Inside Liza Minnelli's medical crises including drug addiction & brain infection as fans fear for mu
LIZA Minnelli worried fans with her "frail" appearance in a wheelchair at the Oscars on Sunday.
The 76-year-old star - who is best known for her movie Cabaret and being the daughter of Judy Garland - has suffered numerous health issues over the decades.
But she looked a far cry from her heyday as an actress, dancer, choreographer, and singer when she presented at the 94th Academy Awards alongside Lady Gaga.
As she struggled with her words while announcing the Best Picture Oscars nominees, Gaga helped her out and said, "We are going to tell you the nominees now."
She leaned down to Liza and "I got you" to which the EGOT winner responded with, "I know."
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The moment was truly heartwarming after an evening of chaos.
Social media has been abuzz with speculation about the legendary star's current health status.
One person tweeted, “Hate to see Liza in a wheelchair but how brave this woman is. She never gives up. Appreciate her now. Be thankful you’re alive the same time as her.”
It follows a history of drug addiction, a brain injury and physical ailments.
ADDICTION STRUGGLES
Liza has been to rehab for substance abuse and drugs five times since 1992 and has attended Alcoholics Anonymous.
Her latest stint was in 2015, but she has been sober ever since.
Liza's problems with drugs and alcohol began with the pressure to maintain personal appearance in Hollywood.
She later revealed that she turned to drugs to deal with her mother dying and developed a Valium addiction.
In Andy Warhol's 1978 diary, he recalled that Liza showed up to his New York home begging for drugs.
"Give me every drug you've got!" she said.
The actress left with cocaine, marijuana, Valium and four Mandrax sedative pills.
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"My whole life, this disease has been rampant. I inherited it, and it's been horrendous, but I have always asked for help," Liza has said about her addiction.
Drug addiction run in the family; Her mother, Judy Garland, passed away from an accidental barbiturate overdose in 1969.
Liza's one vice that still follows her around today is smoking.
BROKEN BONES
Liza has had many physical problems and her first health scare came in 1997.
According to her 2008 interview with Variety, Liza suffered from polyps on her vocal cords, which caused her not to be able to sing for 18 months.
Dancing has also taken a toll on her body - Liza has had two hip replacements and a knee-cap replacement.
In 2007, the movie star had her jawbone reconstructed after falling on stage, then in 2013 she broke her wrists.
The following year Liza broke her lower back after one of her dogs jumped on her.
The performer fell in an awkward position during the incident and crushed her vertebrae, requiring her to undergo surgery.
PREGNANCY PAIN
Liza has been married, and divorced four times and never had any kids.
In 1981, she did get pregnant with her third husband, a sculptor, Mark Gero, but miscarried.
Liza suffered three miscarriages during her four marriages.
Medical procedures to save one baby left Liza with a hiatal hernia.
Liza has said the hernia still bothers her and sometimes is painful whenever she eats or sings in a certain way.
DODGING DEATH
Despite dealing with all of those ailments, the scariest one came in 2000.
She contracted viral encephalitis, which is inflammation of the active tissues of the brain, caused by an infection or autoimmune response, from a mosquito bite.
Encephalitis can cause seizures, confused thinking, and even problems with movement, sight, and hearing.
Paramedics thought she was suffering from a stroke after they found her collapsed on the floor, one side of her body paralyzed, slurred speech, and drooping face muscles.
The infection can be fatal if it is not treated right away but Liza defied the odds.
Liza was told she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair, but recovered and performed in her solo show, Liza's Back.
She had to learn to walk and talk again, but bounced back pretty quickly.
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Still she has been well enough to continue her career - her last role was in 2013 in an episode of Smash.
She made a guest appearance in 2019 in the documentary film, Halston.
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