History Music / Liberace

* DeadpanSnarker: He was famous for his dry wit and remarks both during shows and offstage, more than a few of which [[SelfDepreciation were directed at himself.]]

* SelfDepreciation: He was more than happy to make jokes at his own expense such as famously quipping at the 1982 Academy Awards that "I made my greatest contribution to motion pictures years ago. I stopped making them".

* PimpedOutCar: He owned a number of fancy cars, which were just as shiny as elaborate as his costumes and accessories, and often arrived onstage in one of them.

* PimpedOutCar: He owned a number of fancy cars, which were just as shiny as elaborate as his costumes, and often arrived onstage in one of them.

* PimpedOutCar: He owned a number of fancy cars, which were just as shiny as elaborate as his costumes, and often arrived onstage in one of them.

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Throughout his life, there was much speculation about his sexuality. This began with tabloid publications in the [[TheFifties mid-1950s]]. Liberace vehemently denied that he was gay, and sued the British ''[[UsefulNotes/BritishNewspapers Daily Mirror]]'' and the American ''Confidential''. The famous phrase "I laughed all the way to the bank" originates from his response to the ''Mirror'''s article, announcing that he intended to sue for libel.[[note]]He actually said "I ''cried'' all the way to the bank", but in an example of a SnowClone, "laughed" eventually became the verb of choice.[[/note]] (He won the ''Mirror'' suit in 1959, and the ''Confidential'' suit was settled out of court.) Nonetheless, parodies of Liberace played up his flamboyance (if such a thing were possible) and generally treated him as "obviously" gay without saying so out loud.

In 1985, he was found to be HIV positive, a fact he concealed from the public. He died 18 months later on February 4, 1987. He was officially outed by Creator/BettyWhite, a longtime friend, in an interview in 2011, when she admitted that she often bearded for him at public events. Even Wiki/TheOtherWiki now acknowledges that he was gay.

He was also well-known for his oft-mocked [[{{Camp}} flamboyant style]], dressing in nice suits and elaborate costumes, and buying many expensive items. Throughout his life, there was much speculation about his sexuality. This began with tabloid publications in the [[TheFifties mid-1950s]]. Liberace vehemently denied that he was gay, and sued the British ''[[UsefulNotes/BritishNewspapers Daily Mirror]]'' and the American ''Confidential''. The famous phrase "I laughed all the way to the bank" originates from his response to the ''Mirror'''s article, announcing that he intended to sue for libel.[[note]]He actually said "I ''cried'' all the way to the bank", but in an example of a SnowClone, "laughed" eventually became the verb of choice.[[/note]] (He won the ''Mirror'' suit in 1959, and the ''Confidential'' suit was settled out of court.) Nonetheless, parodies of Liberace played up his flamboyance (if such a thing were possible) and generally treated him as "obviously" gay without saying so out loud.

Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987), known to those close to him as "Lee" or "Walter", was an American pianist, singer and actor. Born to Polish and Italian immigrants, he was a ChildProdigy, learning to play the piano at age 4, and able to remember even difficult pieces by the time he was 7. He soon went on to play with well-known orchestras, and toured throughout the United States.

Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987), known those close to him as "Lee" or "Walter", was an American pianist, singer and actor. Born to Polish and Italian immigrants, he was a ChildProdigy, learning to play the piano at age 4, and able to remember even difficult pieces by the time he was 7. He soon went on to play with well-known orchestras, and toured throughout the United States.

Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer and actor. Born to Polish and Italian immigrants, he was a ChildProdigy, learning to play the piano at age 4, and able to remember even difficult pieces by the time he was 7. He soon went on to play with well-known orchestras, and toured throughout the United States.

He was also well-known for his oft-mocked [[{{Camp}} flamboyant style]], dressing in nice suits and elaborate costumes, and buying many expensive items. Throughout his life, there was much speculation about his sexuality. This began with tabloid publications in the [[TheFifties mid-1950s]]. Liberace vehemently denied that he was gay, and sued the British ''[[UsefulNotes/BritishNewspapers Daily Mirror]]'' and the American ''Confidential''. The famous phrase "I cried all the way to the bank" originates from his response to the ''Mirror'''s article, announcing that he intended to sue for libel. (He won the ''Mirror'' suit in 1959, and the ''Confidential'' suit was settled out of court.) Nonetheless, parodies of Liberace played up his flamboyance (if such a thing were possible) and generally treated him as "obviously" gay without saying so out loud.

-->-- '''Creator/MichaelDouglas'''

He was also well-known for his oft-mocked [[{{Camp}} flamboyant style]], dressing in nice suits and elaborate costumes, and buying many expensive items. Throughout his life, there was much speculation about his sexuality. Liberace vehemently denied that he was gay, and sued several newspapers for spreading rumors.

In 1985, he was found to be HIV positive, a fact he concealed from the public. He died 18 months later on February 4, 1987.

-->--Creator/MichaelDouglas

In 1985, he was found to be HIV positive, a fact he concealed from the public. He would soon die on February 4, 1987.

In the 1940s, he moved away from classical music, adding some traditional "pop" styling to his piano music. This soon found success, and for the next four decades, he would become a fixture in the entertainment world. As well as his own TheEponymousShow in the 1950s and frequent guest appearances AsHimself on variety shows, he had a memorable GuestStar turn in ''Series/Batman1966'' in [[ActingForTwo a dual role]] as concert pianist Chandell and his gangster twin Harry. His two-part episode drew the highest ratings of the series. He would also go on to get a residnecy show in Vegas, star in motion pictures (his turn as a coffin salesman in ''Film/TheLovedOne'' being a particular high point), and become the highest-paid entertainer in the world.

In the 1940s, he moved away from classical music, adding some traditional "pop" styling to his piano music. This soon found success, and for the next four decades, he would become a fixture in the entertainment world. As well as his own TheEponymousShow in the 1950s and frequent guest appearances AsHimself on variety shows, he had a memorable GuestStar turn in ''Series/Batman1966'' in [[ActingForTwo a dual role]] as concert pianist Chandell and his gangster twin Harry. His two-part episode drew the highest ratings of the series. He would also go on to get a residnecy show in Vegas, star in motion pictures, and become the highest-paid entertainer in the world.

In the 1940s, he moved away from classical music, adding some traditional "pop" styling to his piano music. This soon found success, and for the next four decades, he would become a fixture in the entertainment world, getting a residency show in Vegas, starring in motion pictures and his own television show, and eventually became the highest-paid entertainer in the world.

As well as his own TheEponymousShow in the 1950s and frequent guest appearances AsHimself on variety shows, he had a memorable GuestStar turn in ''Series/Batman1966'' in [[ActingForTwo a dual role]] as concert pianist Chandell and his gangster twin Harry. His two-part episode drew the highest ratings of the series.

He also became well-known for his oft-mocked [[{{Camp}} flamboyant style]], dressing in nice suits and elaborate costumes, and buying many expensive items. Throughout his life, there was much speculation about his sexuality. Liberace vehemently denied that he was gay, and sued several newspapers for spreading rumors.

As well as his own TheEponymousShow in the 1950sand frequent guest appearances AsHimself on variety shows, he had a memorable GuestStar turn in ''Series/Batman1966'' in [[ActingForTwo a dual role]] as concert pianist Chandell and his gangster twin Harry. His two-part episode drew the highest ratings of the series.

Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer and actor. Born to Polish and Italian immigrants, he was a child prodigy, learning to play the piano at age 4, and able to remember even difficult pieces by the time he was 7. He soon went on to play with well-known orchestras, and toured throughout the United States.

He also became well-known for his oft-mocked flamboyant style, dressing in nice suits and costumes, and buying many expensive items. Throughout his life, there was much speculation about his sexuality. Liberace vehemently denied that he was gay, and sued several newspapers for spreading rumors.

In 1985, he was found to be HIV positive, a fact he concealed from the public. He would soon die on February 4, 1987.

-->Creator/MichaelDouglas

->''"Liberace was one of the biggest stars in America. He was a kind of a phenomenon.