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Suggest pagesSidney Luft
| Sidney Luft | |
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| Born | Michael Sidney Luft November 2, 1915 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 15, 2005 (aged 89) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Myocardial infarction |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | German-Russian–Jewish |
| Occupation | Impresario |
| Home town | New York City, USA |
| Spouse | Lynn Bari (1943-50) Judy Garland (1952-65) Patti Hemingway (1970-71) Camille Keaton (1993-2005) (his death) |
| Children | John Luft Lorna Luft Joey Luft Andrew Luft |
Sidney Luft (November 2, 1915 – September 15, 2005) was an American show business figure best known as the third husband of iconic American actress and singer Judy Garland.
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[edit] Early life
He was born Michael Sidney Luft in New York City, to Jewish immigrants from Russia and Germany. His family moved to more upscale Westchester County, where he grew up.
[edit] Career
Luft was once an amateur boxer and bar-room brawler and had the nickname "One-Punch Luft". He was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force and in the early 40s was a test pilot for Douglas.
He is credited with keeping the brilliant, but tormented and difficult Garland working and with setting up a deal with Warner Brothers to bankroll his wife's comeback film, a 1954 musical remake of A Star Is Born plus future projects.
Luft's name is on the film's credits as producer. Although it won an Oscar nomination for Garland, box office receipts proved disappointing. The studio canceled the Luft-Garland contract, which would have starred Judy in two additional Warner films, and given Luft a berth at Warner's as a producer.
Luft's first Hollywood assignment was as the secretary/manager of dancer Eleanor Powell. In 1943, Luft married Lynn Bari.
[edit] Personal life
He was married four times:
- On November 28, 1943 he married Lynn Bari. They had one child, a son named John (b.1944). They divorced on December 26, 1950.
- On June 29, 1952 he married Judy Garland. They had two children, Lorna Luft (born November 21, 1952 in Santa Monica, California) and Joseph "Joey" Luft (born March 29, 1955 in Los Angeles, California). They separated in 1963 and divorced in 1965.
- In 1970 New York, he married Patti Hemingway, from whom he was later divorced.
- On March 20, 1993 he married Camille Keaton, grand-niece to Buster Keaton.
Many, including Judy Garland's daughter Liza Minnelli, attribute her greatest concerts and the movie of A Star Is Born to Luft. Garland was most content while working.
[edit] Decline and death
Sidney Luft died September 15, 2005 in Santa Monica, California of a heart attack, aged 89. Luft's funeral service was held at the Riviera Country Club, one of his and Judy Garland's favorite golf courses, and was attended by many notable people of the movie and television community. The piano played throughout Luft's service was the piano used by composer Harold Arlen to play the score of A Star is Born for Judy Garland after a golf game the two had shared.
[edit] Relatives
- Alexander Charles Luft
[edit] Filmography
- Kilroy Was Here (1947)
- French Leave (1948)
- General Electric Theater (TV) (Episode: Judy Garland Musical Special)
- A Star Is Born (1954)
- Ford Star Jubilee (TV) (Episode: The Judy Garland Special)
- Judy Garland's Hollywood (1997)
