One of the popular icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age, a British-American actress known for her talented beauty, was also a businesswoman and humanitarian.
Dame Elizabeth Taylor career spanned over six decades. She began as a child actress in the early 1940s and starred in over fifty films. She received several accolades and awards for her work. But, ElizabethTaylor was just as famous for her many marriages, perfume brand, extensive jewelry collection and stunning violet blue eyes.
From the early 1990s, Elizabeth Taylor dedicated her time to philanthropy. She was one of the first celebrities to take part in HIV/AIDS activism. She co-founded the ‘American Foundation for AIDs Research’ (amfAR) in 1985, and ‘The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation’ in 1991 raising money for Aids research.
In 1993 she received the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award. In 2000, she was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). After years of ill health, Dame Elizabeth Taylor aged 79, passed away of congestive heart failure on March 23, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
Name: Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor Born: 27 February 1932 Star Sign: Pisces Died: 23 March 2011 Birthplace: London Country: England
DetailsOther Names Dame Elizabeth Taylor Father: Francis Lenn Taylor (1897–1968) Mother: Sara Sothern Taylor (née Sara Viola Warmbrodt) 1895–1994 Marriages: Married Conrad Hilton Jr. (m.1950 - div.1951); Michael Wilding (m.1952 - div. 1957); Mike Todd (m.1957 - his death 1958); Eddie Fisher (m.1959 - div.1964); Richard Burton (m.1964 - div.1974) & (m.1975 - div.1976); John Warner (m.1976 - div.1982); Larry Fortensky (m.1991 - div.1996) Children: Michael Wilding Jr. (b.1953) and Christopher Wilding (b.1955);
Liza Todd (b.1957) and Maria Burton (b.1961)
Moving to the USA Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, was born on February 27, 1932, in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, to Francis Lenn Taylor, a successful art dealer, and Sara Sothern, a retired stage actress, both United States citizens. In the spring of 1939, the family return to Los Angeles, and settled in Beverly Hills, where Elizabeth and her brother attended Hawthorne School. Not long after relocating to California a family friend suggested to the Taylors' that their beautiful daughter should take a screen test.
Began acting at nine Elizabeth's mother was an actress until she married. After moving to Hollywood with her family, Liz made her screen debut in a minor role in 'There's One Born Every Minute' at the age of nine. In 1942, Taylor signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the biggest and best studio of the time, and landed a part in 'Lassie Come Home.' In 1944 Elizabeth starred in 'Jane Eyre' and 'White Cliff of Dover'.
Young Success In 1944, Elizabeth Taylor got her big break starring as Velvet Brown in ' National Velvet, directed by Clarence brown. ' The film made the 12-year-old actress one of Hollywood's biggest stars. National Velvet became both a critical and commercial success. Taylor starred in: 'Courage of Lassie' in 1946; 'Cynthia' in 1947; ' Little Women', in 1949; and a few more.
More Hollywood Roles Taylor, made the transition to adult roles in the early 1950s, when she starred in 1950 'Father of the Bride." She received critical acclaim for her performance in the 1951, 'A Place in the Sun.' In the mid-1950s, she began receiving better roles with the 1956, epic drama 'Giant,' and two film by Tennessee Williams, in the 1958, 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' and in the 1959, 'Suddenly, Last Summer,' in which Taylor won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress.
Academy Award In 1959, Taylor converted to Judaism before her marriage to her fourth husband, Jewish singer Eddie Fisher in Las Vegas. Elizabeth Taylor wore a green dress and a chiffon headscarf. In 1960, she starred with him in her last film for MGM, the film, "BUtterfield 8" in which Taylor won her first Academy Award for her performance.
Epic roles Taylor, starred with Richard Burton in the 1963, historical epic 'Cleopatra,' and during the filming, Taylor and co-star Richard Burton, began having an extramarital affair, although they were both married. In 1964, Taylor and Burton married, and adopted their daughter, Maria.They starred in eleven films together, including 'The V.I.P.s' in 1963, 'The Sandpiper' in 1965 and 'The Taming of the Shrew' in 1967. Taylor took fewer roles after the mid-1970s and focused on supporting the career of her sixth husband, Republican politician John Warner.
Second Oscar Taylor and Burton both appeared together in ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?’ The film earned Taylor her second Oscar. However, throughout her life, Taylor's personal life was subject to constant media attention. She was married eight times to seven men, endured serious illnesses, and led a jet set lifestyle, including one of the most amazing and expensive private collections of jewelry.In the 1980s, she acted in her first substantial stage roles and in several television films and series, and became the first celebrity to launch a perfume brand.
Philanthropy - 'Commitment to Life' After her close friend, Rock Hudson died in 1985, following his battle with HIV/AIDS, Elizabeth Taylor began to focus more on philanthropy. In 1985, she became the co-founder of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR).Taylor 'Commitment to Life' benefit was the first major AIDS research fundraiser staged by the Hollywood community. In 1991, she launched the ‘Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation’ which focus on advanced treatments and research. She was presented with the Jean Hersholt Award at the Oscars in 1993, for outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes.
Awards and Accolades In February 1997, Taylor participated in the ABC-TV special, 'Happy Birthday Elizabeth—A Celebration of Life,' which marked her sixty-fifth birthday and raised money for AIDS research. She received, the Marian Anderson Award on behalf of the AIDS community; the Légion d’honneur from France; and the Presidential Citizens Medal.In May 2000, aged 68, Elizabeth Taylor was dubbed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, by Queen Elizabeth II. She described the moment as the peak of her life.
Marriage and Family Dame Elizabeth, was married eight times to seven men. First to hotel heir, Conrad “Nicky” Hilton in 1950; in 1952, she married actor Michael Wilding; then producer, Mike Todd who died in a plane crash; in 1959, she married Eddie Fisher; then Richard Burton in 1964. They divorced in 1974 and remarried again in 1975.After divorcing Burton, Taylor married politician John W. Warner in 1976; After their divorce, in 1990, Taylor married Larry Fortensky and they divorced in 1996. She had four children: Michael Wilding Jr., Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton and grandchildren. Facts Her first marriage (of eight!) was to Conrad "Nicky" Hilton Jr., Paris' Hilton's grand-uncle.Liz has owned some of the biggest bling to date: the 33-carat "Krupp Diamond", the Duchess of Windsor diamond brooch, the Grand Duchess of Russia emeralds, the "LaPeregina Pearl", and the famous pear-shaped 69-carat "Burton-Cartier Diamond". In fact, she is known to be a jewelry expert.She's the godmother of Paris and Prince Michael Jackson.She gave a voice to one of the most popular silent stars of all time: Maggie Simpson.She had purple irises and a double set of eyelashes.She said, "I never face the day without perfume."I've never had acting lessons, though many people think I need them.Her first major role was in the movie “National Velvet” which she later claimed to be "the most exciting film" of her career. Filming was pushed back by several months, so she has time to grow. She spent the extra time practicing riding. In just three months, she grew three inches.She is the first actress in the American film history to have earned $1,000,000 for a movie role. She was paid $1,000,000 for her role in the 1963 movie “Cleopatra.”She has appeared solo on the cover of People Magazine for nearly 14 times, which is second only to Princess Diana.Quotes "Big girls need big diamonds""I've always admitted that I'm ruled by my passions""I suppose when they reach a certain age some men are afraid to grow up. It seems the older the men get, the younger their new wives get.""You find out who your real friends are when you're involved in a scandal""Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses""I've been through it all, baby, I'm mother courage""If someone's dumb enough to offer me a million dollars to make a picture, I'm certainly not dumb enough to turn it down.""Marriage is a great institution.""I am a very committed wife. And I should be committed too - for being married so many times.""Everything makes me nervous - except making films."Funeral
On March 23, 2011, Dame Elizabeth Taylor passed away of congestive heart failure. In keeping with her Jewish faith, her funeral service was held the day after her death, and was attended by close friends and family. Her of her four children were all at their mother's funeral. Dame Elizabeth Taylor was placed in the great mausoleum in Forest Lawn memorial park in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. USA.
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On March 23, 2011, Dame Elizabeth Taylor passed away of congestive heart failure. In keeping with her Jewish faith, her funeral service was held the day after her death, and was attended by close friends and family. Her of her four children were all at their mother's funeral. Dame Elizabeth Taylor was placed in the great mausoleum in Forest Lawn memorial park in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. USA.
