See more
What was Liberace's nationality?
AmericanLiberace / NationalityWładziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer, and actor. A child prodigy born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish origin, he enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordings, television, motion pictures, and endorsements.
How did Liberace get his name?
Early Life. Liberace was born Wladziu Valentino Liberace on May 16, 1919, in West Allis, Wisconsin, his middle name was taken from one of his mother's favorite film stars—Rudolph Valentino.
Who was Liberace's father?
Salvatore LiberaceLiberace / Father
Who is Liberace's mother?
Frances LiberaceLiberace / Mother
Who did Liberace leave his money to?
He left his companion, Cary James, $250,000 and two automobiles. He left his manager $60,000; his cook a house and a car, his maid $5,000.
How many planes did Liberace own?
18 pianosLiberace owned 18 pianos, many of historical significance. A hand-painted green and gold Playel was supposedly played by Chopin at Versailles Palace. Other pianos were tested by the talents of Brahms, Schumann, Liszt and George Gershwin.
Who was Liberace's brother?
George LiberaceRudy LiberaceLiberace/BrothersBiography. Born in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 31, 1911, George Liberace was the elder brother and business partner of famed entertainer Liberace. He appeared regularly on his brother's syndicated television show in the 1950s as violin accompanist and orchestral arranger.
What is Liberace's famous for?
Most remembered for his extravagant costumes and trademark candelabra placed on the lids of his flashy pianos, Liberace was loved by his audiences for his music talent and unique showmanship. He was born as Wladziu Valentino Liberace on May 16, 1919, into a musical family, in Wisconsin.
What was Liberace's net worth when he died?
Liberace Net Worth: Liberace was an American pianist and vocalist who had a net worth of $18 million at the time of his death in 1987.
Who was Liberace's partner?
Scott ThorsonScott Thorson (born January 23, 1959) is an American known for his relationship with and lawsuit against the entertainer Liberace....Scott ThorsonBornJanuary 23, 1959 La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.Other namesJess MarlowPartner(s)Liberace (1977–1982)
Where is Liberace's mother buried?
He died in five years ago at the age of 93. Two memorial services were planned, one in Las Vegas and one Saturday at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, where she will be buried.
What happened Liberace jewelry?
Liberace Museum To Close Its Doors The Liberace Museum in Las Vegas will close its doors next month after decades of showcasing the elaborate threads, jewelry, cars, pianos and candelabras of the man known as "Mr.
How good of a piano player was Liberace?
But as far as “proper” piano technique goes, the reviews were mixed. What's certain is that Władziu Valentino Liberace had the potential to be a great concert pianist. He was described as a prodigy during his teenage years in the suburbs of Milwaukee, often eschewing typical social activities to practice instead.
Did Liberace adopt Scott Thorson?
When Thorson was 18, Liberace hired him to act as his personal friend and companion, a position that allegedly included a five-year romantic relationship with lavish gifts, travel, and Liberace's promises that he would adopt and care for Thorson.
Where is Liberace's car?
They're now owned by the Liberace Foundation, which provides scholarships to budding young musicians. The museum is located at 5115 Dean Martin Drive, Las Vegas. It's open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Adult admission is $15; children 15 and younger are free with a paid adult ticket.
What happened Liberace jewelry?
Liberace Museum To Close Its Doors The Liberace Museum in Las Vegas will close its doors next month after decades of showcasing the elaborate threads, jewelry, cars, pianos and candelabras of the man known as "Mr.
Who Was Liberace?
Liberace appeared as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 16. He later began giving concerts in flamboyant costumes with ornate pianos and candelabra, playing primarily popular music. Very successful, he hosted his own TV variety series, The Liberace Show (1952–55, 1969), and appeared in films such as Sincerely Yours (1955). With his unique blend of classical training and over-the-top showmanship, Liberace was one of the most famous performers of the 20th century. In later years he performed frequently in Las Vegas.
What movie did Liberace star in?
He even starred in the 1955 film Sincerely Yours , which served as a showcase for his talents. In Las Vegas, Liberace became one of the city's most popular performers and one of its top-paid stars. He became equally famous for the glitz and glamour of his shows and costumes as he was for his music.
What was Walter Busterkeys' real name?
To make a living, Liberace played in movie theaters and night clubs. He even adopted the stage name "Walter Busterkeys" for a time. Before long Liberace found some success in mixing his love of classical music with more contemporary tunes. His real career breakthrough, however, came in 1951 with the premiere of The Liberace Show. The musical program first aired locally in Los Angeles before going national a few years later.
What was Liberace's costume?
His shows and costumes seemed to get more elaborate and ostentatious with the years. His hands showcased a number of ornate, piano-shaped rings, and he draped himself in long, heavy fur capes.
How old was Liberace when he started piano lessons?
A child prodigy, he began his studies at the Wisconsin College of Music when he was only seven years old.
When did the Liberace show start?
His real career breakthrough, however, came in 1951 with the premiere of The Liberace Show. The musical program first aired locally in Los Angeles before going national a few years later. Viewers—35 million of them at the program's height—couldn't get enough of Liberace's piano prowess and his cherubic charms.
Who played the violin in the Liberace show?
His largely female audience also admired Liberace's great devotion to his mother Frances. His brother George played the violin on the program and acted as his orchestral arranger. In addition to his television show, Liberace sold out many of his live concerts and sold millions of records.
Where was Liberace born?
Liberace was born in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, Wisconsin. His father was an Italian immigrant, and his mother was of Polish descent. Liberace began playing the piano at age 4, and his prodigious talent was discovered at an early age.
What is Liberace's legacy?
Legacy. Liberace achieved his fame in a fashion unique to his own personal style. His presentation of shows as a piano-playing entertainer borrowed from classical music traditions, flamboyant circus-style shows, and the intimacy of piano bars. Liberace maintained an unparalleled connection to his core audience.
What did Liberace do during the Great Depression?
As a teenager in the Great Depression, Liberace earned money performing in cabarets and strip clubs despite disapproval from his parents. At age 20, he performed Liszt's Second Piano Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Pabst Theater and subsequently toured the Midwest as a piano player.
Why did the Liberace Museum close?
It became a key tourist attraction along with his own live shows. The proceeds from the museum benefited the Liberace Foundation of Performing and Creative Arts. After 31 years, the museum closed in 2010 due to declining admissions.
How many albums did Liberace have?
Although he recorded almost 70 albums, Liberace's record sales were relatively small compared to his celebrity. Six of his albums were certified gold for sales.
When did Liberace perform in Las Vegas?
it would become a signature element of his concerts. In 1944 he made his first appearance in Las Vegas. Liberace added the iconic candelabra to his act after seeing it used as a prop in the 1945 film A Song To Remember about Frederic Chopin.
Did the Liberace show ever have a regular show?
It didn't lead to a regular series, but a syndicated film of his local live show gave him widespread national exposure. Liberace made guest appearances on a wide variety of other shows in the 1950s and 1960s including The Ed Sullivan Show.
Who is Liberace's brother?
He became a pianist, vocalist, actor and WWF announcer (more on that later), but Liberace was born Władziu Valentino Liberace (or just "Lee" to his friends), which is a slightly more showy name than, say, Reginald Dwight. Mind you, his older brother was called George, signalling that his parents knew they had to step it up name-wise ...
What was the name of the show that Liberace played in?
Ignoring a career on the radio because no one could see him on the wireless, Liberace went straight to TV, landing his own show, prosaically called The Liberace Show , in 1952 (the show was broadcast in the UK and was apparently quite a big influence on a young Elton John). Perhaps his oddest TV appearance came in 1966 when he played a dual role as concert pianist Chandell alongside his evil twin, Harry, in the "slightly camp" TV version of Batman. The two episodes he starred in – The Devil's Fingers and Dead Ringer – were the highest-rated episodes in the show's history.
How did Liberace die?
Liberace died on 4 February 1987 from an Aids-related illness. According to his cook, his last meal consisted of Cream of Wheat hot cereal (it's sort of like porridge), made with half-and-half milk and seasoned with brown sugar.
How old was Liberace when he learned to play the piano?
He wasn't exactly a classical music purist. A prodigious talent, Liberace learned to play the piano at the age of four and was able to memorise difficult classical pieces by the time he was seven.
What is Liberace's caul?
Liberace was born with a caul, which, as you well know, is a piece of birth membrane that remains on the head and was thought to be an omen that the child was destined for amazingness. Other famous "caul-ists" include Lord Byron, Napoleon and, erm, James Iha, who used to be in the Smashing Pumpkins.
Why was Doris Day's idea for Liberace scrapped?
Rumours are that Doris Day was initially asked to be his leading lady, but the idea was scrapped because the studio felt Liberace's name alone would be enough to sell it. In the end the film performed so badly that Warner bought out the remainder of his contract.
When did Liberace open his own museum?
In 1978 Liberace opened his own museum, the Liberace Museum, which housed many of his pianos, cars, jewellery and costumes. At its peak, the museum brought in an average of 400,000 patrons a year. One specific exhibit was devoted to fan tributes and included a Steinway piano made out of 10,000 toothpicks. The museum closed in 2010.
Where did Salvatore Liberace come from?
His Italian father, Salvatore Liberace, came from the fishing village of Formia near Naples. A professional musician, Salvatore instilled a love of music in his son. Liberace's mother, Frances Zuchowska Liberace, hailed from Poland and had been a concert pianist before marriage.
What did Liberace do on stage?
On stage, Liberace oozed charisma and created an intimate rapport with his fans that belied his flashy stage clothes and ostentatious style. Although he dressed in rhinestone-encrusted capes, was chauffeured to his concerts in a Rolls-Royce, and made his appetite for luxury a constant punchline in his stage banter, Liberace, in his public life, never exuded the aloof attitude typical of so many celebrities. To his millions of devotees, he was far more than a musical idol. Liberace was a star of the people who brought culture, albeit filtered through his own unique predilections and quirks, to the common folk.
Why did Thorson and Liberace end their relationship?
According to Thorson, their relationship ended because of his drug use and Liberace's repeated infidelities. When Liberace fired him in 1982, Thorson filed a $13 million palimony suit, the first of its kind in United States history.
Why did Liberace walk a fine line?
Liberace learned to walk a fine line to keep both his artistic father and practical mother happy. Later in life, Liberace would find himself estranged from his father, who balked at his son's embrace of popular music over the classics.
How old was Liberace when he studied Bach?
Pouring over Padereswki's recordings, 8-year-old Liberace meticulously studied the musician's interpretations of Bach, Beethoven, Liszt, and Mozart until he could execute them flawlessly. As Liberace grew older, he discovered that his musical ability was a way to gain acceptance among his peers.
Why did Liberace fight?
Liberace fought endlessly to preserve his privacy in an era of rampant homophobia and intolerance. Fearing the loss of his predominantly female fanbase, he created an illusion, which ultimately only he believed.
How old was Liberace when he left grammar school?
The prodigy was even allowed to leave grammar school early in the afternoon to play at high school dances. Classical studies, recitals, and competitions ruled 14 year-old Liberace's days. His nights belonged to ragtime and honky-tonk music, which he played at Milwaukee roadhouses and bars.
What was Liberace's career called?
Of course, this being the 1930s, he was teased mercilessly for acting effeminate. Nevertheless, Liberace pursued a career in entertainment by performing in clubs and hotel lobbies. He also played in what was called Soundies, early music videos of sorts.
Why did the Liberace family settle in 1986?
It was a hard battle, mainly because Liberace still denied he was gay. They settled in 1986 because, as Thorson said, he knew Liberace was dying. And it was true. Liberace died on February 4, 1987, from cytomegalovirus pneumonia, a complication from HIV.
Why did Thorson sue Liberace?
That year, Liberace's entourage kicked Thorson out of his Los Angeles house, possibly because of his drug habit and the pianist's promiscuity. It was a hard battle, mainly because Liberace still denied he was gay.
Why did Liberace sue?
Liberace was actually quite conservative and sought legal action against many people to protect his reputation. He sued two newspapers, the UK's Daily Mirror and the American magazine Confidential in the 1950s for insinuating that he was gay.
How old was Scott Thorson when he met Liberace?
Liberace said he didn't want the public to know the man had been in his bedroom, since that's how the money was stolen. Liberace then met 17-year old Scott Thorson.
Who was born in 1919 and played the piano?
And when he died, some of his secrets came spilling out. Liberace, born Władziu Valentino Liberace to Polish and Italian immigrant parents in 1919, began playing the piano at a young age. Despite his parents' reluctance, he started performing professionally at clubs in Wisconsin to earn some money during the Great Depression.
Did Liberace invite men to his house?
In reality, he did invite men to his home and had romantic relationships with several of them. People around him told stories about his conquests and how he sometimes wasn't discreet about whom he slept with. USA Today reported that once, a man he invited to his house had stolen money from him. He told a friend who had introduced them not to call the police. Liberace said he didn't want the public to know the man had been in his bedroom, since that's how the money was stolen.
What company did George Liberace own?
In the 1960s and 1970s, his name was licensed to George Liberace Songsmiths, Inc., a mail-order music publishing operation of somewhat dubious integrity.
How did George Liberace die?
George Liberace died of leukemia at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 16, 1983, at age 72, and was interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.
What did George Liberace say to his brother George?
On occasions when he did not appear, Liberace would often say his catchphrase "I wish my brother George was here".
What was Liberace's nickname?
Hi, Lee [Liberace's nickname].' 'Hi, Phyllis.'". Liberace was solicitous to the people he needed. Ballas often went to his house to check his face and bring face creams she had blended for him. Over the years, he gave her small gifts, including an old-fashioned telephone and a brooch in the shape of a piano.
Who plays Liberace in Behind the Candelabra?
Think Humphrey Bogart in Dark Passage, Elizabeth Taylor in Ash Wednesday. And now, in HBO's Behind the Candelabra, Michael Douglas playing Liberace, the swishy but closeted Las Vegas piano player. Matt Damon, bleached blond for the role, costars as Liberace's stoned and rhinestoned boyfriend, Scott Thorson, who was almost 40 years younger.
What did Startz do for Thorson?
Startz outlined an operative plan for the 20-year-old Thorson: a nose job, restructured cheekbones, a chin implant, and, at Thorson's request, a cleft in his chin. When Liberace complained that his "blond Adonis" was gaining weight, Startz prescribed what he called the Hollywood Diet—"cocaine, amphetamines and Quaaludes," Thorson writes.
Where did Thornson take the bandaged Liberace?
He had to be persuaded before the surgery could begin. Afterwards, Thornson wheeled the bandaged Liberace across the street to a three-bedroom apartment rented for the occasion. Ballas remembers sprucing it up for the celebrated guest.
What did Liberace's henchmen wear to the penthouse?
Liberace's henchmen hustled Thorson out of the star's penthouse wearing only his pajamas and a fur coat, Thorson writes. His and His Face-lifts: Rolls Royces, lavish real estate, and dozens of pet dogs were not the only things the lovers enjoyed during their happier days together.
What is the book behind the candelabra based on?
The biopic, directed by Steven Soderbergh and airing May 26th, is based on Thorson's book Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace, published a year after Liberace's death in 1988. The book itself recounts the events of the couple's five-year relationship—and serves as an act of revenge for the abrupt way the performer ended it ...
Who was the surgeon in Liberace?
On the advice of Guy Richard, the hairdresser who styled Liberace's wigs, the entertainer called Jack Startz, a Hollywood ear, nose, and throat specialist. Played in the movie by Rob Lowe—in high-camp hair and makeup bearing no resemblance to his actual suave appearance—Startz was a brilliant surgeon who was eventually brought down by drugs and alcohol, financial problems, and the consequences of doling out silicone injections that left the face of at least one denizen of the movie colony looking like a melting candle. In the words of his oldest son, Jon Startz, "He was charismatic, skilled, innovative—and tragic."
Early years
Early history
- As a teenager, Liberace earned wages playing popular tunes at movie theaters and speakeasies. Despite being proud of his son's accomplishments, Salvatore strictly opposed Liberace's preference for popular music over the classics. Pianist Florence Bettray Kelly took control of Liberace's classical training when he was 14.
Early career
- He debuted as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Frederick Stock. At age 17, Liberace joined the Works Progress Administration Symphony Orchestra. He received a scholarship to attend the Wisconsin College of Music. In 1939, after a classical recital, Liberace's audience requested the popular tune, \"Three Little Fishes\". Liberace seized the opportunity an…
Films
- By 1940, Liberace was traveling with his custom-made piano, on top of which he would place his candelabrum. He then took Paderewski's advice and dropped Wladziu and Valentino to become simply Liberace. South Sea Sinner (1950), a movie with Shelley Winters, was Liberace's film debut. He played a honky tonk pianist in the movie, which opened in 1950.
Later career
- In 1952, The Liberace Show (1952), a syndicated television program, turned Liberace into a musical symbol. It began as a summertime replacement for The Dinah Shore Show (1951), but after two years, the show was one of the most popular on TV. It was carried by 217 American stations and could be seen in 20 foreign countries. Sold-out live appearances at Madison Squar…
Later years
- In 1977, Liberace founded the non-profit \"Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts\". The year 1978 brought the opening of \"The Liberace Museum\" in Las Vegas, Nevada, which serves as key funding for the Liberace Foundation. The profits from the museum provide scholarship money for financially needy college musicians. He continued performing until the fal…
Honors and awards
- Liberace was bestowed with many awards during his lifetime including: Instrumentalist of the Year, Best Dressed Entertainer, Entertainer of the Year, two Emmy Awards, six gold albums, and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In The Guinness Book of World Records, he has been listed as the world's highest paid musician and pianist. Liberace was an extremely talented and …
Early Life
Personal Life
- Liberace often hid his private life as a gay man by allowing public stories about romantic involvement with women to gain traction. In 2011, actress Betty White, a close friend, stated that Liberace was gay and she was often used by his managers to counter homosexual rumors. In the late 1950s, he sued the U.K. newspaper Daily Mirror for libelafter it published statements implyin…
Music Career
- In the 1940s, Liberace reworked his live performances from straight classical music to shows that included pop music. it would become a signature element of his concerts. In 1944 he made his first appearance in Las Vegas. Liberace added the iconic candelabra to his act after seeing it used as a prop in the 1945 film A Song To Rememberabout Frederic Chopin. Liberace was his own pe…
TV and Films
- Liberace's first network television program, the 15-minute Liberace Show, debuted in July 1952. It didn't lead to a regular series, but a syndicated film of his local live show gave him widespread national exposure. Liberace made guest appearances on a wide variety of other shows in the 1950s and 1960s including The Ed Sullivan Show. A new Liberace Show started on ABC daytim…
Death
- Outside of the public eye, Liberace was tested positive for HIV by his personal physician in August 1985. More than a year before Liberace's death, his lover of seven years, Cary James Wyman, was also tested positive. He later died in 1997. Another lover named Chris Adler later came forward after Liberace died and claimed that he received the HIV virus from sex with Liberace. He died i…
Legacy
- Liberace achieved his fame in a fashion unique to his own personal style. His presentation of shows as a piano-playing entertainer borrowed from classical music traditions, flamboyant circus-style shows, and the intimacy of piano bars. Liberace maintained an unparalleled connection to his core audience. Liberace is also recognized as an icon among gay entertainers. Although he f…