Liza Minnelli Misses Joan Rivers' Funeral Due to Back Injury; Faces Upcoming Surgery

As BWW reported earlier, Audra McDonald, Hugh Jackman and some of the biggest names in Broadway turned out for the funeral of legendary comedienne Joan Rivers yesterday, September 7th. One star who was not able to make the ceremony was Broadway legend Liza Minnelli, a close friend of the comic.

Minnelli tells The New York Post's Page Six, "I couldn't go to Joan Rivers' funeral, which I desperately wanted to because I loved her - but I couldn't go because I can't walk. I'm in bed. Going in for surgery." She continued, "I broke my lower back. Remember a few years ago I was in a wheelchair because I had trouble with my spine? They operated on it then. Well, now, again. They'll have to fuse it."

The 'Cabaret' star explained how the injury occurred. "I was picking up my dogs - and they jumped. And I got twisted and fell. I thought it's nothing. But it wasn't nothing. It became something. After an X-ray, seems I busted it and have to have it fused. The operation's next week."

Tony and Oscar winning Broadway, film and TV star Liza Minnelli has appeared on Broadway in Flora, The Red Menace -- for which she won the 1965 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical -- Liza, Chicago, The Act (another Tony win in 1978), The Rink, Victor / Victoria, Minnelli on Minnelli and Liza's at the Palace.

She also received a special Tony Award in 1978 She has appeared as herself on TV in Smash, The Voice UK, So You Think You Can Dance, The Apprentice and more, and she is also known for her portrayal of Lucille Austero in the now-Netflix-based comedy series Arrested Development.