Vincente Minnelli
Birth:  Feb. 28, 1903 Chicago Cook County Illinois, USA Death:  Jul. 25, 1986 Beverly Hills Los Angeles County California, USA Director, Producer. Considered a master who infused a new elegance and vivacity into motion picture musicals during the 1940s and 1950s. Working with Arthur Freed, Roger Edens, and Kay Thompson, he created successful films within dramas, comedies, and musicals. Born Lester Anthony Minnelli in Chicago, Illinois, he was the son of Vincent and Mina Minnelli, who owned a family oriented traveling music show. He would later take his fathers name, adding a European flare of 'Vincente' while working at Radio City Music Hall. Minnelli worked in stage management and costume design from the age of sixteen, first in Chicago and then in New York City. After many years working his way around "The Great White Way," he achieved status and success as a Broadway director with the shows, "At Home Abroad" (1935), "The Show Is On" (1936), and "Hooray For What!" (1937). In New York, he was scouted by Arthur Freed for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and moved to Hollywood in early 1940. During his over a decade with MGM, he directed the films, "Meet Me In St. Louis" (1944), "The Clock" (1945), and "The Pirate" (1948), all of which starred Judy Garland. They first met on the set of "Strike Up The Band" (1941), a Busby Berkeley film that Minnelli was asked to design a musical sequence for it's stars Judy and Mickey Rooney. He later married Garland in 1945, and their union produced a child, Liza Minnelli, who would later become a successful actress and singer in her own right. In 1950, Vincente and Gene Kelly collaborated on "An American In Paris" (1951 release), a multiple Academy Award winning film, Minnelli combined the daring use of color with imaginative camera work, producing what many still consider a sophisticated and visually stunning movie. His dramatic flare was recognized as well, directing the films, "The Bad And The Beautiful" (1952) and "Lust For Life" (1956). His most popular films remained his musicals such as, "The Band Wagon" (1953), "Brigadoon" (1954), "Kismet" (1955), and "Gigi" (1958). With the decline of the lavish movie musical, he parted ways with MGM in 1962, and founded his own production company: Venice Productions. Later films included, "The Courtship Of Eddie's Father" (1963), "Goodbye Charlie" (1964), "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever" (1970), and directing his daughter Liza in, "A Matter Of Time" (1976), which was his final film. After his marriage to Garland, he was married an additional three times, producing another daughter, Christiane Nina Minnelli, and two grandchildren. During his career he directed over thirty films and was nominated twice for an Academy Award, winning Best Director for "Gigi" in 1958. For his achievements in the area of motion pictures, he was awarded a 'Star' on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6676 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California. Vincente Minnelli died in Beverly Hills, California from emphysema complicated by pneumonia. Family links:  Spouse:   Judy Garland (1922 - 1969)* Burial: Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Glendale Los Angeles County California, USA