Taylor dismisses Alzheimer's reports

AP on Yahoo ^ | 5/30/06 | AP - Los Angeles

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES - Elizabeth Taylor on Tuesday dismissed tabloid reports that she was being treated for early Alzheimer's disease or was gravely ill.

The Academy Award-winning actress, who uses a wheelchair because of back problems, was asked about the reports during an appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live."

"Oh come on, do I look like I'm dying?" the 74-year-old actress asked King in a rare television interview. "Do I look like or sound like I have Alzheimer's?"

Taylor said tabloids report such things "because they have nothing else dirty to write about anybody else."

She said her back problems go back to her teenage years because she was born with scoliosis, which she described as double curvature of the spine, and osteoporosis.

[NormsRevenge]

Elizabeth Taylor attends an annual AIDS benefit in Mougins, south eastern France, May 22, 2003. (AP Photo/Patrick Gardin, FILE)

[Dog Gone]

Elizabeth Taylor on Tuesday dismissed tabloid reports that she was being treated for early Alzheimer's disease

Of course, she might have been diagnosed and just forgot.

[Howie66]

It's just an advanced case of the "clap"......not to worry.

[Darkwolf377]

"do I look like I'm dying?"

Asking Larry King if you look like you're dying is like asking Paris Hilton if you look too skinny.

[Graybeard58]

My doctor told me that I had Alzheimer's.

Thank goodness it wasn't something serious like Alzheimer's.

[JennysCool]

Any link yet to video of the King show?

[NormsRevenge]

Here's a transcript, haven't seen any video yet.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0605/30/lkl.01.html

[elli1]

Aside from the fright-do and the three pounds of lipstick & green eyeshadow, Taylor looks darned good in that photo.

[JennysCool]

Many thanks!

[JennysCool]

She seems to sound pretty competent:

KING: It's a great pleasure to welcome her back to LARRY KING LIVE here in Los Angeles. Dame Elizabeth Taylor, it's been more than three years since she guested on this program. Last time it was February of 2003. The silver-screen legend, two Academy Awards, five nominations, humanitarian, AIDS activist.

Let's clear up some things. A lot of tabloid stories about you.

TAYLOR: Oh, my god. Am I dead? Am I alive?

KING: Are you alive?

TAYLOR: I think so.

KING: OK, Liz's final agony. Ailing Liz begs "bury me with my true love." Did you ever say that?

TAYLOR: Who's my true love?

KING: Liz, death watch. What do you make of all of this? The "National Enquirer" says you're being treated for early Alzheimer's. What's the story?

TAYLOR: Oh, come on, do I look like I'm dying? Do I look like or sound like I have Alzheimer's?

KING: No. So why do you prompt all this, do you think?

TAYLOR: Why do I prompt it?

KING: Yes, why you?

TAYLOR: Because they have nothing else dirty to write about anybody else is all I can think of. They won't let me retire, and I don't want to retire because I'm opening a jewelry launch tomorrow in Las Vegas.