Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor, whose violet eyes, tumultuous love life and passion for diamonds epitomised Hollywood glamour, died today at age 79.
The star of Cleopatra and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles surrounded by family after a long battle with congestive heart failure that sent her to the hospital six weeks ago.
In a career spanning seven decades, Taylor first gained fame in 1944’s National Velvet at age 12 and was nominated for five Oscars. She won the best actress award for BUtterfield 8 (1960) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) with actor Richard Burton, whom she would marry twice.
Taylor’s eight marriages, health problems, prescription drug addiction and ballooning weight often overshadowed her career, but she overcame adversity and used her fame to advocate for causes such as AIDS education and research.
Taylor is rumored to be buried in a plot next to her parents at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery. Among those who are buried or interred there -Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Truman Capote,Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin and Walter Matthau. NOTE: She actually ended up at Forest Lawn Memorial near her long-time friend Michael Jackson.
