Liza Minnelli Said 1 Moment in Affair With Martin Scorsese ‘Damn Near Killed’ Her

Liza Minnelli and Martin Scorsese became involved while making the 1977 film New York, New York. During this time, they were both heavily using drugs, which she said led to explosive arguments. Minnelli said some parts of the affair nearly “killed” her.

Liza Minnelli said her affair with Martin Scorsese was exhausting

In 1977, Minnelli starred in New York, New York, a film directed by Scorsese. In her book Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, she blamed their romantic entanglement on “amour fou. The French term for a passionate relationship that becomes a self-destructive obsession … The relationship becomes a powerful hypnotic drug in every way.”

It didn’t help that they were both frequently using cocaine during this time.

“As we filmed, Marty became a heavier and heavier user of cocaine. It seemed that it was no longer recreational for either of us,” she wrote. “It was day and night. On the set, in between takes, and when we went out in the evening.”

At the time, both of them were in other marriages. Minnelli was married to Jack Haley Jr., and Scorsese was with Julia Cameron.

“We were on a runaway train,” Minnelli wrote. “Nothing good could come of it.”

After they finished filming New York, New York, Minnelli and Scorsese remained involved. She asked him to direct her musical, The Act. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a good fit, and Minnelli had to fire him. She admitted “it damn near killed me and broke my heart.”

They continued the affair after this painful moment, though.