In 1952, Judy Garland gave birth to another daughter, Lorna Luft, per IMDb. Though she refers to her childhood as “idyllic,” by the time she reached the age of 12, she became aware of her mother’s struggles and had to process Garland’s divorce from her father. Following her mother’s death in 1969, Luft also chose to pursue both a singing and acting career. Though she has not achieved the success of her mother or half sister, she did write a book about her family in 1998 called “Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir.” Despite her own battle with cocaine, she is now drug free and published another book in 2019, titled “A Star Is Born: The Judy Garland Film That Got Away.”
According to IMDb, Garland’s only son and youngest child, Joey Luft, was born in 1955. Unlike his sisters, Luft decided to remain mostly out of the spotlight for the majority of his life. This doesn’t mean he wasn’t into show business, he just preferred to be more behind the camera, according to the LA Times. In 2014, Luft created A Judy Garland Concert with Joey Luft, a theater show featuring colorized clips from the “Judy Garland Show” with Luft and a family friend talking about the late star. Like his sister Liza, Mr. Luft does not “want to talk about the bad things” when it comes to his mom. He describes her as a mother, that she loved people, and that she was a caring person with a great sense of humor. Though he did not reach the level of fame as his other family members, he still works on films and documentaries, many of which honor his mom.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
