Judy Garland had an illustrious career that spanned virtually her entire life. She may have been known the world over for her incredible talents and achievements on stage, screen, and television, but she will be forever remembered for her role as Dorothy in one of the most memorable movies of all time – The Wizard of Oz.
Her road to the Yellow Brick Road was an interesting one. It began in vaudeville where Judy and her two older sisters appeared as the Gumm Sisters. While touring the country, Judy caught the eye of executives from the mega movie studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). In 1935, the studio signed her to a contract.
Her big break came in 1938, when at age 16; MGM cast Judy as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. And the rest, as they say, is history… Judy has become synonymous with the film, and to its many wonderful songs, including We’re Off to See the Wizard, If I Only Had a Brain, If I Only Had a Heart, If I Only Had the Nerve, and, of course, the song for which she will forever be identified, Over the Rainbow.
Over the years, Judy won many awards for her talents. Among them a Juvenile Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, as well as Grammy Awards, and a Special Tony Award. She also was nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Actress for her role in the remake of A Star is Born and for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1961 film, Judgment at Nuremberg. Plus, at 39 years of age, Judy was and still is the youngest recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in the motion picture industry. For all her achievements, Judy will always be remembered for her great performance in The Wizard of Oz.