Michael Douglas and Matt Damon Play Lovers in "Liberace."

Michael Douglas is feeling well enough after his bout with throat cancer to begin work on a movie biography of the flamboyant pianist, entertainer Liberace. Douglas will star as Liberace, and actor Matt Damon will play his one-time live-in companion, Scott Thorson

The movie project has been in the planning stages for nearly six years. Now, with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in starring roles, the movie has started production.

Liberace began his career as a classical pianist, and developed into an international superstar. The 1978 Guinness Book of Records lists Liberace as the world's highest paid musician.

He was born Wladziu Valentino Liberace, in 1919 in Milwaukee, to poor parents. He was a classically trained pianist, and made his concert debut as a soloist at the age of eleven. During the depression he played piano at speakeasies to support his family.

In 1940, he moved to New York and played at small nightclubs. His talent and charm paid off and he began performing the hotel circuit. But the best was yet to come. He was there at just the right time when the entertainment industry took a big leap to television and Las Vegas.

He began playing extended runs in Las Vegas which was just becoming a gambling and entertainment center. He would ultimately appear at the casinos in Las Vegas regularly for the rest of his life. As Las Vegas grew so did Liberace's paychecks.

But it was television that made him a superstar. In the early 1950s he had his own variety show. He lit an ornate candlelabra, played his fancy piano, did a little soft-shoe, praised his mother, chattered pleasantly with his audience and joked with his brother George, who was his band leader. But it was his outfits that delighted his audience.

His tuxedoes started out with just gold glitter and by the end of his career he was the original Mr.Bling. He would parade around his piano modeling his diamond jewelry, beaded glass suits and pink fur capes. The more ostentatious his outfit was, the better. He would take breaks during his performances for costume changes.

He was all gooey smiles, dimples, wavy hair, mischievous grins and winks. His music was like him, showy, sentimental and fancy. He played with flourishes, frills and trills to the "oohs" and "ahs" of his audience, which consisted mostly of women over forty, who roared with delight.

Allegations of homosexuality, which he denied, followed him throughout his career. He sued a few tabloids and won. When asked how he felt about those accusations, he replied that he laughs all the way to the bank.

In 1976 Liberace hired a young man, Scott Thorson to be his live-in assistant and companion. When the relationship ended in 1982, Thorson filed a 113 million dollar palimony lawsuit against Liberace. A year later he wrote a book titled, Behind theCandelabra: My Life with Liberace.

Liberace became ill in 1986 and confined to bed. He died on February 4, 1987 at the age of 67. An autopsy confirmed he had died of AIDS.

Sources:

http://missioncreep.com/mw/liberace.html

http://www.bobsliberacecomdecades/1980s/1980s.l.html

St. Pete Times