The actress was all smiles and chatted with photographers as two men from her entourage helped her walk to her car after a late dinner at upscale restaurant Craig’s. The 76-year-old icon has only recently been seen in a wheelchair and even appeared sitting in a chair on stage at the Oscars earlier this year alongside Lady Gaga. But there was little sign of ailments on Thursday as the star, dressed in velvet black trousers with a bright red top, greeted DailyMail.com. ‘Hi Guys!’ she said happily, and when asked if she’s coming out with a new song, without missing a beat she replied, “I’ve been coming out with new songs since I was born!” Liza Minnelli, 76, was spotted leaving dinner at Craig’s in Los Angeles on Thursday The actress abandoned her wheelchair and walked with the help of two men Diagnosed with viral encephalitis in 2000, which can cause weakness or loss of movement in parts of the body The 76-year-old icon was only recently seen in a wheelchair and even appeared sitting in a chair on stage at the Oscars earlier this year alongside Lady Gaga Minnelli smiled and chatted with photographers as she made her way to the car When asked if he’s coming out with a new song, without missing a beat he replied, “I’ve been coming out with new songs since I was born!” Liza was asked if she had heard Britney Spears and Elton John’s new song Hold Me Closer. She exclaimed “No!” and turned to her friend to ask about it. “I love Britney.” Lisa said. The legendary singer was diagnosed with viral encephalitis in 2000, which can cause weakness or loss of movement in parts of the body as well as difficulty speaking, confusion or disorientation, seizures and loss of consciousness. In a 2004 interview with NBC’s Dateline, Lisa said, “I couldn’t walk and talk and they told me I’d never walk again.” But she seemed to do better in the following years and returned to Broadway to perform a concert at the Palace Theater called Liza’s at The Palace… in New York.
But it was Liza’s appearance at this year’s Oscars in a wheelchair that caused concern among her fans. During the presentation, Lisa at times had trouble reading her lines, although Lady Gaga helped her. “I got you,” she sweetly told the stage and screen veteran, to which Lisa replied, “I know.” Viewers at home applauded Gaga’s kindness on social media. In July DailyMail.com spotted Lisa being escorted around in a wheelchair. Two friends were seen helping the actress into a black SUV The legendary singer was diagnosed with viral encephalitis in 2000 and is shown here in a wheelchair in 2003 with husband David Gest It was Lisa’s appearance at this year’s Oscars in a wheelchair that caused concern among her fans Then in July, DailyMail.com spotted Lisa being escorted around in a wheelchair. Two friends were seen helping the actress into a black SUV. At the time, this was Lisa’s first public appearance since appearing on the Oscars stage. Liza’s close friend, musician Michael Feinstein, claimed that she was meant to sit on stage in a director’s chair, but was instead “forced” to appear in a wheelchair, which left her distraught and “out of sorts”. While Lisa may not have been introduced the way she’d hoped, the audience was clearly excited to see the actress and gave her a standing ovation as she hit the stage with Lady Gaga. Do you see this? The audience loves you,” said the Poker Face singer as she held up the winning card. It’s been 50 years since her classic Cabaret was released in 1972. Her performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress Liza’s former representative, Scott Gorenstein, said he had been approached by Oscar officials who hoped to bring the legend to the show to celebrate Cabaret’s 50th anniversary. “I wanted to remind people who she is,” Gorenstein said of his client, who has kept a low profile in recent years, with her last acting appearance on Arrested Development in 2013. “Lisa is living her best life without having to be in front of the cameras,” Gorenstein said. “She was put under tremendous pressure her whole life to appear in public. The past two years have allowed her to relax and enjoy another phase of her life. He had some health problems.’ He continued: “However, when an opportunity comes up that says, ‘Would Liza Minnelli like to present the Oscar for Best Picture with Lady Gaga?’ the quiet life goes out the window! Lisa is a legend and deserves to be at the Academy Awards, so I put it in front of her people and recommended that she do it. I said it would be a historic occasion.’