
What Liza Minnelli was like in her relationships
Clip: 4/1/2025 | 2m 53sVideo has Closed Captions
Friends described Liza Minnelli as going into her relationships with fervor and passion.
Friends described Liza Minnelli as going into her relationships with fervor and passion, even if they were only for a short period of time. “She throws herself into the relationship with the same passion that she throws herself into a song. But then just like in a song, you then go on to the next song.”
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...

What Liza Minnelli was like in her relationships
Clip: 4/1/2025 | 2m 53sVideo has Closed Captions
Friends described Liza Minnelli as going into her relationships with fervor and passion, even if they were only for a short period of time. “She throws herself into the relationship with the same passion that she throws herself into a song. But then just like in a song, you then go on to the next song.”
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch American Masters
American Masters is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Buy Now

A front row seat to the creative process
How do today’s masters create their art? Each episode an artist reveals how they brought their creative work to life. Hear from artists across disciplines, like actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, singer-songwriter Jewel, author Min Jin Lee, and more on our podcast "American Masters: Creative Spark."Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(uptempo music) - She loses all of her bearings and all of her judgment.
This person, this is great.
This is gonna be great.
This is it.
(uptempo music continues) She gets very into people very quickly, so she's had some really unique relationships, lasting a short period of time.
She throws herself into the relationship with the same passion that she throws herself into a song.
But then just like in a song, you then go on to the next song.
- My engagement to Desi Arnaz has... Well, the relationship has been deteriorating for some time.
There is no more engagement, that's all called off.
I also met a man called Peter Sellers and fell in love with him, and I'm very pleased to say that he fell in love with me too.
(laughs) - If and when you do get married, you'll be the fourth Mrs. Peter Sellers.
Does this thought bother you at all?
- Oh, no.
Four is my lucky number, my dear.
- Liza has acknowledged that she didn't always make the greatest decisions in relationships and laughs about it because there was genuine love, deep love, in every one of those relationships in different ways.
(camera clicking) - And she said, "I wanna take a picture just for us."
I said, "Okay, sure," so I got off my shirt, she took out her blouse and we took the the shot.
What the photo is saying is exactly what was in my mind.
"I got you."
Then next thing I know, it was in Newsweek.
Next thing I know, it's all over the world.
(laughs) I'm sure a lot of society was shocked, but it never entered our bubble.
It was two people sharing a moment in time.
We didn't stop to say, "Well, what does that white guy think about it?"
Or, "What's that Black guy going to think about it?"
We didn't care.
It was in our world.
- [Interviewer] So we recently found a home movie clip of you and Liza from that time.
- No, you didn't.
(indistinct) (projector whirring) Wow.
Wow.
(projector whirring) Excuse me.
I guess you'd call it love.
I love Liza.
LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
Video has Closed Captions
Take an intimate look into the life and career of screen and stage icon Liza Minnelli. (2m 14s)
Liza Minnelli created her own family
Video has Closed Captions
Liza Minnelli became a godmother to several of her friends’ children, making her own chosen family. (1m 52s)
Liza Minnelli on dealing with the press at an early age
Video has Closed Captions
Because of her famous parents, Liza Minnelli learned how to handle the press at a young age. (1m 40s)
Liza Minnelli showcased her talents in “Liza with a Z”
Video has Closed Captions
“Liza with a Z” highlighted both Liza Minnelli’s personality and her performance capabilities. (3m 20s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipSupport for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...