"Hollywood, California was the ideal place for Liza Minnelli's birthplace.Born to Wizard of Oz star Judy Garland, and her second of five husbands, film director, Vincente Minnelli, Liza grew up in the spotlight. She would often accompany her parents to the studio and appeared in one of her mother's films at the tender age of three. At eight she was dancing background to her mother's performance of ""Swanee."" She enjoyed watching Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly practice, and was taught dance lessons by MGM choreographer Nico Charisse. Yet much like other children of Hollywood stars, Minnelli's childhood wasn't all glamour. With her parent's divorce in 1951 and her mother's recurring substance abuse and emotional problems, Minnelli found herself growing up a lot faster than normal children. Though in spite of all the responsibilities Minnelli had to undertake while her mother was incapable, she is most appreciative of the special bond they had and the voice she was given.She started on stage, but always insisted on playing tough roles rather than the wide-eyed pieces that her mother had portrayed. Without the help from her parents, she received a part in the Off-Broadway musical Best Foot Forward, in 1963. After the show ended, she recorded her first album and began traveling with musicals. In 1965 she received the Tony Award for Best Actress for her role in the Broadway musical Flora the Red Menace. She was the youngest actress in Broadway history to be honored. In 1968 she took a role in film for the first time, in Albert Finney's Charlie Bubbles. As the years followed, she starred in more Hollywood films showcasing her talents in singing, dancing and acting. She has earned herself dozens of awards in all arenas, including Golden Globes, Academy Awards, and a Tony."