11 Facts for Judy Garland's Biggest Fans

Today would have been Judy Garland's 92nd birthday and the screen and stage legend continues to grow an adoring fanbase through her iconic roles and one-of-a-kind voice. Though she passed away far too soon in 1969 at the young age of 47, her incredible film career has made her one of Hollywood's most unforgettable actresses. She forever changed the history of cinema with Judy Garland's performance as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz , which she filmed at the age of 16. For the next 30 years of her life, Garland would go on to star on Oscar-nominated films and break dozens of records in the music in the music industry.

Sadly, Garland struggled with a tumultuos personal life. Her father passed away when she was a child and the demands of Hollywood on her image forced Garland into years of turmoil over her looks. Towards the end of her life, Garland dealt with alcoholism and addictions, which inevitably lead to her untimely death. However, despite her personal dark clouds, Garland's legacy continues to have an ever-growing rainbow.

To pay tribute to the ground-breaking actress, whose career gave us some of the most beautiful and inspiring moments in film and music history, we've gathered a collection of little-known facts about one of our all-time favorite stars. Enjoy.

Her real name isn't actually Judy Garland

She was born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

No One Can Touch Her Live Performances

The recording of her 1961 Carnegie Hall performance spent 95 weeks on the US album charts.

She Was Winning Oscars Before She Could Legally Vote

She won the Oscar Juvenile Award at the age of 17 for The Wizard of Oz, her first of only three nominations.

And She Was Signing Deals Before She Could Drive

She landed her first recording contract at the age of 13 with MGM.

Her Film Career Was Non-Stop

Garland passed away at the age of 47, but appeared in 35 films during the course of her career.

She is the ultimate gay icon

The Advocate once named Garland, “The Elvis of Homosexuals”

She wasn't always a Garland on-stage

She and her two sisters performed in the Vaudeville circuit in an act called the “Gumm Sisters” where Judy was nicknamed “Baby Gumm”

She re-defined "Happy Birthday"

Garland sang “You Made Me Love You” to Clark Gable on his 35th birthday at a party hosted by MGM.

Both of her daughters followed in her footsteps

Liza Minnelli and Lorna Luft became stars in their own rights of the stage and screen. Luft even appeared on stage in the UK as the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz while Minnelli has had a long and honored career on film and in Broadway.

She got to do it all with her best friend

Garland and her childhood pal Mickey Rooney starred in eight films together and were lauded as one of cinema’s best on-screen couples of all time.

Dorothy's white dress wasn't actually white

It was pink because the film was shot in technicolor.

Images: MGM; lejazzhot/dreamsgoneastray/missclarabow/nuggles/jessicadraperx/dreamsgoneastray/hope-you-liked-your-gif/the-ruby-red-slippers/Tumblr; gif-weenus