Sidney Luft
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| Sidney Luft | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Sidney Luft November 2, 1915 New York City, New York |
| Died | September 15, 2005 Santa Monica, California |
| Spouse(s) | Lynn Bari (1943-1950) Judy Garland (1952-1965) Patti Hemingway (1970-?) Camille Keaton (1993-2005) |
Sidney Luft (November 2, 1915 – September 15, 2005) was an American show business figure best known as the third husband of iconic American singer/actress Judy Garland.
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[edit] Early Life
He was born Michael Sidney Luft in New York City, New York to Jewish immigrants from Russia and Germany. His family moved to more upscale Westchester County, and that is 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.
Sid 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 Warners as a producer.
Luft's first Hollywood assignment was as the secretary/manager of dancer Eleanor Powell. As Powell's film career declined, Luft managed and married Lynn Bari, a good actress who never managed to achieve Hollywood A-list status.
When Bari's career waned, Luft met Garland and became her manager, soon divorcing Bari in favor of the more promising Garland. He is generally referred to as a producer but records show he only produced two B movies, both for the low-tier Monogram, prior to his marriage to Judy Garland, one movie starring Garland, and none thereafter.
[edit] Personal Life
He was married four times:
- On November 28, 1943 he married Lynn Bari. They had one child, a son, named John. They divorced on December 26, 1950.
- On June 8, 1952 he married Judy Garland. They had two children, Joseph "Joey" Wiley Luft (a scenic photographer, born March 29, 1955 in Los Angeles, California) and Lorna Luft. They divorced in 1964, but it was not finalised until 1966.
- In 1970 he married Patti Hemingway, from whom he was later divorced.
- On March 20, 1993 he married Camille Keaton, grandniece of Buster Keaton.
Many, including Judy Garland's daughter Liza Minnelli, attribute the overworking of Garland leading to her early death to Luft. Others, however, believed that 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. Sid Luft's funeral service was held at the Riviera Country Club; a favorite golf course of his and Judy's, along with many other notables of the movie and television community. The piano that played throughout Sid's service, was the very piano used by composer Harold Arlen to play the score of "A Star is Born" for Judy after a golf game the two shared.
[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)
[edit] References
Alexander Charles Luft (nephew)
