<P> Garland began performing in vaudeville with her two older sisters and was signed to Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer as a teenager . She made more than two dozen films with Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer , including nine with Mickey Rooney . Among several well - remembered film appearances , Garland 's most famous role was as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz ( 1939 ) . Some of her other notable films at MGM include Meet Me in St. Louis ( 1944 ) , The Harvey Girls ( 1946 ) , Easter Parade ( 1948 ) and Summer Stock ( 1950 ) . After 15 years , she was released from her contract with the studio and made record - breaking concert appearances , had a successful recording career , and her own Emmy - nominated television series . Her film appearances became fewer in the later years of her career , but included two Academy Award - nominated performances in A Star Is Born ( 1954 ) and Judgment at Nuremberg ( 1961 ) . </P>
who played the dorothy in the wizard of oz
Garland