RIP: Actress Elizabeth Taylor Dies at 79
- Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:09am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor, the violet-eyed film goddess whose sultry screen life was often upstaged by her stormy personal life, died Wednesday at age 79.
She died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks, publicist Sally Morrison said.
“All her children were with her,” Morrison said.
Taylor had extraordinary grace, fame and wealth, and won three Oscars, including a special one for her humanitarian work. But she was tortured by ill health, failed romances and personal tragedy.
“I think I’m becoming fatalistic,” she said in 1989. “Too much has happened in my life for me not to be fatalistic.”
Her eight marriages – including two to actor Richard Burton – and a lifelong battle with substance abuse, physical ailments and overeating made Taylor as popular in supermarket tabloids as in classic film festivals.
Taylor disclosed in November 2004 that she had congestive heart failure. But she still periodically dismissed reports that she was at death’s door, saying she used a wheelchair only because of chronic back problems that began at age 12 when she fell from a horse.
“Oh, come on, do I look like I’m dying?” she said in May 2006 in a rare television interview on CNN’s “Larry King Live.“ ”Do I look like or sound like I have Alzheimer’s?“ Tabloids report such things ”because they have nothing else dirty to write about anybody else,” she said.
When she turned 75 the following year, she was asked about the secret to her longevity and quipped: “Hangin’ in.”
The London-born actress was a star at age 12, a bride and a divorcee at 18, a screen goddess at 19 and a widow at 26.
She appeared in more than 50 films, and won Oscars for her performances in “Butterfield 8” (1960) and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966), in which she starred opposite Burton.
In later years, she was a spokeswoman for several causes, most notably AIDS research. Her work gained her a special Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in 1993.
As she accepted it, she told a worldwide television audience: “I call upon you to draw from the depths of your being – to prove that we are a human race, to prove that our love outweighs our need to hate, that our compassion is more compelling than our need to blame.”
She accepted her many health problems with a stoic attitude.
“My body’s a real mess,” Taylor told W magazine in 2004. “If you look at it in the mirror, it’s just completely convex and concave.”
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Comments (102)
604karen
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:04amGood actress, beautiful woman, not so great in the character department. RIP
Report Post »shotgun
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:18pmKAREN666… You are an idiot.
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:55amLovely Elizabeth Taylor, RIP.
You wingnuts would probably go crazy if you knew that she converted to Judaism from being a Christian Scientist.
Report Post »Pizza Royalty
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:43amBeautiful lady……..I will miss her.
Report Post »OLDANDBITTERCLINGER
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:30amAm I the only person that ever noticed that Michael Jackson looked more like her after each plastic surgery?
Report Post »Helldogger
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:12amWhen she was young she was really HOT!
Report Post »When she was old she was really NOT!!!
R.I.P.
janlea
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 4:40pmNo one is hot when they’re old. However, she looked pretty good for an old gal. Peace.
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:05amHey Liz, tell my boy Michael to “Keep On with the force, don’t stop. Don’t stop til you get enough.”
Report Post »mdlwoods
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:56amThe final end of an era. God’s speed, Liz.
Report Post »frcomega
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:56amShe will be missed.
Report Post »Leslie_Benedict
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:52amR.I.P mi amore.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:52amSeemed like she went from “gorgeous” to “old” in about a half-year.
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:36amrest in peace
Report Post »and to the republic
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:32amhittin the bottle a little early this AM, eh… full of class drunk, full of class….
Report Post »steinie44
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:29amR.I.P. Elizabeth
Report Post »yesica
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:29amI love that woman! What a great actress! RIP lovely one.
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:27amInterestingly, my mother just died a couple of hours ago from complications with Cancer. She was 54. Sorry if I’m not celebrating Ms. Taylor’s life with the rest of the world. For some, private life matters more than the life of a celebrity.
Report Post »kipstiles
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:08amMy condolences for you loss, Apple; if it’s any comfort you can know that in her journey to Heaven, Ms. Taylor will now have an interesting travelling companion.
Report Post »Itchee Dryback
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 4:19pmSorry to hear that..remember her well. This to shall pass.
Report Post »janlea
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 4:37pmApplebite, I’m sorry to hear about your mother. I‘m sure Elizabeth’s family feels just as grief stricken as you are. Healing thoughts coming your way.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:21amWell, everyone dies of something.
Report Post »TERMLIMITSNOW
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:26ameventually…
Report Post »augustusIV
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:21amRIP Liz…grew up watching her movies…beautiful woman
Report Post »flyoverbob
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:19amStunningly beautiful woman,sorry she is gone.
Report Post »alrunner58
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:17amShe was one of a kind. Luv ya Liz
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:17amRest in Peace Liz. My favorite movie hers was Cleopatra. Her and Richard Burton were perfect in that movie. Another one of my favorites of hers is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She was a lovely woman. Not many of her kind left in the world.
Report Post »ISeeDanger.com
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:17amShe looked horrible the last time I saw her.
Rest and peace.
http://www.ISeeDanger.com
Report Post »catndahat
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:15amRIP wonderful lady who brought so much goodness to so many. She’ll always be THE Cleopatra…
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:19amShe may have had alot of issues in real life but i enjoyed her as an actress,may she now have peace
Report Post »drbage
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:12amA legend in her own time. A woman of peace and love who stood for her values and never lost them. May she rest in peace!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:31amValues, like having an affair with a married man while she was married?
Report Post »jacobstroubles
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:42amValues like covering for her dear pedophile friend?
Report Post »Oil_Robb
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:43amGive me a break…seven marriges…she trotted around Hollywood like the slut she was…and at the end she Harbored that Pedeophile Micheal Jackson trying to give him credibility…Buh bye you egotistical tramp
Report Post »freeus
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 3:09amAnother Hollywood liberal.
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:12amRIP if it’s true.
If not, someone’s gonna be looking for a job soon.
Report Post »democratgirl
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:40amUnbelievable. Why aren’t we looking up and admiring people who have actually contributed to the WELFARE AND GOODNESS of society and our fellow man? Other than AIDS…………she was MJ’s best friend….that’s fine….what else did she do that was so ADMIRABLE????????????????? THAT GLORIFIED GOD?????????????????????????? I do not know where she is right now, but I will just bet you, unless she gave her life to Jesus, she is NOT where you think she is…..and that’s ETERNITY. All you people waste your words, money, and time on such unimportant and frivolous things, like people who made a life of sin, sex, and lies. Shame on all of you.
calijohn
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 4:32pmdemogirl
“other than aids…”
Report Post »well, that’s something, isn’t it?
and just what exactly have you contributed to society?
sleazyhippo
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 9:13am((Give Dem-Girl a break! Remember Liz was just interested in helping “Hollywood AIDS” -not real people AIDS, evangelical AIDS, conservative AIDS, or African AIDS…))
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 9:18amThe righteous and delightful Demo-Girl is quite right to condemn the despicable Ms. Hollywood. Liz Taylor was not even born in America and she divorced the senior US Senator from Virginia, a commonwealth (not even a state) named for the Virgin Queen Elizabeth! Show us the death certificate! Need we say more?
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:12amrest in peace….
Report Post »liked her early movies as a kid
felina g
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:25am“National Velvet” !
Report Post »jblaze
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:27amVery beautiful lady and a great actress! RIP.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:33amThe cream is going and leaving just the sour milk to take its place. Gone are the beautiful stories made with class and replaced by the trash of today with their left wing messages. Haven’t been to a movie in years and have no intention of wasting my money anytime soon. God speed. I’m sure your friend, Michael, will welcome you Home.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:04amShe was one of the greats, but had her share of scandals, like being married 7 times and covering for MJ and his issues. Now the tabloids will have to find someone else to feature on their covers who has been dying for the last 20 years.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:12amWow….So she gets to meet one of her 50 husbands or she has an unlimited amount of pain pills her and richard used to suck down like candy….And she can do all this with her Pedophile friend Michael…
Cream sure does run to the top…
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:13amI guess now they will stop talking aout Japan and run this all week. How long did they run MJ’s death?
Report Post »This will run just as long, if not longer.
MAULEMALL
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:14amMICHAEL… Get the Jesus juice I’ll bring the Ludes….
Woo Hooooo
AzDebi
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:17amBeautiful “violet eyes”…R.I.P. Elizabeth Taylor!
(Hey Blaze…couldn’t you come up with a better photo of her? She was unbelievably gorgeous when she was younger…please revise your pic)…
Report Post »democratgirl
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:33amTrash then and trash now…..it was just played out better back then, then now. STILL TRASH. Hollywood is the epitome of sin and evil. God has blessed these people with riches and look what they did/do with it – more sin, more evil, more drugs, more sex….it goes on and on. And we (not me), the American public adores them and why? Acting? IS THAT REALLY A GIFT? I don’t think so. Be careful what you love, like, and worship. Whatever binds you on earth will bind you in the afterlife.
Report Post »middleclassprophet
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:53am-MAULEMALL-
Unreal how this site seems to encourage disrespectful comments like your own. You have never met the lady yet you judge her after she leaves this earth? Grow up.
Report Post »middleclassprophet
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:55am-democratgirl-
Spoken like a demon. I hope someone speaks of you like you spoke of her when you pass this world. And judging from the comments you just made, I bet you will.
Report Post »leftiesaredangerous
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:25am@middleclassprophet
How do your comments make you any different from the ones you’re criticizing (judging)? Hypocrite.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:45ammiddleclassprophet
Keep idolizing the golden calves…
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:47amdemocratgirl
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:33am
Trash then and trash now…..it was just played out better back then, then now. STILL TRASH. Hollywood is the epitome of sin and evil. God has blessed these people with riches and look what they did/do with it – more sin, more evil, more drugs, more sex….it goes on and on. And we (not me), the American public adores them and why? Acting? IS THAT REALLY A GIFT? I don’t think so. Be careful what you love, like, and worship. Whatever binds you on earth will bind you in the afterlife.
Report Post »
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YOU have just NAILED IT..
Tulsatime
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 1:36pmWe will miss you Liz. You lived your life on your terms.
@AZDEBI …. There is an excellent pic of her at bighollywood.com
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 8:26pm@middleclassprophet
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:53am
-MAULEMALL-
Unreal how this site seems to encourage disrespectful comments like your own. You have never met the lady yet you judge her after she leaves this earth? Grow up.
Report Post »~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, knock me over with a feather! I was just thinking the same thing, MiddleClassProphet! I agree with you. Thank you. Some people just have no respect for the dead. Alcoholism, addiction, and eating disorders are diseases.
butterfly53
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 8:58pmRest in Peace Elizabeth. I hope you are with Richard, I think he was your true love.
Report Post »I understand the filthy funeral crashers from the Westboro church of idiocy will be demonstrating at her funeral. How sad, I wish I could be there to be a part of the human wall. She was a true star.
pattybbb1
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:26pmThere are very few great actors/actress left. Micky Rooney, Olivia DeHavilton. My mother always had her hair fixed like Eliz. Taylor. RIP.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:48pmShowtime
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 8:26pm
@middleclassprophet
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:53am
-MAULEMALL-
Unreal how this site seems to encourage disrespectful comments like your own. You have never met the lady yet you judge her after she leaves this earth? Grow up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, knock me over with a feather! I was just thinking the same thing, MiddleClassProphet! I agree with you. Thank you. Some people just have no respect for the dead. Alcoholism, addiction, and eating disorders are diseases.
Report Post »
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No. In this case they were her life choices…
Nothing to respect..
Worm dirt…. Nothing more nothing less.
compost.
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 9:14amShe was born in England.
Report Post »