Elizabeth Taylor.
An actress, a philanthropist and a Hollywood legend known as one of the most beautiful women in the world,Elizabeth Taylor— who died of congestive heart failure at age 79 on March 23, 2011 — left behind a legacy every bit as colorful as any of her screen roles.“Elizabeth is bigger than life,” her friend, songwriter Carol Bayer Sager, once told PEOPLE of the star. “She’s the closest thing we have in America to royalty.“As we mark what would have been the icon’s 92nd birthday on Feb. 27, 2024, take a look back on her incredible life and career in photos.
An actress, a philanthropist and a Hollywood legend known as one of the most beautiful women in the world,Elizabeth Taylor— who died of congestive heart failure at age 79 on March 23, 2011 — left behind a legacy every bit as colorful as any of her screen roles.
“Elizabeth is bigger than life,” her friend, songwriter Carol Bayer Sager, once told PEOPLE of the star. “She’s the closest thing we have in America to royalty.”
As we mark what would have been the icon’s 92nd birthday on Feb. 27, 2024, take a look back on her incredible life and career in photos.
01of 16
A Star Is Born
A young Elizabeth Taylor.John Springer Collection/Corbis
“I never could kick up my heels like other kids; there were too many restraints,” Taylor wrote in her 1988 memoirElizabeth Takes Off. “My life was overscheduled and overdisciplined.”
02of 16’National' TreasureA young Elizabeth Taylor in ‘National Velvet’.Peter Stackpole//Time Life Pictures/GettyTaylor appeared in her first movie, the 1942 comedyThere’s One Born Every Minute, when she was 9 years old. MGM noticed her potential — and remarkable violet-colored eyes — and signed her for 1943’sLassie Come Home.The following year, she made her star-making turn inNational Velvet(pictured), playing the determined Velvet Brown, who takes her horse all the way to the Grand National.
02of 16
‘National’ Treasure
A young Elizabeth Taylor in ‘National Velvet’.Peter Stackpole//Time Life Pictures/Getty
Taylor appeared in her first movie, the 1942 comedyThere’s One Born Every Minute, when she was 9 years old. MGM noticed her potential — and remarkable violet-colored eyes — and signed her for 1943’sLassie Come Home.
The following year, she made her star-making turn inNational Velvet(pictured), playing the determined Velvet Brown, who takes her horse all the way to the Grand National.
03of 16
Here Comes the Bride
Elizabeth Taylor and Conrad “Nicky” Hilton Jr.Bettman/Corbis
At only 18, Taylor married hotel heir Conrad “Nicky” Hilton Jr. in Beverly Hills. MGM paid for the May 6, 1950, ceremony and lavish reception at the Bel-Air Country Club as the studio promoted its star’s movie,Father of the Bride.
04of 16Faithful FriendElizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.Peter Stackpole/Time Life Pictures/GettyIn 1951, the actress became a leading lady when she costarred with Montgomery Clift inA Place in the Sun(pictured on the set). The two forged a close bond; her enduring Hollywood friendships would later become a statement.WhenGiantcostar Rock Hudson died of AIDS in 1985, she helped start the American Foundation for AIDS Research (better known asamfAR) and theElizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. “I want to do all I can because I have to live with me,” Taylor told PEOPLE about her activism.
04of 16
Faithful Friend
Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.Peter Stackpole/Time Life Pictures/Getty
In 1951, the actress became a leading lady when she costarred with Montgomery Clift inA Place in the Sun(pictured on the set). The two forged a close bond; her enduring Hollywood friendships would later become a statement.
WhenGiantcostar Rock Hudson died of AIDS in 1985, she helped start the American Foundation for AIDS Research (better known asamfAR) and theElizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. “I want to do all I can because I have to live with me,” Taylor told PEOPLE about her activism.
05of 16True LoveElizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd.Bettman/CorbisTaylor married for the third time, in 1957, to movie producer Mike Todd — who was 25 years her senior.“I have had two great loves in my life. Mike Todd was the first,” Taylor later wrote. Her happiness would be short-lived: Todd’s plane, the Liz, crashed on March 22, 1958, killing him. “I honestly didn’t think I would survive and didn’t much care if I did not,” she later said of mourning the father of her daughter, Liza.
05of 16
True Love
Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd.Bettman/Corbis
Taylor married for the third time, in 1957, to movie producer Mike Todd — who was 25 years her senior.
“I have had two great loves in my life. Mike Todd was the first,” Taylor later wrote. Her happiness would be short-lived: Todd’s plane, the Liz, crashed on March 22, 1958, killing him. “I honestly didn’t think I would survive and didn’t much care if I did not,” she later said of mourning the father of her daughter, Liza.
06of 16’Hot' ZonePaul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’.Courtesy Everett CollectionAfter Todd’s death, a reluctant Taylor continued filming the 1958 screen adaptation of the Tennessee Williams stage classicCat on a Hot Tin Roof. Playing southern siren Maggie the Cat, the actress sizzled in her signature role as a love-starved wife opposite Paul Newman — and earned an Oscar nomination.“I’m proud of my performance, and I feel it helped me to recover gradually from Mike’s death instead of drowning in my sorrow,” she wrote about the film.
06of 16
‘Hot’ Zone
Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’.Courtesy Everett Collection
After Todd’s death, a reluctant Taylor continued filming the 1958 screen adaptation of the Tennessee Williams stage classicCat on a Hot Tin Roof. Playing southern siren Maggie the Cat, the actress sizzled in her signature role as a love-starved wife opposite Paul Newman — and earned an Oscar nomination.
“I’m proud of my performance, and I feel it helped me to recover gradually from Mike’s death instead of drowning in my sorrow,” she wrote about the film.
07of 16Maternal RoleElizabeth Taylor with sons Michael and Christopher Wilding.BOYER RAYMOND/SUNSET BOULEVARD/CORBISTaylor took pride in her large and loving family: She was the mother of four children, the grandmother of 10 and the great-grandmother of several. “My best friends,” she called her kids — including sons Michael and Christopher Wilding (pictured circa 1956), from her second marriage to British actor Michael Wilding; daughter Liza Todd; and Maria Burton, whom she later adopted with husband Richard Burton.
07of 16
Maternal Role
Elizabeth Taylor with sons Michael and Christopher Wilding.BOYER RAYMOND/SUNSET BOULEVARD/CORBIS
Taylor took pride in her large and loving family: She was the mother of four children, the grandmother of 10 and the great-grandmother of several. “My best friends,” she called her kids — including sons Michael and Christopher Wilding (pictured circa 1956), from her second marriage to British actor Michael Wilding; daughter Liza Todd; and Maria Burton, whom she later adopted with husband Richard Burton.
08of 16Domestic DramaElizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.Hollywood couple Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds were close friends of Taylor and Mike Todd. But after Todd’s death, the crooner and Taylor found solace in each other — and started a scandalous affair.Fisher ultimately left Reynolds and married Taylor in May 1959. “The press made much of Eddie’s leaving his wife, Debbie Reynolds, but their marriage was in trouble long before I hit the scene,” Taylor later insisted.
08of 16
Domestic Drama
Elizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
Hollywood couple Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds were close friends of Taylor and Mike Todd. But after Todd’s death, the crooner and Taylor found solace in each other — and started a scandalous affair.
Fisher ultimately left Reynolds and married Taylor in May 1959. “The press made much of Eddie’s leaving his wife, Debbie Reynolds, but their marriage was in trouble long before I hit the scene,” Taylor later insisted.
09of 16
Romantic Triangle
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.Paul Schutzer/Time Life Pictures/Getty; Everett Collection
“When I saw him on the set ofCleopatra, I fell in love and I have loved him ever since,” Taylor later said of Welsh actor Richard Burton, her costar in the 1963 film. The pair’s lightning-hot romance became a tabloid cover story and she married him nine days after divorcing Eddie Fisher in March 1964.
10of 16Queen of the NileElizabeth Taylor in ‘Cleopatra’.Everett"It was probably the most chaotic time in my life,” Taylor toldVanity Fairabout the epicCleopatra, for which Taylor became the first actor in history to be paid $1 million. When production ran into overtime (partly thanks to her explosive romance with Burton), Taylor’s salary hit $4 million-plus, and the nearly bankrupt studio sued her. In time, both sides settled, but the film — at a whopping $44 million ($287 million in current dollars) — was for many years the most expensive movie ever made.
10of 16
Queen of the Nile
Elizabeth Taylor in ‘Cleopatra’.Everett
“It was probably the most chaotic time in my life,” Taylor toldVanity Fairabout the epicCleopatra, for which Taylor became the first actor in history to be paid $1 million. When production ran into overtime (partly thanks to her explosive romance with Burton), Taylor’s salary hit $4 million-plus, and the nearly bankrupt studio sued her. In time, both sides settled, but the film — at a whopping $44 million ($287 million in current dollars) — was for many years the most expensive movie ever made.
11of 16A Change of HeartElizabeth Taylor with Liza Minnelli and Betty Ford.Robin Platzer/Twin Images/Time Life Pictures/GettyTaylor went from movie star to politician’s wife when she married Sen. John Warner (R.-Va.) in 1976. During their marriage, an unhappy Taylor (at club Studio 54 with Liza Minnelli and Betty Ford in 1979) was abusing alcohol and prescription pills. Family ultimately urged the actress to check into the Betty Ford Center on Dec. 5, 1983. “My children, my brother, a few intimate friends made me face the facts,” she later wrote.
11of 16
A Change of Heart
Elizabeth Taylor with Liza Minnelli and Betty Ford.Robin Platzer/Twin Images/Time Life Pictures/Getty
Taylor went from movie star to politician’s wife when she married Sen. John Warner (R.-Va.) in 1976. During their marriage, an unhappy Taylor (at club Studio 54 with Liza Minnelli and Betty Ford in 1979) was abusing alcohol and prescription pills. Family ultimately urged the actress to check into the Betty Ford Center on Dec. 5, 1983. “My children, my brother, a few intimate friends made me face the facts,” she later wrote.
12of 16Golden MomentElizabeth Taylor wins an Oscar.DMI/GettyIn 1992, a radiant Taylor received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy Awards. The actress had a long history with Oscar: In addition to several nominations, she won her first golden statue for her role as a promiscuous model in 1960’sButterfield 8— despite having herself criticized the quality of the movie. Her second, in 1966, was forWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which costarred Richard Burton.
12of 16
Golden Moment
Elizabeth Taylor wins an Oscar.DMI/Getty
In 1992, a radiant Taylor received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy Awards. The actress had a long history with Oscar: In addition to several nominations, she won her first golden statue for her role as a promiscuous model in 1960’sButterfield 8— despite having herself criticized the quality of the movie. Her second, in 1966, was forWho’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which costarred Richard Burton.
13of 16Fast FriendsElizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson.Kevin Mazur/WireImageIn June 2006, Taylor told Larry King that she had sleepovers with close friend Michael Jackson (together in 2001) and his nephews. “We were all in the bed watching television,” she said. “There was nothing abnormal about it. We laughed like children and we watched a lot of Walt Disney.” Of her bond with Jackson: “We both had horrible childhoods. Working at the age of 9 was not a childhood for me — and he started at 3.”
13of 16
Fast Friends
Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson.Kevin Mazur/WireImage
In June 2006, Taylor told Larry King that she had sleepovers with close friend Michael Jackson (together in 2001) and his nephews. “We were all in the bed watching television,” she said. “There was nothing abnormal about it. We laughed like children and we watched a lot of Walt Disney.” Of her bond with Jackson: “We both had horrible childhoods. Working at the age of 9 was not a childhood for me — and he started at 3.”
14of 16Seal of ApprovalPresident Bill Clinton and Elizabeth Taylor.Larry Downing/Reuters/CORBISIn 2001, President Bill Clinton awarded Taylor the second-highest civilian honor in the nation, the Presidential Citizen’s Medal, in recognition of her commitment to AIDS activism. Taylor was also feted at the 25th annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2002.Besides being honored for her philanthropic work and acting career, Taylor also found enormous success as a businesswoman with her White Diamonds fragrance and House of Taylor jewelry line.
14of 16
Seal of Approval
President Bill Clinton and Elizabeth Taylor.Larry Downing/Reuters/CORBIS
In 2001, President Bill Clinton awarded Taylor the second-highest civilian honor in the nation, the Presidential Citizen’s Medal, in recognition of her commitment to AIDS activism. Taylor was also feted at the 25th annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2002.
Besides being honored for her philanthropic work and acting career, Taylor also found enormous success as a businesswoman with her White Diamonds fragrance and House of Taylor jewelry line.
15of 16
Grande Dame
Elizabeth Taylor with Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise.Alex Berliner/Berliner Photography/BEImages
16of 16’Life of Her Party’Elizabeth Taylor before her death.GettyBattling reports of her declining health, the then-76-year-old (in Beverly Hills in 2008)spent an evening out at favorite watering holeThe Abbey, a popular gay bar in West Hollywood, with martini in hand. “Even if she was not as strong as the last time she was here, she was once again the life of her small party,” an onlooker said of the star. Three years later, she said her final farewell.
16of 16
‘Life of Her Party’
Elizabeth Taylor before her death.Getty
Battling reports of her declining health, the then-76-year-old (in Beverly Hills in 2008)spent an evening out at favorite watering holeThe Abbey, a popular gay bar in West Hollywood, with martini in hand. “Even if she was not as strong as the last time she was here, she was once again the life of her small party,” an onlooker said of the star. Three years later, she said her final farewell.
source: people.com
