Ever looked at those iconic ruby slippers and wondered where the magic went after the curtain closed? We all know the tragic, Technicolor story of Judy Garland. We know Liza, Lorna, and Joey—the three children who spent decades defending their mother’s memory against the "tragic figure" narrative Hollywood loves to push. But the branch doesn't stop with them.
When we talk about judy garland grandchildren, things get a little quieter. You won't find them plastered across every tabloid, and that’s probably by design.
Liza Minnelli, the eldest and arguably most famous of the trio, never had children. Despite four marriages and a lifelong desire to be a mother, her path didn't lead there. Joey Luft, Judy’s youngest, has mostly stayed behind the camera or in the wings, living a private life that keeps his own family details—if any—far from the prying eyes of the press.
That leaves Lorna Luft.
Lorna is the one who carried the lineage forward. Through her, the Gumm family (Judy’s birth name was Frances Ethel Gumm, remember?) found its next generation. She had two children with her first husband, musician Jake Hooker: Jesse and Vanessa.
Meeting the Heirs: Jesse and Vanessa
Jesse Hooker was born in 1984. He’s the first of the judy garland grandchildren, and honestly, he's a bit of a ghost in the celebrity world. He didn't chase the neon lights of Broadway or the gritty realism of indie film. He’s a father now, which makes Judy a great-grandmother, a title she never lived to hear.
Then there’s Vanessa Jade O'Neil (formerly Vanessa Hooker). Born in 1990, she’s the one who has stepped into the light recently.
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It’s a weird thing, being the granddaughter of a legend you never met. Judy died in 1969. Vanessa wasn't even a thought yet. But the DNA is there. You can see it in the eyes, sometimes in the smile.
Vanessa doesn't sing for a living. She isn't winning Tonys. She’s a personal trainer and a nutrition coach. She lives in San Diego. It’s about as far from the pill-popping, high-stress chaos of 1950s MGM as you can get. She’s focused on wellness—a poignant choice given the health struggles that defined her grandmother’s life and the addiction battles that have shadowed the family for years.
The "Addiction Gene" and Breaking the Cycle
You can't talk about this family without talking about the "gene." Vanessa has been incredibly open about it. In interviews, she’s admitted to being seven years sober. She calls it a "genetic trait."
"I do have the addiction gene myself. I'm seven years sober, and I really do feel like it's a genetic trait in my family." — Vanessa O'Neil
It’s heavy stuff. But there’s something hopeful about it, too. While Judy was fed "pep pills" by studio executives at fifteen, her granddaughter is using her platform to talk about clean living and recovery. It’s like the family is finally healing the wounds that opened on the set of The Wizard of Oz.
Why We Rarely See Them
Why aren't they more famous?
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Basically, the "Judy Garland grandchildren" didn't want to be "Judy Garland's Grandchildren." Not as a career, anyway.
If you grew up watching your mom (Lorna) or your aunt (Liza) navigate the brutal highs and lows of show business, would you jump in? Probably not. Jesse and Vanessa seem to have found a way to honor the legacy without being consumed by it.
Vanessa recently visited the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to see her grandmother’s ruby slippers in the conservation lab. It was a big "Discover" moment for many fans. Seeing her stand next to those shoes—the ones that represent both the peak of Judy’s fame and the start of her exploitation—was powerful. She wasn't there as a star; she was there as a granddaughter.
The Great-Grandkids: The Rainbow Continues
The legacy has moved into a fourth generation now. Vanessa has two sons, Logan and Kieran.
There’s a story she tells that sounds like something straight out of a movie script. After Kieran was born in 2022, she looked out the window of the hospital or her home, and there it was: a massive rainbow right over the baby’s bassinet.
Kinda cheesy? Maybe. But for a family whose entire history is tied to a song about a rainbow, it felt like a cosmic "hello" from a grandmother who died way too young.
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Logan, the older son, has been seen in photos with his grandmother Lorna, often visiting Judy’s final resting place at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. They aren't treating it like a macabre tourist stop. It’s family.
Fact-Checking the Myths
People often get confused about who belongs to whom in this family tree. Here’s the reality:
- Liza Minnelli has no children. Any "grandchild" you see linked to her is likely a godchild or a niece/nephew.
- Joey Luft is extremely private. While there are rumors of children, he has never confirmed them publicly or brought them into the spotlight.
- Lorna Luft is the primary link. Her children, Jesse and Vanessa, are the only confirmed grandchildren of Judy Garland.
What This Means for the Legacy
The story of the judy garland grandchildren is one of normalcy. That’s the real takeaway.
For decades, the Garland-Minelli-Luft clan was synonymous with "talented but troubled." By stepping away from the stage and into the gym, or the office, or the quiet life of a parent, the new generation is doing the one thing Judy never could: they’re just living.
They still show up for the big events. They help manage the estate. They ensure that "Mama" isn't remembered just for the tragedies, but for the talent. But they do it on their own terms.
If you're looking to follow the family, Vanessa O'Neil's work in wellness is the most public-facing window you'll get. She’s active on social media, but mostly about fitness and her kids. She’s a "fitness influencer" who happens to have Hollywood royalty in her marrow.
To really understand the weight of this legacy, you should look into Lorna Luft’s memoir, Me and My Shadows. It gives the best context for the world Jesse and Vanessa grew up in—a world they've managed to stay grounded in despite the legend hanging over them. You can also visit the Academy Museum's website to see the footage of Vanessa’s visit to the ruby slippers; it’s a rare moment of the past and future colliding.
The rainbow hasn't faded; it’s just moved to San Diego.