15 Vintage Photos of Judy Garland with Her Three Kids

The actress, most known for her role as Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz,' had three children: Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft

To the world, Judy Garland was the incomparable singer and actress who starred in timeless films such as Meet Me in St. Louis, The Harvey Girls and of course, The Wizard of Oz.

At home, however, she was "Mama" to three kids. She welcomed daughter Liza Minelli on March 12, 1946, with her second husband, director Vincente Minnelli. After their relationship ended, she married producer Sid Luft, with whom she welcomed another daughter named Lorna, born Nov. 21, 1952, and son Joey, born March 29, 1955.

And while Garland's substance abuse issues did complicate her relationship with her children, Liza revealed that ultimately, their dynamics weren't all that different from anyone else's.

In her 2026 memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, Minelli opened up about what life was like in the moments when things weren't going well.

At 13, she wrote, “I was my mother’s caretaker — a nurse, doctor, pharmacologist and psychiatrist rolled into one. I lost count of the times I called doctors to say she’d run out of pills. I’d say ‘I’m a kid, please fill my mama’s prescription!”

Still, being her mother's caretaker taught her some big life lessons. "It gave me more patience. Listening, as opposed to pretending you're listening, really listening for what somebody's trying to get across," she told PEOPLE. "So, with my mom, I think about what she went through every day, how she felt. I was a big comfort to her.” 

“Everybody has problems with their mother. It ain’t just me — and you know it," she joked.

Ahead, see 15 rare vintage photos of Judy Garland and her three children.

01 of 15

Loving Little Liza

Judy and Vincente gave their only daughter, then 1, a simultaneous smooch while at an event in Hollywood back in 1947.

02 of 15

Early Days

The family of three, plus a four-legged friend, posed for a portrait in front of their home in 1950.

03 of 15

Running to You

In this sweet shot from 1951, six-year-old Liza runs into her mother's open arms.

04 of 15

Good Humor

"One of the biggest misconceptions about my mama is that she didn’t provide me with a happy childhood,” Minnelli told Vogue Arabia. “There were highs and lows for sure, but I can say I was very happy. If people choose to believe that or not, it’s up to them, but I know I was happy.”

05 of 15

New Beginnings

After splitting from Vincente in 1951, Garland moved on and married Luft on June 8, 1952. Above, the pair are pictured with Liza, Lorna and Joey at home in Chelsea, London in 1960.

06 of 15

Family of Five

Garland and Luft would be married for 13 years (the longest of her five marriages) before her substance abuse issues pulled them apart. In Judy and I: My Life with Judy Garland, Luft wrote that, “If I were to show concern, she’d abruptly tell me to ‘f— off.’”

Garland also accused the producer of being abusive. The New York Times reported that Garland told Edward R. Brand of the Superior Court, “He struck me many times. He did a lot of drinking.”

Above, the couple is pictured with their brood during happier times in their Chelsea home in London.

07 of 15

Keeping Busy

Judy had her hands full as she tried to wrangle young Lorna and Joey for a photo back in 1957.

08 of 15

Just the Four of Us

Judy proudly posed with her coordinated crew as they arrived in New York, where she was set to make a series of nightclub appearances beginning March 20, 1958.

09 of 15

Liza and Judy Take London

Asked about one misconception the world had about her mother, Liza revealed she had quite the sense of humor.

"Mama had been pushed around so much. You try growing up at MGM,” Minnelli said to PEOPLE, referring to Garland’s contract with the movie studio from the time she was a child. "[Her experience was] horrendous, but she was funny.”

Above, Liza is pictured giggling as her mother appears to egg her on.

10 of 15

Family Full of Love

Lorna and Joey showered their mom with kisses in this photo taken while the trio were in London back in 1960.

“People would love my mother to be unloved and tragic, but she wasn’t,” Lorna told PEOPLE in 1998.

11 of 15

All Aboard

The family of four looked ultra-chic as they prepared to head back to London after a stint in the U.S. in 1962.

12 of 15

Work Together, Stay Together

Liza and Judy were pictured on the set of The Judy Garland Show in 1963. Liza appeared on two episodes during the series' first year.

13 of 15

Tight Squeeze

Judy showed up backstage in 1965 to support a 19-year-old Liza in her Broadway debut, in Flora, the Red Menace.

14 of 15

One of the Same

The lookalike pair were pictured while out and about in New York in this shot from 1965.

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Making Memories

"She was a performer. She was a mother. She loved people," Joey told the Los Angeles Times of his famous mom. "She was the most caring person. She had the greatest sense of humor.”

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