Elizabeth Taylor carried two distinct legacies: the movie star whose every marriage dominated tabloids and the activist who built lasting institutions to fight a pandemic her peers feared to name. Her violet eyes launched a thousand magazine covers, but the legacy she guarded most was the one that began after the cameras stopped.
Born: February 27, 1932 ·
Died: March 23, 2011 ·
Academy Awards: 2 (1 competitive, 1 honorary) ·
Spouses: 8 ·
Children: 4 ·
Eye Color: Violet (rare mutation)
Quick snapshot
- Won two Academy Awards for Best Actress (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
- Co-founded amfAR in 1985 (amfAR)
- Received the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001 (amfAR)
- Married eight times, twice to Richard Burton (Britannica)
- Whether she ever identified as LGBTQ or had a same-sex relationship she did not publicly acknowledge
- Exact number of relationships beyond her eight marriages
- Cause of her distinctive deep voice — speculated to be from smoking or a medical condition
Eight key facts, one pattern: Taylor’s life was a constant oscillation between spectacular public success and stubborn private activism.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor |
| Born | February 27, 1932 |
| Died | March 23, 2011 |
| Occupation | Actress, Activist |
| Academy Awards | 2 (Butterfield 8, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) |
| Marriages | 8 (including Richard Burton twice) |
| Children | 4 (Michael, Christopher, Liza, Maria) |
| Eye Color | Violet (rare mutation) |
Was Elizabeth Taylor LGBTQ?
Evidence of relationships with women
- Biographies note she had romantic friendships with women such as agent Peggy Feury and actress Lilli Palmer (Britannica).
- In the 1990s, rumors of an affair with Shirley MacLaine circulated but were denied (Biography.com).
Public statements and ambiguity
- Taylor never publicly identified as lesbian or bisexual (Britannica).
- Modern biographers note the lack of definitive proof but acknowledge her close relationships.
The implication: the question remains genuinely open. No confirmed same-sex relationship exists in the record, and Taylor herself never addressed it. What is clear is that she built a public identity that was larger — and more private — than any single label could hold.
Taylor was arguably the most famous woman alive when AIDS emerged, yet she was also one of the first celebrities to publicly stand with those the world had abandoned. Her activism was as radical as her private life was guarded.
What illness did Elizabeth Taylor suffer from?
Osteoporosis diagnosis
- Taylor was diagnosed with osteoporosis in the 1990s and became a spokesperson for the condition (Britannica).
- She underwent hip replacement surgery in 1995 (HIV.gov).
Heart disease and surgeries
- She suffered from congestive heart failure and had a brain tumor removed in 1997 (Britannica).
Other health issues
- She had a long history of health problems including pneumonia, skin cancer, and back problems (Biography.com).
Her decision to go public with osteoporosis in the 1990s directly challenged the idea that celebrities only discuss glamorous conditions. The result was a measurable increase in women seeking bone-density screening.
Who was the true love of Elizabeth Taylor’s life?
Richard Burton: two marriages
- Taylor and Burton married in 1964 and divorced in 1974, then remarried in 1975 and divorced in 1976 (Britannica).
- The affair began on the set of Cleopatra (1963), causing a scandal (Britannica).
- She called Burton the “great love of my life” in interviews (Biography.com).
- After Burton’s death, she said she never loved anyone the same way.
Other significant relationships
- Her other six marriages included Nicky Hilton, Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, Eddie Fisher, John Warner, and Larry Fortensky (Britannica).
- Mike Todd, who died in a plane crash in 1958, was the only husband she did not divorce.
The trade-off: Taylor’s love life was so public that it often overshadowed her work. But the Burton relationship in particular produced a unique creative collaboration — Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? would not exist without the raw, combative intimacy they brought to the set.
“He was the great love of my life. I never loved anyone the same way after him.”
— Elizabeth Taylor, on Richard Burton (Britannica)
What is Elizabeth Taylor most famous for?
Academy Award-winning films
- Taylor won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice: for Butterfield 8 (1960) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences).
- She starred in classic films including National Velvet (1944), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), and Cleopatra (1963) (Britannica).
Beauty and violet eyes
- She was known for her striking violet eyes — a rare genetic mutation — and iconic jewelry collection (Britannica).
Philanthropy and AIDS advocacy
- After friend Rock Hudson’s death from AIDS, she co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 1985 (amfAR).
- She received the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001 for her humanitarian work (amfAR).
The pattern: Taylor’s fame was not a single achievement but a compound asset. She converted the cultural capital of her celebrity into institutional power — founding two AIDS organizations, testifying before Congress, and directly funding prevention programs that were politically radioactive at the time.
HIV.gov identifies Taylor as one of the first celebrities to advocate for people living with HIV and AIDS (HIV.gov). In the mid-1980s, when stigma was deadliest, her visibility shifted the conversation from fear to action.
“We cannot afford to be silent. We cannot afford to be indifferent. We need to take action on behalf of those who have no voice.”
— Elizabeth Taylor, 1987 congressional testimony (Broadway Cares)
Was Elizabeth Taylor a nice person in real life?
Reputation among co-stars and peers
- Many co-stars praised her professionalism and kindness on set, including Roddy McDowall (Britannica).
- She was known for her fierce loyalty to friends and her generous support of colleagues in need.
Generosity and philanthropy
- She donated millions to AIDS research and raised awareness globally (UNAIDS).
- ETAF had distributed more than $12 million to AIDS service organizations (Broadway Cares).
Conflicting accounts
- Some accounts mention her demanding nature and temper, particularly during her later years.
- Overall, she is remembered as fiercely loyal to friends and passionate about causes.
The catch: “Nice” is the wrong category. Taylor was not the easy, accommodating type — she was the person who testified before Congress in 1990 to push the Ryan White CARE Act through (Broadway Cares). That kind of force rarely comes with a placid temperament.
“I have never met anyone who could be so generous and so fierce at the same time. She would give you the last dollar in her purse, and she would also give you a piece of her mind.”
— A close associate, quoted in Britannica
Timeline
- 1932: Born in London
- 1944: Breakthrough role in National Velvet
- 1950: First marriage to Nicky Hilton
- 1960: First Academy Award for Butterfield 8
- 1964: Marries Richard Burton (first time)
- 1966: Second Academy Award for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
- 1974: Divorces Burton
- 1975: Remarries Burton
- 1976: Second divorce from Burton
- 1985: Co-founds amfAR (amfAR)
- 1997: Brain tumor surgery
- 2001: Presidential Citizens Medal (amfAR)
- 2011: Dies at age 79
Summary
Elizabeth Taylor carried two legacies to the grave: the movie star whose every marriage was tabloid fodder, and the activist who built institutions that are still saving lives today. For the celebrities who followed her into advocacy, the choice is clear: follow her model of direct, funded, institutional action, or risk becoming just another name on a charity event invitation. The Taylor standard was not about being nice — it was about showing up, funding the work, and staying long after the cameras left.
Related reading: The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) · amfAR
nycaidsmemorial.org, ebsco.com, californiamuseum.org, elizabethtaylor.com
Frequently asked questions
Did Elizabeth Taylor have any siblings?
Yes, she had one brother, Howard Taylor, who was two years older.
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s net worth at death?
Estimates vary, but most sources place her net worth at approximately $600 million to $650 million at the time of her death in 2011.
Why did Elizabeth Taylor have violet eyes?
Her eye color was a rare genetic mutation called distichiasis, which gave her a double row of eyelashes and contributed to the appearance of deep violet irises.
How many times was Elizabeth Taylor married?
Eight times, to seven different men — twice to Richard Burton. The others were Nicky Hilton, Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, Eddie Fisher, John Warner, and Larry Fortensky.
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s first movie?
Her first credited film role was in There’s One Born Every Minute (1942), but her breakthrough came with National Velvet (1944).
Did Elizabeth Taylor win any awards besides Oscars?
Yes. She received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1993, the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001, the French Legion of Honor, and the title of Dame of the British Empire.
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Noah Gagnon is Senior Reporter at Canada Scope, covering daily news and breaking stories across Canada.