
Liza Minnelli created her own family
Clip: 4/1/2025 | 1m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Liza Minnelli became a godmother to several of her friends’ children, making her own chosen family.
Liza Minnelli struggled with fertility issues throughout her life and wasn’t able to have children of her own. However, she surrounded herself with close friends and became a godmother to several of her friends’ children, creating her own chosen family.
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Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...

Liza Minnelli created her own family
Clip: 4/1/2025 | 1m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Liza Minnelli struggled with fertility issues throughout her life and wasn’t able to have children of her own. However, she surrounded herself with close friends and became a godmother to several of her friends’ children, creating her own chosen family.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(dramatic music) - We have been with Liza at all of her emotional setbacks, like miscarriages.
(dramatic music) - [Arlene] She was all in.
She was all prepared.
It was very sad.
- Come here, you gorgeous thing.
- [Allan] If she had to pick one thing that she's disappointed in her life and that's not being a mother.
She would've been a great mother.
- [Arlene] She would've been terrific.
- She has so much to give.
- She's always had - a lot of love to give.
- [Allan] She's been so wonderful with our children.
We have a picture when our, when our daughter was three years old around a Christmas tree, Liza hugging her, and then 35 years later, when our daughter had a three-year-old, we have a picture around that same Christmas tree.
- Two generations, the same picture.
She taught our daughter when she was about six years old, how to sing "Liza with a Z" quickly and sing every lyric.
Our daughter was so proud to sing it and she sang it all over the place and for everybody, - She would've been an incredible mother and life wasn't perfect.
- Right.
(light music) - But she moved on and she's become part of our family.
I think that's part of our attraction for her, that we've kept this bond.
We are sort of the family she didn't have.
- Even though she wasn't able to have children of her own, she seems to have created her own family through all the children who came into her life and all the godchildren.
- I mean, she's godmother to my twins, who are 50 now.
I mean, and she's never missed a birthday, anything.
LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
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Take an intimate look into the life and career of screen and stage icon Liza Minnelli. (2m 14s)
Liza Minnelli on dealing with the press at an early age
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Because of her famous parents, Liza Minnelli learned how to handle the press at a young age. (1m 40s)
Liza Minnelli showcased her talents in “Liza with a Z”
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“Liza with a Z” highlighted both Liza Minnelli’s personality and her performance capabilities. (3m 20s)
What Liza Minnelli was like in her relationships
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Friends described Liza Minnelli as going into her relationships with fervor and passion. (2m 53s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipSupport for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...