares her unique perspective on growing up in a showbiz dynasty while remaining refreshingly grounded. She fondly recalls her mother simply as “the lady in the kitchen,” and speaks warmly of her godfather, Frank Sinatra —“Uncle Frank” to her.
Lorna reflects on her early training with legendary acting coaches Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof . She discusses the value of nurturing passion and creativity, and how she worries that today’s performers are too often judged by their social media profiles instead of their skill.
Tony dives into her Broadway debut in “ Promises, Promises” . She also shares behind-the-scenes stories about singing background vocals on Blondie’s “ Eat to the Beat” , meeting Debbie Harry , and becoming friends with songwriter Ellie Greenwich .
Of course, “Grease 2” takes center stage in their conversation. Lorna remembers how the movie evolved into a cult favorite, and why she’s proud to be a Pink Lady for life.
Lorna Luft
Lorna was born into Hollywood royalty as the daughter of iconic entertainer Judy Garland & film producer Sid Luft , with none other than Frank Sinatra as her godfather. She stepped into the spotlight at age 11, singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” on The Judy Garland Show alongside her siblings, Liza Minnelli and Joey Luft . A year later, she toured with her family, culminating in a celebrated run at New York’s Palace Theatre—the final time she performed onstage with her mother.
Her stage career took off when she made her Broadway debut in Promises, Promises , written by Neil Simon . Lorna toured the U.S. in They’re Playing Our Song and gained attention for her film debut in Grease 2 , followed by roles in Where the Boys Are '84 and the intense stage drama Extremities . She also embraced television, landing featured roles in Trapper John, M.D. , The Twilight Zone , and Murder, She Wrote , among others.
Lorna continued to shine in musical theatre throughout the '90s and 2000s with standout performances in Guys and Dolls , Follies , Gypsy , and White Christmas . Her powerhouse vocals and stage presence have thrilled audiences across the U.K., Ireland, and the U.S., and she’s headlined concerts at prestigious venues like the Hollywood Bowl , Madison Square Garden , London Palladium , and Carnegie Hall —where she surprised audiences with a duet alongside Rufus Wainwright during his Judy Garland tribute concert.
In 2007, she launched Songs My Mother Taught Me , a multimedia tribute to Judy Garland that toured internationally and was released as an album co-produced by Barry Manilow and Lorna’s husband, Colin R. Freeman . As an author, her memoir Me and My Shadows became an Emmy-winning TV miniseries, and her 2018 book A Star Is Born: Judy Garland and the Film That Got Away , co-written with Jeffrey Vance , offered a deeply personal and historical look at a Hollywood classic.
A tireless advocate, Lorna became a vocal supporter of cancer research and LGBTQ+ causes after her breast cancer diagnosis in 2012. She serves as a founding board member of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative and continues to perform regularly on the cabaret circuit.
Lorna Luft Official Website - http://www.lornaluftonline.com/
TICKETS - Cabaret:An Evening with Lorna Luft on May 25 at 7 pm - https://theeldredpreserve.com/entertainment/cabaret-an-evening-with-lorna-luft/
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Lorna Luft
Actress / Singer / Author / Producer
Lorna Luft
LORNA LUFT’s upbringing could hardly have been more star-struck. Born to the legendary Judy Garland and her film producer husband Sid Luft, Lorna had the entertainment business in her blood. And as if to confirm her status as showbiz royalty, the new baby girl’s godfather was one Francis Albert Sinatra.
She made her debut in the industry at the age of 11, singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” in the 1963 Christmas edition of her mother’s television show. That episode also featured Lorna’s siblings, Liza Minnelli and Joey Luft, and by the following summer she was appearing in the family’s concert tour. Culminating in a month-long residence at New York’s Palace Theatre, it was the last time the 14-year-old Lorna would star on stage with her mother.
Lorna made her Broadway debut four years later in the show “Promises, Promises” written by Neil Simon, a musical version of the film classic The Apartment that was best known for the song “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” She returned to the stage in 1981 for an American tour of “They’re Playing Our Song” and made her big-screen debut in “Grease 2 “alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, the following year. By 1983 she was back on the New York stage, starring as Peppermint Patty in a production of “Snoopy: The Musical”. But it was not all light-hearted singing and dancing, as she also appeared opposite Farrah Fawcett in the tough drama “Extremities”.
Television guest appearances followed throughout the 80s, including a featured role in “Trapper John, M.D.,” before she returned to her stage root… Read More
