Topic: Vincente Minnelli

Vincente Minnelli (February 28, 1903 – July 25, 1986) was an American film director and stage director. He was married to Judy Garland from 1945 until 1951; they were the parents of Liza Minnelli.

Born as Lester Anthony Minnelli in Chicago, he was the youngest of four known sons, only two of whom survived to adulthood, born to Marie Émilie Odile Lebeau (stage name: Mina Gennell) and Vincent Charles Minnelli. His father was musical conductor of Minnelli Brothers' Tent Theater. Minnelli's Chicago-born mother was of French Canadian descent with a strong probability of Native American lineage included and his paternal grandfather was from Sicily. The family toured small towns primarily in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois before settling permanently in Delaware, Ohio.

Following his high school graduation, Minnelli moved to Chicago, where he lived briefly with his grandmother and an aunt. His first job was at Marshall Field's department store as a window display designer. He later worked as a photographer for Paul Stone, who specialized in photographing actors from Chicago's theater district. His interest in the theater grew and he was greatly interested in art and immersed himself in books on the subject.