Liz was a leading child star by the age of 12 after her performance in MGM's National Velvet. It wasn't long before she was knocking critics dead as a serious adult actress with films like Giant, Raintree County and BUtterfield 8. She reigned the box office from 1958-68 as the quintessential movie star taking the breath away from viewers with her glamorous looks and those velvet eyes. Her film career floundered in the 1970s with a string of unusual and unsuccessful films. Her personal life has been a tempest of love affairs, unsuccessful marriages and multiple medical problems. Upon the death of her friend, Rock Hudson in 1985, she began her crusade on the behalf of AIDS sufferers. In the 1990s, she has also developed a successful series of scents. Her acting career has been relegated to the occasional tv-movie or TV guest appearance.
The Flintstones (1994): $2,500,000
Poker Alice (1987): $500,000
North and South (1985): $200,000
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): £ 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.
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 nine 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 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 because they were both to star in the upcoming A Place in the Sun. 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, she was actually pronounced dead. First actress to earn $1,000,000 for a movie role (in Cleopatra). 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] Mother-in-law of Brooke Palance. 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." Considers Michael Jackson among her closest friends. In the early 1970s she planned to star in the movie version of the hit 1971 Broadway play "Twigs" by George Furth, in which she would have played four characters -- three sisters and their aged, cranky Bronx-Irish mother -- but the project never materialized. Stepmother of the late Michael Todd Jr., who was actually her senior by three years. 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 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, 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 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. 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. Is portrayed by Sherilyn Fenn in Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story Was unable to give evidence at Michael Jackson's trial due to illness. She was (along with Marisa Berenson) co-matron of honor at Liza Minnelli's and David Gest's wedding. Along with Mark Hamill and Joe Mantegna, she is one of only three actors to play both themselves and a fictional character in The Simpsons. She supplied the voice of Maggie Simpson in the Season Four episode "Lisa's First Word" and portrayed herself in the Season Four episode "Krusty Gets Kancelled". She and Richard Burton appeared together in 12 movies: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The V.I.P.s, Under Milk Wood, The Taming of the Shrew, The Sandpiper, Hammersmith Is Out, Doctor Faustus, Divorce His - Divorce Hers, The Comedians, Cleopatra, Boom! and Anne of the Thousand Days. 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 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. Writer Charles Bukowski, in his newspaper column (and later book) "Notes of a Dirty Old Man," revealed that he loathed Taylor as an absurd icon of the celebrity-mad, media-besotted American culture that he despised. 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) Became friends with Marlon Brando while shooting Reflections in a Golden Eye. Brando agreed to pick up her Best Actress Award for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? from the New York Film Critics Circle. When Brando made his appearance at the NYFCC Award ceremony at Sardi's on January 29, 1967, he berated the critics, querying them as to why they hadn't recognized Liz before. He then flew to Dahomey, Africa, where she was shooting The Comedians with Richard Burton to personally deliver the award, a development Burton thought odd. Several years later Brando socialized with the Burtons, visiting them on their famous yacht the Kalizma, while they plied the Mediterreanean. Brando's ex-wife Anna Kashfi, in her book "Brando for Breakfast" (1979), claimed that Brando and Burton got into a fist fight aboard the yacht, probably over Liz, but nothing of the incident appears in Burton's voluminous diaries. In his diaries, Burton found Brando to be quite intelligent but believed he suffered, like Liz did, from becoming too famous too early in his life and believed their affinity for one another was based on this (both Liz and Marlon would later befriend Michael Jackson, another superstar-cum-legend who had become too famous too soon). Burton recognized Brando as a great actor, but felt he would have been more suited to silent films due to the deficiency in his voice (the famous "mumble"). As a silent film star, Burton believed Brando would have been the greatest motion picture actor ever. 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 to refute claims that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and was close to death. (30 May 2006) Former stepmother of Kate Burton. Godmother of Paris Jackson. Godmother of Prince Michael Jackson I. Announced her retirement from acting in 2003. In Italy she was exclusively dubbed until the mid-1950s by Germana Calderini. As she matured, she was dubbed by Fiorella Betti. For two of her most celebrated roles--Leslie Lynnton Benedict in Giant and Catherine Holly in Suddenly, Last Summer--Taylor was dubbed respectively by Micaela Giustiniani and Lidia Simoneschi, the only time either actress lent their voice to her. Organized "A Commitment to Life", a celebrity event to benefit AIDS research after her Giant 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. Did not attend The 75th Annual Academy Awards due to her opposition to the Iraq war. Endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2008 presidential election. 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'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). After the death of husband Mike Todd, she and Todd's son sued the company Ayer Lease Plan, Inc. for $5,000,000 charging negligence. They were awarded only $40,000, of which $13,000 went to attorney's fees. The remaining $27,000 went to their daughter, Frances. 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 (Best Actress) and Jones for Elmer Gantry (Best Supporting Actress). She was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of her outstanding contribution to film culture.