Elizabeth Taylor Dead at 79 March 23, 2011 This is absolutely tragic! Elizabeth Taylor died today at age 79, reports ABC.
According to "Good Morning America," Taylor died early Wednesday morning. She's been hospitalized for a while at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
She reportedly died of congestive heart failure.
"She was surrounded by her children- Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton," Taylor's publicist, Sally Morrison, said in a statement.
Her son Michael Wilding released a statement, saying: “My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humour and love. Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world.
"Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV and AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished.
“We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts.”
Elizabeth was one of the last great old Hollywood movie stars. She won three academy awards. Twice for best actress for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Butterfield 8 and was also awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1993.
Some of her famous work includes Cleopatra, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Jane Eyre, and Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf?, among others.
Today we lost an icon, a beautiful woman and an amazing actress. May you rest in peace!
A private family funeral for Elizabeth Taylor will be held later this week. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to her AIDS Foundation.
I saw a photo of her several weeks ago and was 'stunned' by the changes I saw. At that point I knew it couldn't be much longer. So very sad how much she suffered! I do feel that Michael's passing had an enormous impact on her 'Heart' failure as well.
Another beautiful light has left this earth. She was a fine human being. I'm glad I wrote her a letter a few weeks ago. I had a feeling I didn't have much time to thank her for her wonderful and kind acts of human kindness, and her special, tender and loyal friendship with Michael.
I can't help thinking she was ready to go and was not enjoying her life anymore. I'm comforted in knowing her family was nearby and stayed with her until the end. I hope her family will find ways of continuing her humanitarian efforts.
Thank you, Elizabeth Taylor, for truly caring about your fellow human beings on this earth, for not being judgmental, and for being one of the very few true friends Michael Jackson ever had.
With love, Carmen
Edited to Add: I just checked my records, and it was December 30, 2010 that I wrote my letter to Ms. Taylor. Hopefully, someone forwarded it to her before she passed on. I'm not posting this information to brag or toot my own horn, but rather to share something that I'm glad I took care of. I did have a strong sense that I didn't have much time to complete this task. I don't get that sense of urgency very often, but when I do, I try to acknowledge it and do what needs to be done.
Last Edited by on Mar 23, 2011 5:26 PM
Carmen, She has been on my mind as well. I was sensing that Elizabeth will soon be leaving us too, as I have observed that her health was rapidly deteriorating of late. You did great by writing to her. So wonderful of you to do that. Truly. Thank you.
----- This has been a difficult week. With tragic events taking place in Japan, turmoil in the Middle East exacerbated by our country being run like a runaway train and now Elizabeth passing on top of all that. A big part of her public persona was her connection to Michael. And with her passing, it feels as though another tangible part of Michael has fallen away from this plane.
And she always had such amazing strength of character and stood up for what she believed in; and of course in support of Michael through all the triumphs and tribulations of his adult life. Yes, Elizabeth WAS truly a very loyal friend to Michael and an amazing human being. As I said earlier today, Elizabeth you will be missed here...
Love, Irina
Last Edited by on Mar 23, 2011 8:44 PM
Good call indeed, Carmen! a BIG THANK YOU you to you for acting on your intuition by writing to Elizabeth. I do feel has received it, one way or another.
I was pleased that MSM did some wonderful heartfelt tributes to her, as a human being, in addition to her acting career. I WILL give them that.
Elizabeth Taylor Laid to Rest in Private Funeral Service Elizabeth Taylor Buried at Same Cemetery as Michael Jackson
BY SHEILA MARIKAR March 24, 2011
Elizabeth Taylor was laid to rest in a small funeral ceremony today at The Great Mausoleum in Glendale, Calif.'s Forest Lawn Cemetery, the same cemetery where her close friend Michael Jackson is entombed.
The service was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. PT but began late because Taylor left instructions that it was to begin at least 15 minutes later than publicly scheduled.
"She even wanted to be late for her own funeral," read a statement from Taylor's publicist, Sally Morrison.
The multi-denominational service lasted approximately one hour, with actor Colin Farrell, a friend of Taylor's, reading Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem "The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo," and Taylor's grandson Rhys Tivey performing a trumpet solo of "Amazing Grace."
Taylor died Wednesday at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where she had been receiving treatment for congestive heart failure. She was 79.
Taylor's death certificate, which was obtained by TMZ.com, listed her cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest caused by congestive heart failure.
Being buried within 24 to 48 hours of death is a tenet of Judaism. Taylor converted to Judaism for her marriages to Mike Todd and Eddie Fisher.
In a statement released Wednesday, Taylor's publicist said that prior to her death, the Oscar-winning actress was surrounded by her children, Michael Howard Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton.
In the same statement, Michael Howard Wilding, 58, memorialized his mother:
"My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love," he said. "Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts."
In addition to her children, Taylor is survived by 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. People magazine reported that all Taylor's grandchildren were expected to be at her funeral.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and said that those wanting to send personal messages could log on to Taylor's official Facebook page.
ABC News Radio's Jason Nathanson contributed to this report.
Thank you, Bonnie, for posting the information on Liz Taylor.
Thank you, Irina and Chaturi, for your kind words of support. A good portion of my letter was written with Michael in mind, and I needed to thank her for being there for him when so few others were. I also wanted to thank her and praise her not so much for her exterior beauty, which I'm sure she received praise for throughout her life, but much more importantly for her INNER beauty and her strength of character and depth of compassion for others. She stood by Rock Hudson when the rest of the Hollywood community would not. Now THAT is a TRUE FRIEND. I promised her I would make a donation to her charity when I have the funds, and I will keep my promise. I can't always keep my promises in a quick and timely fashion, but I do my best to keep my word and to follow through. I just tend to do things in my own time, and I put my heart into it whenever possible.
Much love to my fellow posters, Carmen
Last Edited by on Mar 24, 2011 8:29 PM
I am sad - its sad for us, the world. But I know that she is with Michael now and that is a very comforting thought. They are together again... ---------- "...be alive, be free, feel consciousness, subsciousness, being GOD..." MJ
Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson: Hollywood's Odd Couple, Now Gone Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson Bonded Over Lack of Childhood, Substance Abuse
BY SHEILA MARIKAR March 25, 2011
To some, it seemed odd: why would one of Hollywood's golden age glamour queens pal around with a pop music star more than 20 years her junior?
But for Elizabeth Taylor, when it came to Michael Jackson, the connection was as clear as her diamond earrings.
"He has been hurt by so many people," she told ABC News' Barbara Walters in 2002. "I think I'm the only person in his life that has not betrayed him."
Taylor and Jackson began on an off note: she walked out of one of his concerts, and he called her almost in tears. She assured him that she left because of bad visibility, not a poor performance. What was meant to be an apologetic phone call turned into a three-hour conversation and ultimately, a more than three decade long friendship.
More than anything else, Taylor linked their friendship to their accelerated upbringing. She became a star at 12 with "National Velvet;" he at eight with The Jackson 5. In a 1997 interview with Walters, Taylor said, "One of the reasons I think Michael Jackson and I are so close [is] because neither one of us had a childhood, and we can relate to that and wonder at how we got by."
While Taylor and Jackson occasionally made appearances together in public -- at the movies, at AIDS benefits, at the 1993 American Music Awards -- much of their relationship remained private. But she vocally supported him when he was accused of child molestation in 1993 and 2005. She flew to Singapore in '93 to help him cope with the first case; in 2003, after Jackson was arrested on child abuse charges, she defended him and blasted the press.
"I believe Michael is absolutely innocent and that he will be vindicated," she said in statement. "[The media's] whole reaction is that he is guilty. I thought the law was 'innocent until proven guilty.' I know he is innocent and I hope they all eat crow."
When Jackson turned to prescription drugs to deal with the ensuing criminal investigation and lawsuit, Taylor made him seek treatment. Having gone to the Betty Ford Center in 1988, she felt she was in a unique position to help.
"He wasn't aware of what was happening," she told ABC News' Diane Sawyer in 1995. "He was dulling his pain, but it really frightened me, because I have been there and I know how easy it is to get there when you're in mental or physical pain."
In 2003, she stood by his side when he was arrested and charged with child molestation and intoxicating a minor. Even after Jackson was acquitted on all counts at his 2005 trial, Taylor continued to push back at the public perception of Jackson as a pervert.
"I've been there when his young nephews were there and we were all in the bed watching television there was nothing abnormal about it," Taylor said on "Larry King Live!" in 2006. "There was no touchy-feely going on."
While she spoke up for him, he shelled out for her. Jackson indulged in Taylor's love of jewels, giving her diamond bracelets, watches and necklaces. He allegedly promised her a $600,000 piece of jewelry for allowing footage of her to be used in the 2003 TV special "Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies."
He sang, too. In 1997, Jackson presented Taylor with the exclusively written-for-her song "Elizabeth, I Love You", performed at her 65th birthday party.
And he made her part of his family: Taylor served as the godmother for Jackson's eldest children, Paris Michael and Prince Michael.
But he was generous before he needed her as an ally. In 1991, Taylor married her last husband, construction worker Larry Fortensky, on Jackson's sprawling Neverland Ranch. The ceremony featured A-list guests including former President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, the drone of paparazzi and police helicopters, and hot air balloons Jackson launched in an attempt to drown out their noise.
Jackson's 2009 death floored Taylor. She took to Twitter to mourn. "My heart...my mind...are broken," she wrote the day after he died. "I loved Michael with all my soul and I can't imagine life without him. I don't think anyone knew how much we loved each other. The purest most giving love I've ever known. Oh god! I'm going to miss him."
She absented herself from Jackson's star-studded, media-thronged funeral, tweeting, and "I just don't believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event. I cannot be part of the public hoopla. And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word."
After his death, Taylor continued to stick up for Jackson, though not as publicly as she had in the past. (To be fair, she wasn't much of a public personality in her final years.) Last May, she went on Twitter to chastise Dr. Arnold Klein for talking to the press about Jackson. (Taylor, like Jackson, was a patient of the Beverly Hills dermatologist.)
"I thought doctors, like priests took an oath of confidentiality," Taylor tweeted. "May God have mercy on his soul."
That devotion followed her to her grave. On Thursday, Taylor was buried at Glendale, Calif.'s Forest Lawn Cemetery, the same cemetery where Jackson is entombed.
Last Edited by on Mar 25, 2011 8:39 AM
Thank you so much, Dear Elizabeth for being such a Wonderful Friend to our Michael. May God Bless you both all eternity. Rest In Peace. And, please, know that you both are so Much Loved all around the world... ( And, please, take care of Michael up there :) )
The good news are: Michael and Elizabeth are together again and no more physical sufferings.
So sad to stay here still, so empty... :( It's like a huge part of Michael is gone with her now.
Thank you Bonnie and to all my friends who posted about Ms Taylor. I am thinking how great that MJ and Elizabeth share resting place. Now, we know that MJ will be resting at Glendale forever. No more speculation about another resting place for him. This is it for both of them. What a great, marvellous, loving friendship between the two of them. I am tearful as I type this. ---------- With L.O.V.E, Anne
