The Wizard of Oz star Judy Garland and Merrick Garland, the United States attorney general, are not related despite their shared surname. Judy Garland’s name was a stage name, leading to misconceptions that they have a familial connection, which is untrue.
Judy Garland, originally Frances Ethel Gumm, changed her surname to Garland because George Jessel felt that her name wasn’t a fitting name for a talented actress like her.
Remembering Judy Garland, born today in 1922. 🌈
— Marshall Julius 🚀 (@MarshallJulius) June 10, 2024
"It would be wonderful if we could all be a little more gentle with each other, a little more loving [and] have a little more empathy. Maybe we'd like each other a little more."
(🎥 The Wizard of Oz, 1939) pic.twitter.com/O7lFJV8lSf
Eventually, she adopted Judy as her first name, inspired by the popular song sung by Hoagy Carmichael. However, the shared surname was purely coincidental, and Judy and Merrick have no familial connection.
Peeking at the family tree of Judy and Merrick Garland, showcasing they are unrelated!
Judy aka Frances Ethel Gumm, was the youngest of three daughters born to Ethel Marion Gumm and Francis Avent Gumm. She comprises of includes Irish, English, Scottish, and French Huguenot roots.
She has married five individuals, including David Rose, Vincente Minnelli, Sidney Luft, Mark Herron, and Mickey Deans. She has three children: Liza, Lorna, and Joe.
"I can live without money, but I cannot live without love."
— Classic Hollywood(GP) (@CHC_1927) June 10, 2024
Happy Heavenly Birthday to the beloved
Judy Garland! pic.twitter.com/DQdyFmhluM
On the other hand, Merrick Garland was born and raised in a conservative Judaism home with Shirly and Cyril Garland and his two siblings.
His mother was a director of volunteer services at Chicago’s Council for Jewish Elderly. His father was in charge of Garland Advertising, a small business run out of the family home.
He is also a second cousin of Terry Branstad, a six-term Republican governor of Iowa and former Ambassador to China.
Each year Merrick Garland heads a service for the five Capitol policer officers that died during the insurrection, even though zero police officers died during the insurrection.
— MAZE (@mazemoore) June 12, 2024
Two of the four suicides, even The Washington Post admits, had nothing to do with January 6th. They… pic.twitter.com/5aG95y0L0q
Later, he exchanged vows with Lynn Rosenman in September 1987, and they raised two daughters, Rebecca and Jessica. Both of their daughters graduated from Yale University.
In conclusion, despite the coincidence of shared surnames, it is evident that Judy and Merrick Garland are not related and aren’t even distant relatives.
Additional Information
- President Joe Biden nominated Merrick Garland for the position of United States Attorney General. Merrick Garland has a red-green color blindness.
- ‘A Star is Born’ actress Judy passed away at the age of 47 due to an overdose of barbiturates.
