While wildly successful and good natured outwardly, Liberace was a complicated man whose political, social and religious conservatism existed side-by-side with a lifetime of secretive homosexuality.

When filming a TV special in England he made a point of learning the name of all the production crew, years later when he returned to make another show he was still able to greet every crew member by name.

The phrase "I cried all the way to the bank!" was said to be first coined by him.

Was parodied in several Bugs Bunny cartoons.

The British Flag car, the "Shaguar" used in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery was a take off on Liberace`s American Flag car. There is a reference later on in the film to Liberace: "Who`d have thought Liberace was gay?"

Liberace owned a 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V. This car resides in the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas, and of only seven built by coachbuilder James Young that year, it is the only one with left-hand drive (the steering wheel on the American side), making it even more rare. The entire car is covered with small mirrored tiles, and with classic horses etched into them along the running boards. When he first got the got, it had a black and gray paint job. He also had a 1950s Rolls-Royce convertible painted with an American flag design.

The episodes of the TV series "Batman" (1966) on which Liberace guest starred as "Chandel"/"Harry", "Batman: The Devil`s Fingers (#2.15)" (1966) and "Batman: The Dead Ringers (#2.16)" (1966), were the highest-rated in the show`s history. By all accounts, he got along well with the cast and crew and would play impromptu recitals at the end of each day`s filming.

According to his cook, his last meal was Cream of Wheat hot cereal, made with half and half, and seasoned with brown sugar.

When he opened Las Vegas` Riviera Casino-Hotel in 1954, he was the city`s highest paid entertainer. That concert was the first one where he wore extravagant costumes (He wore a gold llame jacket).

In 1976, during the height of the American Bicentennial, he once performed wearing red, white and blue hot pants. It made headlines around the world.

As reported in the June, 2001, issue "A&E Biography" Magazine, Liberace was so vain about his baldness that he would even go to bed wearing one of his hairpieces, even on hot nights. According to the same article, he once almost refused to have a facelift when the doctor asked him to take his toupee off.

At the insistance of Polish piano virtuoso Paderwski, he dropped his first names and performed under his last name only.

While born "Wladziu Valentino Liberace", he later changed his first name to "Walter", but his friends and relatives knew him as "Lee".

Closed his concerts with the song "I`ll Be Seeing You".

His final performance was 2 November 1986 at Radio City Music Hall, New York City.

Owned pianos previously owned by Frederic Chopin and George Gershwin, as well as an inlaid and ormolued Louis XV desk that may have been owned by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

Many of his pianos, cars, jewelry and costumes are on display in the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, a short drive from the Las Vegas Strip. Funds from the admissions to the non-profit museum go to The Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts, which awards music scholarships.

Was parodied in Al Capp`s comic strip "L`il Abner" as "Loverboynik".

Liberace was the subject of a 50 minute BBC documentary called `Too Much of Everything is Wonderful` shown on British television on May 23rd 2000.

Successfully sued the London "Daily Mirror" in 1959 after it published an article by columnist "Cassandra" which said that Liberace was "fruit-flavoured" (gay), which he strongly denied in court and insisted that homosexuality was an "abomination." He was publicly sued in 1982 by Scott Thorson (one of his many ex-lovers) for $110 million in palimony. After his death in 1987, Thorson reluctantly settled for $95,000.

Liberace`s favourite song was "The Impossible Dream", because he truly mastered the art of believing. He made a dream come true. During his career, Liberace earned two Emmys and five gold million best seller albums.

In the 70s Liberace spent at least $100,000 a year on his sparkling, brocaded, diamond and jewelled costumes.

In 1969 Liberace was named one of the five highest paid entertainers in show business.

As a young man he worked the night club circuit under another name - "Walter Busterkeys."

In high school Liberace had a musical combo called "The Mixers."

Classical debut was at age 14 as soloist with the Chicago

At age four, Liberace could play almost any tune by ear.

His brother, George Liberace played the violin.

Mother played piano as did sister Angie.

Liberace`s father was a French horn player for the Milwaukee Symphony.