Minnelli Released From Hospital

Oct. 30, 2000 -- A serious health scare led to a surprise reunion for Oscar-winning actress Liza Minnelli and her estranged half sister, Lorna Luft.

Minnelli left a Florida hospital today holding hands with Luft, patching up a long family rift after the actressand singer fell ill with viral encephalitis, an inflammation ofthe brain.

“This is what family is all about. You can bicker all youwant, but when the chips are down you’re there for each other.My sister is here for me and I love her very much,” Minnellisaid in a statement.

Departing in Style Minnelli, 54, who fell ill three weeks ago, was wheeled outof the Cleveland Clinic in Fort Lauderdale to a waiting whitestretch limousine. She answered a reporter’s question with abrief, “I feel great,” although doctors said she would takeseveral months to recover completely.

Minnelli, daughter of singer-actress Judy Garland and filmdirector Vincente Minnelli, had been feuding over a frank bookon the family written by Luft, the daughter of Garland andmovie producer Sid Luft.

“I’m so happy that my sister and I are together again andthat she is well on the road to recovery. Now I look forward tospending some quiet time with Liza,” said Luft.

Source of Illness Unknown

Minnelli was rushed to a Fort Lauderdale hospital on Oct. 19, just three days after she had spent eight days in the intensive care unit allegedly receiving treatment for back and hip problems. Minnelli’s doctor confirmed Oct. 23 that he had been treating her for viral encephalitis, a serious disease that can cause seizures, paralysis, and inflammation of the brain.

Details on how Minnelli contracted the disease, which is primarily spread by mosquitoes carrying the virus, were not released. But Dr. Jim Cresanta of the Broward County Health Department Disease Prevention Unit told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel that other causes can include viral infections such as herpes, measles, and chicken pox.

Minnelli rose to fame in 1972, when she won the Best Actress Oscar for the cinematic adaptation of the Broadway hit Cabaret.

Mr. Showbiz and Reuters contributed to this report.