Elizabeth Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame
Elizabeth Taylor
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Studio publicity photo
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| Born |
Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor
February 27, 1932 London, England
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| Died | March 23, 2011 (aged 79) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Congestive heart failure |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California |
| Nationality |
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| Other names | Liz Taylor |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1942–2007 |
| Title | Dame (2000) |
| Spouse(s) |
Conrad Hilton Jr.
(m. 1950; div. 1951)
(m. 1975; div. 1976)Larry Fortensky
(m. 1991; div. 1996) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Francis Lenn Taylor Sara Sothern |
| Awards | Full list |
Dame Elizabeth "Liz" Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a very famous British-American actress. She was known for her amazing talent and beauty. Liz Taylor starred in many popular movies during the "Golden Age" of Hollywood.
Some of her most famous films include National Velvet, Father of the Bride, Giant, and Cleopatra. She won two Academy Awards for her roles in BUtterfield 8 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
Beyond acting, Elizabeth Taylor was a dedicated humanitarian. She worked hard to support HIV and AIDS programs. She even helped start important organizations like the American Foundation for AIDS Research. She received many honors for her acting and her charity work. These included the Presidential Citizens Medal and a Life Achievement Award. The American Film Institute called her one of the greatest American screen legends. She passed away in 2011 at the age of 79.
Contents
Early Life and Childhood Acting
Elizabeth Taylor was born in London, England, on February 27, 1932. Her parents, Francis Lenn Taylor and Sara Sothern, were Americans. They were living in England when she was born. Her family moved back to the United States when World War II began. They settled in Los Angeles, California.
Elizabeth started acting when she was very young. Her first movie role was in Lassie Come Home in 1942. Just two years later, she starred in National Velvet (1944). This movie made her a child star. As she grew up, she easily moved into roles for young adults.
A Star on the Big Screen
Elizabeth Taylor became a major movie star in the 1950s. Her first big role as an adult was in A Place in the Sun (1950). In this film, she acted alongside Montgomery Clift. She worked very steadily throughout the 1950s.
Some of her other notable movies from this time include The Father of the Bride (1951), Ivanhoe (1952), and Giant (1956). She also starred in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959). These roles showed her incredible acting range.
In 1963, Elizabeth Taylor played the main character in the epic movie Cleopatra. This was a huge film for her career. While making Cleopatra, she met actor Richard Burton. They fell in love and married in 1964. They became one of Hollywood's most famous couples.
Elizabeth and Richard starred in several movies together. These included The V.I.P's (1963) and The Sandpiper (1965). Their most famous film together was Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966). She also appeared in The Taming of the Shrew (1967).
Awards and Recognition
Elizabeth Taylor won many awards for her acting. She received two Academy Awards for Best Actress. Her first Oscar was for her role in BUtterfield 8 (1960). Her second Oscar was for her powerful performance in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966).
In 1999, she was given the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award. This is a very special award that honors a person's lifetime achievements in film.
Her Life Beyond Movies
Elizabeth Taylor's personal life often received a lot of attention. She was married several times to well-known figures. She had two sons and two daughters. She was also the godmother to two of Michael Jackson's children.
Helping Others: Activism
Elizabeth Taylor was one of the first celebrities to speak out about HIV and AIDS. She dedicated a lot of her time and money to helping people affected by these diseases. She helped raise more than $270 million for the cause.
- She organized the first AIDS fundraiser in 1984.
- In 1985, she co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). She did this with Dr. Michael Gottlieb and Dr. Mathilde Krim. This happened after her friend, actor Rock Hudson, became sick with AIDS and passed away.
- In 1993, she started her own organization, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). This foundation helps provide important services for people with HIV/AIDS.
- For example, after Hurricane Katrina in 2006, she donated $500,000 to an AIDS task force in New Orleans. She also helped fund a special "Care Van" with medical equipment.
For her amazing humanitarian work, Elizabeth Taylor received a special Academy Award in 1992. It was called the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Former President Bill Clinton praised her work. He said her efforts would help many people around the world.
Supporting Jewish Causes
After converting to the Jewish religion, Elizabeth Taylor supported Jewish causes throughout her life.
- In 1959, her support for Israel caused some countries to boycott her films.
- In 1962, she was almost not allowed to enter Egypt to film Cleopatra. This was because of her Jewish faith and support for Israel. However, the ban was lifted later.
- She helped raise money for organizations like the Jewish National Fund.
- She spoke out for Soviet Jews who wanted to move to Israel.
- In 1976, she even offered herself as a replacement hostage. This was during the Entebbe skyjacking, where Israeli civilians were taken hostage. After the hostages were freed, she acted in a TV special about the event. She said she felt a strong connection to Israel.
Later Life and Passing
Elizabeth Taylor faced many health challenges throughout her life. In 2004, she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. This is a condition where the heart cannot pump blood well. She had surgery for it in 2009.
In early 2011, she was admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles due to new symptoms. Elizabeth Taylor passed away on March 23, 2011. She was 79 years old. Her four children were with her when she died.
Images for kids
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15-year-old Taylor with her parents at the Stork Club in Manhattan, 1947
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Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Lawford on the promote shoot of Little Women, 1949.
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With Spencer Tracy in Father of the Bride (1950)
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Taylor c. 1955
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Publicity photo, 1954
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Van Johnson and Taylor in the romantic drama The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954)
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Taylor and Rock Hudson in Giant (1956)
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Richard Burton as Mark Antony with Taylor as Cleopatra in Cleopatra (1963)
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Taylor and Burton in The Sandpiper (1965)
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Taylor in 1971
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In Divorce His, Divorce Hers (1973), Taylor's last film with Burton
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Taylor in 1981 at an event honoring her career
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Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi alongside Taylor, who is testifying in 1990 before the House Budget Committee on HIV-AIDS Funding
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Taylor promoting her first fragrance, Passion, in 1987
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Taylor's relationships were subject to intense media attention throughout her adult life, as exemplified by a 1955 issue of gossip magazine Confidential.
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Taylor with her third husband Mike Todd and her three children in 1957
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Taylor in a studio publicity photo in 1953
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Taylor's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the days following her death in 2011
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See also
In Spanish: Elizabeth Taylor para niños
