Elizabeth Taylor Legendary movie star, businesswoman and humanitarian.
In a career spanning more than 70 years and 50 films, her talent endured the test of time and transcended generations of moviegoers. She truly was an American icon, whose legacy went far beyond her acting skills, for she leaves a monumental legacy that has improved and extended millions of lives and will enrich countless more for generations to come through her work for aids and other charitites.
There will never be another star who will come close to her luminosity and generosity.
We will never see the likes of her again.
She is singular and indelible on film and in our hearts.
MINI BIOGRAPHY
Elizabeth Taylor is considered one of the last, if not the last major star, to have come out of the old Hollywood studio system. And not just any studio, the top of the heap: MGM. Her early movies, as a child in the early 1940s, starred such Hollywood luminaries as Orson Welles and Spencer Tracy. She quickly grew up, however, and by 1950 was, if not starring in, assuming major responsibilities for the success of motion pictures she appeared in. Then with major roles onscreen, came worldwide attention off-screen, most notably due to a succession of famous and/or rich husbands and a series of health crises throughout her life. To put it simply, Elizabeth Taylor has lived a life far more exciting and dramatic than any movie she's ever appeared in and probably most any other movie you could name. She's known internationally for her beauty, especially for those violet eyes, with which she captured audiences early on in her youth and has kept the world hooked on ever since. She's won the Oscar twice and she's earned her place in and out of the sun.
Nickname
Liz
Kitten
Height
5' 2" (1.57 m)
Spouse
Larry Fortensky (6 October 1991 - 31 October 1996) (divorced)
John Warner (4 December 1976 - 7 November 1982) (divorced)
Richard Burton (10 October 1975 - 1 August 1976) (remarried) (divorced)
Richard Burton (15 March 1964 - 26 June 1974) (divorced) 1 child
Eddie Fisher (12 May 1959 - 6 March 1964) (divorced)
Michael Todd (2 February 1957 - 22 March 1958) (his death) 1 child
Michael Wilding (21 February 1952 - 30 January 1957) (divorced) 2 children
Conrad Hilton Jr. (6 May 1950 - 1 February 1951) (divorced)
Trade Mark
Violet eyes
Dark hair
Light complexion
TRIVIA:
She was bridesmaid for Jane Powell for her first marriage. Powell was bridesmaid for Taylor at her first marriage.
Ranked #72 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Discharged from hospital, but later rushed back in after a suffering a brain seizure. Said to be comfortable. [26 February 1997]
Underwent successful surgery to remove the benign brain tumor. [20 February 1997]
Has four children and ten grandchildren.
Mother of Christopher Edward Wilding and Michael Wilding Jr.
Her daughter, Liza Todd Burton, with Michael Todd, is a sculptor, who has two sons, Quinn and Rhys, with her husband artist Hap Tivey
Has appeared solo on the cover of PEOPLE magazine 14 times, second only to Princess Diana (as of 1996).
Liz and Richard Burton appeared together on stage in a 1983 revival of "Private Lives."
Her episode of "Biography" (1987) was the highest-rated episode of that series on Arts & Entertainment (thru the end of 1995).
American Film Institute Life Achievement Award [1993]
Liz was a close friend of Montgomery Clift until his death in 1966. They met for the first time when Paramount decided that she had to accompany him to the premiere of The Heiress (1949) because they were both to star in the upcoming A Place in the Sun (1951). They liked each other right away. Clift used to call her "Bessie Mae". When he had a car accident a few years later that disfigured him, he had just left a party at Liz's house. It was she who found him first, got into the wreck and removed some teeth from his throat that threatened to choke him.
Her perfumes have been Passion (1987), White Diamonds (1991), Diamonds and Rubies, Diamonds and Emeralds, Diamonds and Sapphires and Black Pearls (1995).
At one point during her life-threatening illness while filming BUtterfield 8 (1960), she was actually pronounced dead.
First actress to earn $1,000,000 for a movie role (in Cleopatra (1963)).
Along with Julie Andrews, she was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II on New Year's Eve, 1999.
Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#16). [1995]
Lives in BelAir house once owned by Frank Sinatra when he was married to first wife, Nancy.
Born at 2:15 AM GMT
Has owned some of the world's most magnificent jewelry, including the the 33-carat "Krupp Diamond", the Duchess of Windsor diamond brooch, the Grand Duchess of Russia emeralds, the "LaPeregina Pearl" (which was a Valentine present from her from Richard Burton), and the famous pear-shaped 69-carat "Burton-Cartier Diamond" Burton gave her in 1969 (subsequently renamed the "Burton-Taylor Diamond."
She is a recipient of the 2002 John F. Kennedy Center Honors.
Admitted in an interview with Barbara Walters in the late 1990s that she would still like to act but, because of her medical problems, no movie company will insure her. In addition to many other medical problems, including a benign brain tumor she had removed, she has broken her back four times. This causes her severe pain when walking or standing for long amounts of time.
She is mentioned in the song "Lady Nina" by rock band Marillion.
The stories of her Oscar win for BUtterfield 8 (1960) have grown legendary. It is generally accepted as truth that she won Oscar voters by a vote of sympathy, because of the recent death of her husband, Michael Todd, and her near-fatal illness and emergency tracheotomy to save her life (her scar was very visible on Oscar night). Wisecracker and Rat Pack member Shirley MacLaine, who was favored to win for her role in The Apartment (1960), said afterwards that "I lost out to a tracheotomy."
Measurements: 36C-21-36 (for the majority of her film career), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
The premiere of her film Father of the Bride (1950) took place two days after her real-life marriage to Conrad Hilton Jr.. The publicity surrounding the event is credited with helping to make the film so successful. The marriage lasted as long as the 3 month European honeymoon. Irreconcilable differences were cited in the divorce court.
She was voted the 11th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
Has four children. Two sons with Michael Wilding: Michael Howard (born January 6, 1953) and Christopher Edward (born February 28, 1955). Her daughter with Michael Todd, Elizabeth Frances Todd, called "Liza", was born August 6, 1957. Her daughter, Maria Burton, (adopted 1964 with Richard Burton) was born August 1, 1961.
Ranked #7 in the American Film Insitutes list of the 50 'Greatest American Screen Legends', the top 25 male and top 25 female.
Although born in England, her parents were actually Americans who were just working in England. Her mother was of German descent and her dad was of Scots-Irish descent.
Premiere Magazine ranked her as #40 on a list of the Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).
Announced in November 2004 she has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, but vowed to continue raising funds for AIDS charities and to build a Richard Burton Memorial Theatre in Cardiff, Wales.
She and Richard Burton starred together in 11 movies:
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
The V.I.P.s (1963)
Under Milk Wood (1972)
The Taming of the Shrew (1967)
The Sandpiper (1965)
Hammersmith Is Out (1972)
Doctor Faustus (1967),
Divorce His - Divorce Hers (1973) (TV)
The Comedians (1967)
Cleopatra (1963)
Boom! (1968).
She had an uncredited cameo in Burton's film Anne of the Thousand Days (1969).
In 1969, Richard Burton bought her one of the world's largest and most beautiful diamonds from the jeweler Cartier after losing an auction for the 69-carat, pear-shaped stone to the jeweler, who won with a $1-million bid. The rough diamond that would yield the prized stone weighed 244 carats and was found in 1966 at South Africa's Premier mine. Harry Winston cut and polished the diamond, which was put up for auction in 1969. Burton purchased the diamond from Cartier the next day for $1,069,000 to give to Taylor. The small premium was the result of the publicity Cartier garnered from selling the stone, then called the "Burton-Cartier Diamond," to the then "world's most famous couple." Ten years later, the twice-divorced-from-Burton Taylor herself auctioned off the "Burton-Taylor Diamond" to fund a hospital in Botswana. The last recorded sale of the Taylor-Burton was in 1979 for nearly $3,000,000 to an anonymous buyer in Saudi Arabia. The ring was the center of the classic "Here's Lucy" (1968) episode "Lucy Meets the Burtons," in which Lucy Carter, played by Lucille Ball, gets the famous ring stuck on her finger. The actual ring was used and the episode was the highest rated episode of the very popular series.
Auctioned off her diamond-and-emerald engagement ring from Richard Burton to raise money for an AIDS charity.
Her third husband Michael Todd gave her a 29-carat diamond ring during their marriage, a feat topped by fifth husband Richard Burton when he gave her the 69-carat "Burton-Cartier" (later renamed "Burton-Taylor") diamond. Fourth-husband Eddie Fisher said that a $50,000 diamond could keep Taylor happy for approximately four days.
Was named a Dame of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II on the Millenium New Year's Honours List, December 31, 1999.
1976: Won the title of "Most Memorable Eyebrows" in a magazine poll. The first runner up was Lassie.
Was unable to attend the civil partnership ceremony of her friend Sir Elton John in England due to her illness. (December 2005)
In 2006 she introduced a line of diamond and precious stone jewelry called "House of Taylor". The designs are said to be inspired by certain favorite pieces in her own collection. She actually wrote a book on jewelry and is considered to be an authority on the subject.
Cancelled her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, prompting renewed fears about her health. The acting legend usually attends an annual charity dinner organized by the American Foundation For AIDS Research (AMFAR), which always coincides with the South of France festival. However, Taylor - who also pulled out in 2004 due to health problems - was replaced by Sharon Stone and Liza Minnelli at the gala. (May 2005)
Underwent radiation therapy in 2002 for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.
After her son Michael had renounced his American citizenship for possession of marijuana, the U.S. Congress passed a bill to block his deportation (1988).
Her beloved dog, a Maltese named Sugar, died in 2005. Some months later, she purchased Daisy, one of Sugar's descendants.
Her older brother Howard Taylor was born in 1929.
Was a frequent guest at the infamous "Studio 54"
Appeared on "Larry King Live" (1985) to refute claims that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and was close to death. (30 May 2006)
Announced her retirement from acting in 2003.
Organized "A Commitment to Life", a celebrity event to benefit AIDS research after her Giant (1956) co-star Rock Hudson became ill in 1985. The event featured former First Lady Betty Ford, Burt Lancaster, Shirley MacLaine, Sammy Davis Jr., and Burt Reynolds. More than $1.3 million was raised.
Her AIDS organization AMFAR raised $83 million in the twelve years following its creation in 1985.
In 1963, while the highest paid American business executive earned $650,000 and President John F. Kennedy's salary was $150,000, she received at least $2.4 million.
In a 2007 interview with "Entertainment Tonight" (1981)'s Mary Hart, Taylor said she had recently telephoned ex-husband Eddie Fisher and spoke to him for the first time in nearly 40 years.
Has had three hip replacements.
Received $500,000 divorce settlement from Conrad Hilton Jr., 1951.
Mentioned in Walter Kirn's novel "Thumbsucker".
Inducted into the California Hall of Fame in Sacramento (5 December 2007).
The 1963 Andy Warhol portrait of hers was sold for $ 23,7 million to an anonymous bidder at a Christie's auction in New York (14 November 2007).
In 2006, she donated $500,000 to the New Orleans AIDS Task Force to purchase mobile medical unit for AIDS sufferers in New Orleans.
Taylor and Shirley Jones are the only actresses to win Oscars for playing prostitutes in the same year: Taylor for BUtterfield 8 (1960) (Best Actress) and Jones for Elmer Gantry (1960) (Best Supporting Actress).
She was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of her outstanding contribution to film culture.
Her first Oscar nomination for Raintree County (1957) marks her first of 4 consecutive nominations, a feat she shares with Jennifer Jones (1943-46), Thelma Ritter (1950-53), Marlon Brando (1951-54) and Al Pacino (1972-75).
Hospitalized with congestive heart failure and pneumonia in July 2008 and was briefly on a life support machine.
Actively sought the role of Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady (1964), but Audrey Hepburn was cast instead.
Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is at 6336 Hollywood Blvd.
Has a street named after her in Iowa City, Iowa.
Nominated for the 1981 Tony Award (New York City) for Actress in a Musical for "Little Foxes".
Underwent heart surgery in October 2009 to repair a leaky valve.
Was a heavy smoker until being mistakenly diagnosed with lung cancer in October 1975.
Returned to work seven months after giving birth to her daughter Liza Todd Burton in order to begin filming Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958).
First husband Conrad Hilton Jr. was physically abusive, which was partly caused by a drug problem.
Paid for ex-husband Larry Fortensky's hospital bills when he was in a coma after falling of a balcony in 1999.
Met future husband Larry Fortensky while in rehab in 1988. They were later married for five years in the 1990s.
Was at one point going to star in The Public Eye (1972) with Richard Burton. See the trivia page for the film for more information.
On Monday evening, November 8, 2010, Andy Warhol's "Men in Her Life", a 1962 painting based on an image of Elizabeth Taylor between husbands, was auctioned at Phillips de Pury & Company's new salesroom on Park Avenue in New York City. An unidentified bidder bought it for $63.3 million.
PERSONAL QUOTES
[On turning 53 years old] I think I'm finally growing up - and about time.
My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked.
I don't pretend to be an ordinary housewife.
[Cannes, May 2001] If not to make the world better, what is money for?
[On her weight fluctuations] When you're fat, the world is divided into two groups - people who bug you and people who leave you alone. The funny thing is, supporters and saboteurs exist in either camp.
Success is a great deodorant. It takes away all your past smells.
Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses.
I don't remember much about Cleopatra (1963). There were a lot of other things going on.
One problem with people who have no vices is that they're pretty sure to have some annoying virtues.
[About Montgomery Clift] The most gorgeous thing in the world and easily one of the best actors.
[2005] Acting is, to me now, artificial. Seeing people suffer is real. It couldn't be more real. Some people don't like to look at it in the face because it's painful. But if nobody does, then nothing gets done.
[2005] There's still so much more to do. I can't sit back and be complacent, and none of us should be. I get around now in a wheelchair, but I get around.
[on John Wayne] His image had as much impact in the world as many of our presidents have had, but Duke was a great actor, a great humanitarian, but always himself. To be a friend was a lifetime thing.
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.
I believe in mind over matter and doing anything you set your mind on.
I, along with the critics, have never taken myself very seriously.
[On Michael Wilding] I'm afraid in those last few years I gave him a rather rough time. Sort of henpecked him and probably wasn't mature enough for him. It wasn't that we had anything to fight over. We just weren't happy.
[On John Wayne] He is as tough as an old nut and as soft as a yellow ribbon.
[On Clark Gable] He was the epitome of the movie star -- so romantic, such bearing, such friendliness.
[On Montgomery Clift] Monty was the most emotional actor I have ever worked with. And it is contagious.
[on Marilyn Monroe] She seemed to have a kind of unconscious glow about her physical self that was innocent, like a child. When she posed nude, it was 'Gee, I am kind of, you know, sort of dishy,' like she enjoyed it without being egotistical.
Richard came on the set and sort of sidled over to me and said: "Has anybody ever told you that you're a very pretty girl?" 'I thought, Oy gevalt, the great lover, the great wit, the great Welsh intellectual, and he comes out with a corny line like that! But then I noticed his hands were shaking as if he had Saturday night palsy. He had the worst hangover I'd ever seen. And he was obviously terrified of me. I just took pity on him. I realized he really was human. That was the beginning of our affair.
SALARY
The Flintstones (1994) $2,500,000
Poker Alice (1987) (TV) $500,000
Malice in Wonderland (1985) (TV) $1,000,000
The Mirror Crack'd (1980) $250,000
Winter Kills (1979) $100,000
The Only Game in Town (1970) $1,250,000
Secret Ceremony (1968) $1,000,000
Boom! (1968) $1,250,000
The Comedians (1967) $500,000
The Taming of the Shrew (1967) 50% of the net profits (Co-producer)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) $1,100,000 + 10% of the gross
The Sandpiper (1965) $1,000,000
Elizabeth Taylor in London (1963) (TV) £ 250,000
Cleopatra (1963) $1,000,000 + 10% of the gross
BUtterfield 8 (1960) $150,000
Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) $500,000
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) $4,750 per week
Giant (1956) $175,000
Ivanhoe (1952) $5,500/week
A Place in the Sun (1951) $1,500/week
Courage of Lassie (1946) $750/week
Lassie Come Home (1943) $100 a week
There's One Born Every Minute (1942) $200 a week.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000072/bio .