In Remembrance: Sid Luft

     Sid Luft, the film producer who revitalized the career of wife Judy Garland by producing A Star Is Born (1954), has passed away September 15, 2005 in Santa Monica, CA. He was 89.

     Born November 2, 1915 in New York City, Luft maintained that he grew up in a rough neighborhood, which he credited in helping to shape his tough, scrappy personality. Luft moved to Los Angeles in the late 1930s, opening Custom Cars, a custom automobile dealership on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. In 1940, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and, as World War II progressed, served as a test pilot for Douglas Aircraft.

     After World War II, Luft returned to Hollywood, working briefly as a talent agent before trying his hand at producing. The result, the war comedy Kilroy Was Here (1947) starring Jackie Cooper, was successful enough to launch a sequel, French Leave (1948).

     In 1950, Luft met star Judy Garland, who was in a career decline at the time, having just been released from her contract by MGM Studios. Luft, who was in the midst of divorcing his second wife, B-movie beauty Lynn Bari, became Garland’s personal manager, arranging for the sellout performances at the London Palladium and New York’s Palace Theatre which would help resuscitate her career.

     Luft further cemented Garland’s comeback by producing a remake of the 1937 musical A Star Is Born, with Garland starring opposite James Mason. The film would receive six Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor nods for Garland and Mason.

     Although Luft and Garland had two children - Lorna and Joey – their marriage would only last 13 years. They divorced in 1965.