Lorna Luft (born November 21, 1952) is an American television, stage, and film actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and producer Sidney Luft, and half-sister to singer and actress Liza Minnelli.
Luft made her show business debut at age 11 singing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" on the 1963 Christmas episode of Garland's CBS television series, The Judy Garland Show. Siblings Liza Minnelli and Joey Luft also appeared in it.
Luft soon joined the family act on a summer concert tour, the highlight being Garland’s third and final appearance at New York City's famed Palace Theatre on Broadway in 1967.[1] In this month-long engagement, Garland "shared" the bill with Luft (then 14 years old) and Joey (12 years old). The show was recorded live and released on ABC Records as Judy Garland: At Home At The Palace.[2]
Luft appeared as Nurse Libby Kegler on the CBS television series Trapper John, M.D. during the final season of 1985–1986 and
also appeared as Patti Bristol in a 1985 episode of Murder, She Wrote entitled Broadway Malady.
In November 2006 through January 2007, Luft performed in the UK premiere of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, a new stage adaptation based on the film. She reprised her role in it the next year, playing the Edinburgh Playhouse from November 19 to December 8, 2007 and the Wales Millennium Centre in the Donald Gordon Theatre from December 13, 2007 through January 12, 2008.
In October 2007, Luft released her debut CD Lorna Luft: Songs My Mother Taught Me in the United Kingdom. Produced by Barry Manilow and her husband Colin R. Freeman, the album celebrates Garland's music. In 2005 she toured Ireland with her stage show, Songs My Mother Taught Me. In June 2006, she surprised audiences at Carnegie Hall by performing a duet with Rufus Wainwright on the song "After You've Gone" at the end of Wainwright's tribute concert of Garland's triumphant 1961 comeback at Carnegie Hall.
Luft participates in various children's and AIDS-related charities, including the annual Los Angeles AIDS Walk and The Children's Wish Foundation International.[8] She has been an advocate for drug rehabilitation and has spoken for the Council on Alcohol & Drugs.
In May - July 2015, Luft toured the UK in Judy - The Songbook of Judy Garland, a show highlighting Garland's life and music. The show featured her signature songs and recreations of film scenes from her MGM years.
On December 17, 2012, Luft discovered a lump on her right breast. "I was in total denial", she said. Three weeks later, her radiographer informed her that she had grade-2A breast cancer. She called her close friend, Barry Manilow, who connected her with cancer specialist David Agus. After reviewing the tests, Agus told her, "I’m looking at your biopsy and I can tell you right now, Lorna, you're going to be okay." To save her breast, she opted for a lumpectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. She completed her final chemotherapy treatment in 2013.[10]
In June 2015, Luft revealed that her cancer had reemerged. Consequently, the UK tour of Judy - The Songbook of Judy Garland concluded early on July 11, and she returned to the United States for surgical treatment.[11][12]
