Few names in Hollywood history carry as much weight as Elizabeth Taylor. A British-American actress whose career spanned more than six decades, she rose from child stardom to become one of the most recognizable faces of the 20th century. Her life played out in the public eye, marked by extraordinary professional achievements, a famously complex personal life, and a transformative commitment to humanitarian work.
Born in London on February 27, 1932, Taylor moved to Los Angeles as a child and made her screen debut in 1942. She achieved international stardom at age 12 with National Velvet in 1944, a role that cemented her status as a rising talent. Over the course of her career, she appeared in more than fifty films and won two Academy Awards for Best Actress, establishing herself as a defining figure of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Beyond the screen, Taylor’s legacy includes pioneering AIDS activism, a successful business empire, and a personal narrative defined by eight marriages, four children, and a resilience that kept the world watching. Her story is one of glamour, tragedy, and profound influence.
Who Was Elizabeth Taylor? A Complete Biography
Feb 27, 1932 – Mar 23, 2011
2 Wins, 5 Nominations
8 Marriages to 7 Men
White Diamonds Perfume, AIDS Activism
Key Insights
- Taylor’s distinctive violet-blue eyes, often described simply as “violet,” contributed significantly to her iconic beauty and screen presence.
- Her most significant relationship was with Richard Burton, whom she married twice; their turbulent romance became one of Hollywood’s most famous love stories.
- She died of congestive heart failure at age 79, following a long history of health problems including pneumonia, hip replacement, and brain tumor surgery.
- Taylor was a pioneering AIDS activist, co-founding the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, raising over $100 million for research and care.
Snapshot: Elizabeth Taylor
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor |
| Born | February 27, 1932, London, England |
| Died | March 23, 2011, Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Age at Death | 79 years old |
| Nationality | British-American (dual citizenship) |
| Occupation | Actress, businesswoman, humanitarian |
| Academy Awards | 2 Wins (Butterfield 8, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) |
| Spouses | 8 marriages to 7 men |
| Children | 4 (Michael Wilding Jr., Christopher Edward Wilding, Liza Todd, Maria Burton) |
| Famous Perfume | White Diamonds (1991) |
| Net Worth at Death | Estimated $600 million |
How Many Times Was Elizabeth Taylor Married? Her Spouses and Relationships
Elizabeth Taylor was married eight times to seven men. Her husbands, in order, were: Conrad Hilton Jr., Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, Eddie Fisher, Richard Burton (twice), John Warner, and Larry Fortensky.
Her first marriage, to Conrad Hilton Jr. in 1950, ended in divorce less than a year later. She then married British actor Michael Wilding in 1952, with whom she had two sons, Michael Wilding Jr. and Christopher Wilding. Her third husband, producer Mike Todd, died in a plane crash in 1958. Taylor married singer Eddie Fisher shortly after Todd’s death, a union that drew considerable public attention.
The most famous relationship of her life was with Richard Burton. The two met on the set of Cleopatra in 1963 and began a highly publicized affair. They married in 1964, divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975, and divorced again in 1976. Their passionate, volatile, and intensely scrutinized relationship remains one of Hollywood’s most legendary romances. Following Burton, she married politician John Warner in 1976, and her final marriage was to construction worker Larry Fortensky in 1991; both ended in divorce.
Taylor and Burton starred in 11 films together, including Cleopatra and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Their real-life relationship and on-screen chemistry captivated the world for over a decade.
What Was Elizabeth Taylor’s Cause of Death? Her Health and Final Years
Elizabeth Taylor died of congestive heart failure on March 23, 2011, in Los Angeles at the age of 79. The cause of death was officially confirmed by her publicist, Sally Morrison. She was surrounded by her four children at the time of her passing.
Taylor had an extensive and well-documented history of health struggles. She suffered from numerous ailments throughout her life, including a hip replacement, a brain tumor surgery announced in 2002, and recurring bouts of pneumonia, which she reportedly had at the time of her death. Some medical sources also mention arteriosclerotic heart disease as a contributing factor, a condition that often leads to heart failure.
What Are Elizabeth Taylor’s Most Famous Movies and Awards?
Taylor’s film career earned her two Academy Awards for Best Actress. She won her first Oscar for Butterfield 8 (1960) and her second for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966). Both awards are considered major highlights of her professional life.
Her breakout role came in 1944 with National Velvet, where she played the lead role of Velvet Brown, a young girl who rides her horse to victory in the Grand National. The film was a massive success and made her a household name. Other notable films include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Suddenly, Last Summer (1959), Cleopatra (1963), and The Taming of the Shrew (1967).
Beyond her Oscars, Taylor also received a BAFTA, multiple Golden Globes, and a Tony Award for her stage work in The Little Foxes in 1981. She was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1993 for her charitable work.
What Is Elizabeth Taylor’s Legacy? Perfume, Activism, and Pop Culture
Elizabeth Taylor’s legacy extends far beyond the silver screen. In the business world, she became a pioneer in celebrity fragrance branding. Her most famous perfume, White Diamonds, was launched in 1991 and became a massive commercial success, generating billions of dollars in sales over its lifetime.
More importantly, Taylor was one of the first major celebrities to publicly champion the cause of HIV and AIDS activism. She co-founded amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) in 1985 and established the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991. Her dedication was tireless—she raised more than $100 million for AIDS-related causes and used her fame to fight stigma at a time when the disease was heavily misunderstood. In 2002, she was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for her humanitarian efforts.
In 1985, Elizabeth Taylor visited the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles to publicly support a person with AIDS, a courageous act that defied the widespread stigma and discrimination of the era. This was a pivotal moment in her activism.
Pop Culture Connections: Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift
Taylor was close friends with Michael Jackson. She attended his wedding ceremony at Neverland Ranch and was a frequent supporter of his during periods of personal and legal difficulty. There is no evidence that she was ever romantically involved with him.
Regarding Taylor Swift, there is no blood relation between the two. Swift has a song titled “Invisible String” that contains lyrics some fans have interpreted as referencing Elizabeth Taylor, but the singer has not confirmed a direct connection. The idea of an “Elizabeth Taylor Swift” is a common mishearing and not a documented relationship.
Key Life Events: A Timeline of Elizabeth Taylor
- – Born in London on February 27.
- – First film role in There’s One Born Every Minute.
- – Breakthrough role in National Velvet.
- – First Oscar win for Butterfield 8.
- – Marries Richard Burton for the first time.
- – Second Oscar win for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
- – Helps co-found amfAR.
- – Launches White Diamonds perfume and founds the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
- – Undergoes brain tumor surgery.
- – Dies of congestive heart failure on March 23.
What Facts About Elizabeth Taylor Are Certain and Which Are Not?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Officially died from congestive heart failure. | Some sources also mention arteriosclerotic heart disease. This is not a contradiction, as heart failure is often the final result of long-term heart conditions. |
| Her eyes were a distinctive violet-blue, often described as violet. | No factual dispute. The effect was caused by a dark blue iris with a ring of gold. |
| She had four children: Michael Wilding Jr., Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton (adopted). | No factual dispute. |
| No blood relation to Taylor Swift. | There is no formal connection. The phrase “Elizabeth Taylor Swift” is a mishearing of a song lyric. |
Why Does Elizabeth Taylor Remain a Cultural Icon?
Elizabeth Taylor’s enduring relevance stems from several key factors. Her dual British-American identity gave her a unique position in Hollywood. She successfully navigated a career that evolved from child star to scandal-ridden adult to respected humanitarian, a rare trajectory in the public eye. Her beauty was legendary, but it was her resilience and business acumen that solidified her place in history.
Her economic impact was enormous. The White Diamonds perfume line alone generated over $1 billion in sales. Her jewelry collection, auctioned by Christie’s after her death, sold for over $156 million, a world record. She also became a powerful ally for the LGBTQ+ community, using her platform to advocate for AIDS research and care when few others would.
What Do Key Sources Say About Elizabeth Taylor?
“I’ve been lucky all my life. Everything was handed to me. But I’ve also been cursed, because I’ve had so many tragedies that people wouldn’t believe.”
— Elizabeth Taylor, interview with Larry King (2007)
“Elizabeth Taylor was the last great movie star. There will never be another like her.”
— Whoopi Goldberg, tribute at the 2011 Oscars
“Without Elizabeth Taylor, there would be no amfAR. She was a warrior in the fight against AIDS.”
— Dr. Mathilde Krim, co-founder of amfAR
In Summary: What Did Elizabeth Taylor Achieve?
Elizabeth Taylor was more than a movie star. She was a two-time Oscar-winning actress, a successful businesswoman who revolutionized celebrity fragrance, and a fearless humanitarian who helped change the face of AIDS activism. Her life, marked by both immense glamour and deep personal tragedy, continues to fascinate new generations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elizabeth Taylor
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s real hair color?
Her natural hair color was dark brown. She famously dyed it black for her role in National Velvet and kept it dark for most of her career.
Did Elizabeth Taylor have any pets?
Yes, she was an animal lover, particularly of dogs. She owned a Maltese named Daisy and a Yorkie named Tinker Bell, among others.
Where is Elizabeth Taylor buried?
She is interred in the Great Mausoleum of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, though her exact crypt location is private.
How much did Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry collection sell for?
Her collection was auctioned by Christie’s in 2011 for over $156 million, a world record for a single-owner jewelry sale.
What awards did Elizabeth Taylor win besides Oscars?
She won a BAFTA, multiple Golden Globes, a Tony Award for The Little Foxes (1981), and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (1993).
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s first movie?
Her first film role was in There’s One Born Every Minute in 1942.
How old was Elizabeth Taylor when she died?
She was 79 years old.
Jonathan Crawford is Editor-in-Chief at BritView.uk, overseeing editorial policy, corrections, standards and publication decisions.