The Five Husbands Of Judy Garland: A Deep Dive Into Her Tumultuous Marriages And Final Days

Few stars in Hollywood history have captivated and heartbroken the world quite like Judy Garland. Her life, tragically cut short at the age of 47, was a whirlwind of unparalleled professional highs—from her iconic turn as Dorothy in *The Wizard of Oz* to her legendary concerts—and deeply personal lows, often played out in the public eye. As of December 2025, retrospective looks at her legacy continue to focus on the instability of her private life, particularly the five men she married, each of whom played a significant, and often dramatic, role in her career and personal struggles.

Her quest for stability and happiness led her down the aisle five times, starting at the tender age of 19. From a composer who helped her break free from her strict MGM contract to the entrepreneur who found her in her final moments, these marriages—ranging from just five months to 13 years—reveal the heartbreaking reality behind the dazzling smile of Frances Ethel Gumm.

Complete Biographical Profile: The Five Husbands of Judy Garland

Judy Garland’s five marriages spanned nearly three decades, beginning in 1941 and ending with her death in 1969. Here is a detailed look at the men who married the legendary actress and singer:

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• 1. David Rose (Composer and Conductor)
  • Full Name: David Daniel Rose
  • Profession: Composer, Arranger, Pianist, and Orchestra Leader
  • Born: June 15, 1910
  • Died: August 23, 1990
  • Marriage Duration: July 28, 1941 – January 27, 1944 (Divorced)
  • Key Context: Garland was just 19 when she married Rose, who was 31. The marriage was reportedly strained by the pressures of her MGM contract.
• 2. Vincente Minnelli (Film Director)
  • Full Name: Vincente Minnelli
  • Profession: Film and Stage Director, known for musicals
  • Born: February 28, 1903
  • Died: July 25, 1986
  • Marriage Duration: June 15, 1945 – March 29, 1951 (Divorced)
  • Key Context: They met while working on the film *Meet Me in St. Louis*. They had one child, actress and singer Liza Minnelli, who was born in 1946.
• 3. Sid Luft (Film Producer and Businessman)
  • Full Name: Michael Sidney Luft
  • Profession: Film Producer, Manager
  • Born: November 2, 1915
  • Died: September 15, 2005
  • Marriage Duration: June 8, 1952 – May 19, 1965 (Divorced)
  • Key Context: This was Garland's longest marriage, lasting 13 years. They had two children, Lorna Luft (born 1952) and Joseph "Joey" Luft (born 1955). Luft was instrumental in producing her comeback film, *A Star Is Born*, and managing her career.
• 4. Mark Herron (Actor and Tour Manager)
  • Full Name: Truman "Mark" Herron
  • Profession: Actor and Tour Manager
  • Born: July 8, 1928
  • Died: January 13, 1996
  • Marriage Duration: November 14, 1965 – April 11, 1967 (Divorced)
  • Key Context: Their marriage was her shortest, lasting a mere five months before they separated. They were married in a small Las Vegas wedding chapel.
• 5. Mickey Deans (Musician and Entrepreneur)
  • Full Name: Michael DeVinko Jr. (Mickey Deans)
  • Profession: Musician, Entrepreneur
  • Born: September 24, 1934
  • Died: July 11, 2003
  • Marriage Duration: March 15, 1969 – June 22, 1969 (Ended by Garland's Death)
  • Key Context: Deans was Garland's fifth and final husband. The marriage lasted only three months until her tragic passing in their rented Chelsea, London, flat.

The Longest and Most Tumultuous: Sid Luft and the 'A Star Is Born' Era

The marriage that defined Judy Garland’s later career and personal life was undoubtedly to her third husband, Sid Luft. Lasting 13 years, it was her most enduring relationship and the source of both her greatest professional triumphs and deepest personal turmoil.

Luft, a film producer and manager, is credited with engineering Garland’s spectacular career comeback in the 1950s. He managed her legendary performances at the Palace Theatre in New York and was the driving force behind the 1954 film *A Star Is Born*, a role for which she received an Academy Award nomination.

However, their relationship was volatile, marked by intense arguments, financial struggles, and the increasing severity of Garland’s substance abuse issues. The raw, hard-boiled details of their life together were revealed posthumously in Luft's 2017 memoir, *Judy and I: My Life with Judy Garland*. The book offered a fresh, candid look at their star-crossed love affair, including revelations about her career struggles and their attempts to manage her addiction.

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From Hollywood Royalty to Her Tragic Final Act

Judy Garland's second marriage to director Vincente Minnelli solidified her place in Hollywood royalty. They met on the set of *Meet Me in St. Louis* and their union produced her most famous child, Liza Minnelli, who would go on to become an EGOT-winning star in her own right.

Their creative collaboration was fruitful, but the marriage dissolved after six years, paving the way for the dramatic Sid Luft years. Her fourth marriage to actor Mark Herron was brief, lasting only about five months before they separated, though the divorce was finalized later.

Her final chapter began when she met Mickey Deans, a musician and entrepreneur 12 years her junior. The two married in Chelsea, London, in March 1969. Deans, whose real name was Michael DeVinko Jr., was her final attempt at a stable life.

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The Heartbreaking End: Mickey Deans and the Last Three Months

The relationship between Judy Garland and Mickey Deans is inextricably linked to her final moments. Their wedding in London was a modest affair, but the stability she sought was elusive.

Just three months after their wedding, on June 22, 1969, Deans discovered Garland’s body in the bathroom of their rented London home. The official cause of death was an accidental overdose of barbiturates.

This tragic end cemented the image of the star as a figure of immense talent and profound vulnerability. The story of her final marriage and death was a central focus of the 2019 biopic *Judy*, starring Renée Zellweger, which brought renewed attention to the pressures and personal crises that plagued her life, reinforcing her status as an enduring cultural icon whose life was as complex as her husbands were numerous.