Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American actress, singer, and vaudevillian.Renowned for her powerful contralto voice, emotional depth, and versatility, Garland rose to international fame as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939), a role that cemented her status as a Hollywood legend.. Garland began her career as a child …