What's up with Liza Minnelli's health? Update on her life and well-being
Liza May Minnelli is a famous American dancer, singer, and choreographer. She is among a handful of entertainers to have received a Grammy (Grammy Legend Award), Oscar, Emmy, and Tony (EGOT) awards for her extraordinary talent. However, she has been struggling with health challenges for a long time. What's the latest news on Liza Minnelli's health and life?
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Liza Minnelli commenced her profession in 1961 when she sang in the Flower Drum song chorus and performed the Muriel section in Take Me Along. She made her theatrical debut at 17 in an Off-Broadway rallying of the musical Best Foot Forward in 1963, for which she earned a Theatre World Award. However, how much do you know about Liza Minnelli's health problems?
Profile summary
Full name | Liza May Minnelli |
Gender | Female |
Date of birth | 12 March 1946 |
Age | 78 years old (as of 2024) |
Zodiac sign | Pisces |
Place of birth | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Current residence | West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Christianity |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height | 5’4’’ (162 cm) |
Weight | 141 lbs (64 kgs) |
Body measurements | 34-28-36 inches (86-71-91 cm) |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Brown |
Marital status | Single |
Father | Vincente Minnelli |
Mother | Judy Garland |
Siblings | 3 |
Education | High School of Performing Arts, Chadwick School |
Profession | Actress, singer, dancer, choreographer |
Net worth | $50 million |
@officiallizaminnelli | |
@OfficialLiza | |
YouTube | LizaMinnelliVEVO |
X (formerly Twitter) | @LiZaOutlives |
Liza Minnelli's health update
Liza Minnelli is, without hesitation, one of the most skilled entertainers alive today, but her well-being has always left many of her fans worried. So, what health issues has the American celebrity had to struggle with over the years?
Addiction battles
Minnelli has long struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction, which began with a Valium prescription after her mum passed away. Andy Warhol discovered her use of illicit substances in the 1970s in a 1978 diary entry, recalling Minnelli at Halston's residence and urging the host to "Give me every drug you've got."
During the late 1970s, Minnelli, Andy Warhol, and Bianca Jagger were regular at New York City nightclubs such as Studio 54. She has undergone rehab five times for substance abuse since 1992 and is a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Her most recent session was in 2015, but she has remained sober since then.
Bone fractures
Liza has had numerous physical issues, with her initial health crisis in 1997. Based on a 2008 session with Variety, Liza endured polyps on her vocal cords, which prevented her from singing for 18 months.
Liza's body has also suffered due to dancing; she has had two hip substitutions and a knee cap replacement. After collapsing on stage in 2007, the famous actress had her jawbone reconfigured, and in 2013, she broke both of her wrists.
The American celebrity fractured her lower back the subsequent year when one of her dogs hopped on her. During the incident, the entertainer fell into an odd position and squashed her vertebrae, necessitating surgery.
Hiatal hernia disease
What is Liza Minnelli's illness? Liza has been wedded and parted ways four times but has never had children. She became pregnant with her third spouse, sculptor and stage manager Mark Gero, in 1981 but miscarried.
Throughout her four marriages, Liza had three miscarriages. She developed a hiatal hernia due to medical processes to save one of her babies. The renowned singer has stated that the hernia bothers her and can sometimes be painful when she ingests or sings in a particular way.
Encephalitis disease
What happened to Liza Minnelli? In 2000, the American dancer was diagnosed with viral encephalitis, an inflammatory condition of the active brain tissues prompted by an infection or autoimmune reaction from a mosquito bite.
Encephalitis can lead to seizures, muddled thinking, and sometimes movement, vision, and hearing difficulties. After Liza got infected, ambulance crews suspected she was having a stroke after finding her unconscious and with a whole side of her body paralysed, with mumbled speech and sagging facial muscles.
The infection can be life-threatening if not handled immediately, but Liza rose above the odds. The doctors informed her that she would use a wheelchair for the remainder of her life, but she recuperated and performed in her solo show, Liza's Back. She, however, had to relearn how to walk and speak, but she recovered quickly.
How sick is Liza Minnelli?
Liza Minnelli has faced various health challenges over the years, including battles with encephalitis as well as several surgeries and a history of substance abuse.
In April 2024, Liza was seen in California using a wheelchair. In June 2024, reports indicated that Liza Minnelli was "too unwell" to travel from her Beverly Hills home to New York for the Tribeca Film Festival, where a new documentary about her life and legacy was set to premiere.
Festival founder Robert De Niro personally invited her to attend. The highly anticipated documentary, Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, includes footage from her private archives as well as interviews with her friends. The film opens with reflections on the passing of her mother, Judy Garland.
Despite her health challenges, she remains active on social media, recently announcing she is working on 'multiple spectacular new projects,' including a return to recording.
Regarding the documentary, she commented:
I've been working quietly with a brilliant director, Bruce David Klein . . . to bring the real story of how my career in films and more began. And I'm not talking about my baby debut at MGM with Mama . . . that was pure nepotism.'
In March 2024, her frail condition prevented her from attending the funeral of another close friend, producer Allan Lazare. At the time, a source stated:
Liza is in bad shape. For her to miss Allan's funeral underscores the toll her health issues have taken.
What is Liza Minnelli's health condition?
Liza has back problems. In March 2022, she appeared on stage in a wheelchair due to back problems when presenting the Best Picture award with Lady Gaga at the 94th Academy Awards ceremony.
Was Liza Minnelli's Parkinson's disease cured?
Despite suffering from encephalitis infection, the American celebrity was not afflicted with Parkinson's disease.
Is Liza Minnelli still alive, and how old is she?
Liza Minnelli is still alive. The American celebrity is 78 years old as of 2024. Liza was born on 12 March 1946. Her zodiac sign is Pisces.
How old was Liza Minnelli when Judy Garland died?
Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli's mother, passed away on June 22, 1969. Liza Minnelli was born on March 12, 1946, so she was 23 years old when her mother died.
Liza Minnelli's health journey has been a difficult one, beginning with substance addiction and progressing to encephalitis disease. She has overcome many of them, except for hiatal hernia disease, which she claims can be painful at times, especially when she eats or sings in a particular way.
Yen.com.gh recently published the story of Efraim Diveroli, a former American author and arms dealer. Efraim chose his profession at a young age and worked his way up to become a well-known arms dealer. As a result of this process, he also became an author.
Efraim Diveroli's entrepreneurial spirit manifested itself at a young age. However, he ran into trouble when the US government found that his company, AEY, had breached the American arms restriction against China.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Yen.com.gh where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
Tatiana Thiga (Lifestyle writer) Tatiana Thiga is a content creator who joined Yen in 2022. She is an English literature graduate from Kenyatta University. She has amassed sufficient knowledge working on a variety of topics, including biographies, fashion and lifestyles, guides, and more. In 2023, Tatiana finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her at tatianathiga@gmail.com