Liberace’s Niece, Nephews Lose Fight to Share Estate

A niece and three nephews of entertainer Liberace failed Friday to gain a share of his multimillion-dollar estate, with an attorney calling the four an embarrassment to the famed pianist.

Liberace died at his Palm Springs home Feb. 4 of a disease authorities said was caused by AIDS.

A will signed by Liberace 11 days before his death left the bulk of his estate to the Liberace Foundation for the Performing Arts, which provides scholarships in the arts at 22 colleges and universities across the country. Some of the estate also went to his sister, Angie, a sister-in-law, Dora, a housekeeper and some friends.

Not mentioned in the will were four children of Rudy Liberace, a brother of the pianist who died 20 years ago. The four, Ina, Lester, Harry and Rudy Liberace Jr., all of Los Angeles, appeared in probate court in Las Vegas on Friday to contest the will.

An attorney representing the Liberace estate, George Rudiak of Las Vegas, told Judge Thomas Foley that the entertainer had “good reasons” for excluding the four.

Foley rejected the claims of the four, saying he was “disappointed these people have received poor advice.” When Ina Liberace tried to address the court, Foley told her, “You need and you need desperately for someone to give you some sound advice.”

Foley approved the will as filed last month.