Elizabeth Taylor, a British-American actress, started as a child star in the 1940s and rose to prominence during Hollywood's golden age in the 1950s. By the 1960s, she became the highest-paid movie star globally, maintaining her celebrity status throughout her life. The American Film Institute recognized her legacy by ranking her among the greatest female screen legends.
In 1929, Elizabeth Taylor's parents moved to London and opened an art gallery on Bond Street.
In February 1932, Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born in London, England, receiving dual British-American citizenship at birth.
On February 27, 1932, Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born in London, England. She later became a famous actress.
In April 1939, Elizabeth Taylor and her mother and brother left for the United States due to fears of war in Europe.
In 1939, Elizabeth Taylor and her family moved from London to Los Angeles, marking a significant change in her life.
In early 1940, Elizabeth Taylor's father opened a new art gallery in Los Angeles.
In April 1941, Elizabeth Taylor began her contract with Universal, marking the beginning of her formal career.
In early 1941, Elizabeth Taylor auditioned for Universal Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Universal offered her a contract.
In 1942, Elizabeth Taylor debuted in "There's One Born Every Minute", but her contract was terminated due to her appearance.
In 1942, Elizabeth Taylor made her acting debut with a minor role in "There's One Born Every Minute", although her contract was later terminated.
In late 1942, Elizabeth Taylor auditioned for a minor role in "Lassie Come Home", marking another opportunity.
In January 1943, after a trial period, Elizabeth Taylor was given a seven-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
In 1944, Elizabeth Taylor appeared in minor uncredited roles in films like "The White Cliffs of Dover".
In 1944, Elizabeth Taylor became a popular teen star after appearing in "National Velvet", a significant role in her early career.
In 1948, MGM arranged for Elizabeth Taylor to date American football champion Glenn Davis, and she announced plans to marry him once he returned from Korea. This was part of MGM's strategy to manage her image, reflecting her eagerness to marry young due to her puritanical upbringing.
On May 6, 1950, Elizabeth Taylor, at the age of 18, married Conrad "Nicky" Hilton Jr. in a large, MGM-organized wedding that became a major media event. The wedding took place at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills.
On December 14, 1950, Elizabeth Taylor announced her separation from Nicky Hilton Jr., realizing she had made a mistake due to their incompatibility and his abusive behavior.
In 1950, Elizabeth Taylor transitioned to mature roles, starring in the comedy "Father of the Bride".
In January 1951, Elizabeth Taylor divorced Conrad Hilton after only eight months of marriage. This event caused a public scandal that negatively impacted her image.
In 1951, Elizabeth Taylor received critical acclaim for her performance in the drama "A Place in the Sun", marking a turning point in her career.
In 1951, Elizabeth Taylor wore a memorable white ball gown in A Place in the Sun, designed by Helen Rose. This costume is considered one of her most famous.
On February 21, 1952, Elizabeth Taylor married British actor Michael Wilding in a low-key ceremony in London. Wilding was 20 years her senior, and Taylor sought security and friendship from the relationship.
In 1952, Elizabeth Taylor starred in the historical adventure epic "Ivanhoe" with Robert Taylor and Joan Fontaine.
In 1952, Elizabeth Taylor starred in the romantic comedy "Love Is Better Than Ever", which was a reprimand for her divorce. She also participated in the historical epic "Ivanhoe" in Britain, disliking the role but experiencing commercial success as the movie earned $11 million worldwide.
In the summer of 1952, Elizabeth Taylor signed a new seven-year contract with MGM, influenced by her marriage to Michael Wilding and her pregnancy, needing financial support.
On January 6, 1953, Elizabeth Taylor gave birth to her son, Michael Howard, with her then-husband Michael Wilding.
In 1953, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "The Girl Who Had Everything", which was her last film under her old contract with MGM.
In early 1954, Elizabeth Taylor's first two films under her new contract, "Rhapsody" and "Elephant Walk", were released. In "Rhapsody", she played a woman in a love triangle. In "Elephant Walk", she replaced Vivien Leigh and played a British woman adapting to life in Ceylon.
In the fall of 1954, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "Beau Brummell", a film she disliked, and "The Last Time I Saw Paris", which convinced her that she wanted to be an actress.
On February 27, 1955, which was also Elizabeth Taylor's 23rd birthday, she gave birth to her son Christopher Edward with Michael Wilding.
On July 18, 1956, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Wilding announced their separation. The separation was due to their growing apart and issues related to Wilding's failing career.
In 1956, Elizabeth Taylor began receiving more enjoyable roles, beginning with the epic drama "Giant".
In June 1957, Mike Todd threw a large birthday party at Madison Square Garden with 18,000 guests that was broadcast on CBS. This event exemplified Todd's penchant for publicity stunts.
On August 6, 1957, Elizabeth Taylor gave birth to her daughter, Elizabeth "Liza" Frances, with her husband Mike Todd.
In 1957, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "Raintree County", a film she disliked, and received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
In March 1958, after completing two weeks of filming Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Elizabeth Taylor's husband, Mike Todd, was killed in a plane crash. She returned to work three weeks later.
In 1958, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", a film adaptation of a play by Tennessee Williams.
On May 12, 1959, Elizabeth Taylor married Eddie Fisher in Las Vegas. This marriage followed a scandalous affair that started after the death of her previous husband, Mike Todd.
In 1959, Elizabeth Taylor converted to Judaism. She stated it was a long-held desire and not influenced by her Jewish husbands.
In 1959, Elizabeth Taylor purchased $100,000 worth of Israeli bonds, leading to her films being banned in Arab countries.
In 1959, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "Suddenly, Last Summer", earning $500,000. She received her third Academy Award nomination and her first Golden Globe for Best Actress for her performance.
In 1959, Elizabeth Taylor won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her performance in "Suddenly, Last Summer".
In 1959, Elizabeth Taylor wore a green A-line dress in Suddenly Last Summer, designed by Helen Rose. This contributed to her status as a fashion icon.
In 1960, Elizabeth Taylor starred in BUtterfield 8. She hated the film, but won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.
In 1960, Elizabeth Taylor won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in "BUtterfield 8", despite disliking the role.
In 1960, Elizabeth Taylor wore a slip and a fur coat in BUtterfield 8, designed by Helen Rose, becoming a memorable and iconic fashion statement.
In March 1961, Elizabeth Taylor developed nearly fatal pneumonia during the filming of Cleopatra, requiring a tracheotomy.
In 1961, during the production of "Cleopatra", Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton began an extramarital affair, causing a significant scandal.
In July 1962, the filming of Cleopatra was finally completed in Rome, after multiple delays and changes in director and cast.
In 1963, "Cleopatra" became the biggest box-office success in the United States, but received mixed to negative reviews.
In 1963, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "Cleopatra", becoming the first movie star to be paid $1 million for a role. The film's production was marked by high costs, delays, and a scandal involving her affair with Richard Burton.
In 1963, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "The V.I.P.s" with Richard Burton.
In 1963, Elizabeth Taylor's look in Cleopatra started a trend for "cat-eye" makeup done with black eyeliner, influencing fashion trends of the time.
On March 5, 1964, Elizabeth Taylor was granted a divorce from Eddie Fisher in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, paving the way for her marriage to Richard Burton.
In 1964, Elizabeth Taylor married Richard Burton, continuing their relationship despite public disapproval.
In 1964, negotiations fell through for Elizabeth Taylor to headline "What a Way to Go!"
In 1965, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "The Sandpiper" with Richard Burton.
In 1966, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton performed Doctor Faustus in Oxford. Burton starred, and Taylor made her stage debut as Helen of Troy, a non-speaking role. While it received negative reviews, it was a significant event in their careers.
In 1966, Elizabeth Taylor received the best reviews of her career for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", winning her second Academy Award.
In 1966, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", receiving critical acclaim and her second Academy Award.
In 1967, Doctor Faustus film, featuring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, was released but was a critical and commercial failure. However, their next project, The Taming of the Shrew, was more successful. This was challenging for Taylor as she had no prior experience performing Shakespeare.
In 1967, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "The Taming of the Shrew" with Richard Burton.
In 1967, Elizabeth Taylor's film Reflections in a Golden Eye was released, marking her first film without Richard Burton since Cleopatra. The film, based on a novel by Carson McCullers, faced critical and commercial failure. Montgomery Clift was originally cast to co-star, but he died before filming began and was replaced by Marlon Brando.
In 1968, Elizabeth Taylor starred in two films directed by Joseph Losey: Boom! and Secret Ceremony. Both films were commercial and critical failures. Boom! features Taylor as an aging, serial-marrying millionaire, while Secret Ceremony is a psychological drama co-starring Mia Farrow and Robert Mitchum.
In 1968, Elizabeth Taylor's father, Francis Lenn Taylor, passed away. He was an art dealer.
In 1970, Elizabeth Taylor starred in The Only Game in Town, directed by George Stevens. In the film, Taylor played a Las Vegas showgirl involved with a compulsive gambler, played by Warren Beatty. However, the film was unsuccessful.
In 1972, Elizabeth Taylor acted in three films: X Y & Zee, Under Milk Wood, and Hammersmith Is Out. She won the David di Donatello award for X Y & Zee, received good reviews for Hammersmith Is Out, and won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival.
In 1973, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's last film together, Divorce His, Divorce Hers, was released. Additionally, her films Night Watch and Ash Wednesday were released. She received a Golden Globe nomination for Ash Wednesday, in which she plays a woman undergoing plastic surgery to save her marriage.
In June 1974, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton divorced for the first time. Their relationship had been highly publicized and marked by excess.
In 1974, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton divorced.
In 1974, Elizabeth Taylor's film The Driver's Seat, an adaptation of Muriel Spark's novel, was released but was a failure.
In October 1975, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton remarried in Kasane, Botswana, after having divorced the previous year.
In 1975, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton remarried, reconciling soon after their divorce.
In 1975, Elizabeth Taylor signed a letter protesting the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379, which she felt was unjust.
In July 1976, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton divorced for the second and final time. Their second marriage lasted less than a year.
In December 1976, Elizabeth Taylor married John Warner, a Republican politician from Virginia. She then focused on working for his electoral campaign.
In 1976, Elizabeth Taylor offered herself as a replacement hostage after more than 100 Israeli civilians were taken hostage in the Entebbe skyjacking.
In 1976, Elizabeth Taylor participated in the Soviet-American fantasy film The Blue Bird, which was a critical and commercial failure. She also had a small role in the television film Victory at Entebbe.
In 1976, Elizabeth Taylor's second marriage to Richard Burton ended in divorce.
In 1977, Elizabeth Taylor sang in the critically panned film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical A Little Night Music.
In 1980, Elizabeth Taylor starred in The Mirror Crack'd, adapted from an Agatha Christie novel. She also took on her first substantial stage role, playing Regina Giddens in a Broadway production of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes.
In May 1981, the production of The Little Foxes, starring Elizabeth Taylor, premiered and had a sold-out six-month run despite mixed reviews.
In November 1981, Elizabeth Taylor appeared as evil socialite Helena Cassadine in the day-time soap opera General Hospital.
In December 1981, Elizabeth Taylor and John Warner separated. Her life as a politician's wife in Washington, D.C. had become boring and lonely, leading to depression and addiction.
In 1981, Elizabeth Taylor narrated Genocide, an Academy Award-winning documentary about the Holocaust.
In November 1982, Elizabeth Taylor and John Warner divorced. This marked the end of her foray into the life of a politician's wife.
In 1982, Elizabeth Taylor began living at 700 Nimes Road in the Bel Air district of Los Angeles.
In December 1983, Elizabeth Taylor entered the Betty Ford Center for seven weeks to treat her addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs.
In early 1983, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starred in a revival of Noël Coward's comedy Private Lives, which received negative reviews. Following the play's run, Taylor entered rehab and Burton died the following year. After the failure of Private Lives, Taylor dissolved her theater company.
In January 1984, Elizabeth Taylor completed her seven-week stay at the Betty Ford Center, openly admitting herself to the clinic for addiction treatment.
In 1984, Elizabeth Taylor began her philanthropic efforts by helping to organize and hosting the first AIDS fundraiser to benefit the AIDS Project Los Angeles.
In 1984, Elizabeth Taylor made cameos in the soap operas Hotel and All My Children.
In August 1985, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Gottlieb founded the National AIDS Research Foundation after Rock Hudson's announcement that he was dying of AIDS.
In 1985, Elizabeth Taylor co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), marking her entry into HIV/AIDS activism.
In 1985, Elizabeth Taylor played a brothel keeper in the mini-series North and South and played Louella Parsons in Malice in Wonderland.
In 1986, Elizabeth Taylor starred in the drama There Must Be a Pony and received the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Chaplin Award.
In 1986, Elizabeth Taylor testified before the Senate and House for the Ryan White Care Act.
In 1987, Elizabeth Taylor launched her first perfume, Passion, in collaboration with Elizabeth Arden, Inc..
In 1987, Elizabeth Taylor persuaded President Ronald Reagan to acknowledge the disease for the first time in a speech.
In 1987, Elizabeth Taylor starred in the Western film Poker Alice.
In 1987, Elizabeth Taylor was made a Knight of the French Legion of Honour.
In 1988, Elizabeth Taylor met Larry Fortensky, who would become her seventh and final husband, at the Betty Ford Center where they were both receiving treatment.
In 1988, Elizabeth Taylor reunited with director Franco Zeffirelli to appear in his biopic Young Toscanini.
In 1989, Elizabeth Taylor had the last starring role of her career in a television adaptation of Sweet Bird of Youth, her fourth Tennessee Williams play.
In 1990, Elizabeth Taylor experienced a severe bout of pneumonia, which led her to quit smoking.
In 1990, Elizabeth Taylor testified before the Senate and House for the Ryan White Care Act.
On October 6, 1991, Elizabeth Taylor married Larry Fortensky at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch. The wedding garnered significant media attention, and Taylor sold the wedding pictures to People for $1 million to start her AIDS foundation.
In 1991, Elizabeth Taylor founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) to raise awareness and provide support services for people with HIV/AIDS, paying for its overhead costs herself.
In 1991, Elizabeth Taylor launched White Diamonds perfume in collaboration with Elizabeth Arden, Inc..
In 1992, Elizabeth Taylor had character roles in the animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers and The Simpsons.
In 1992, Elizabeth Taylor testified before the Senate and House for the Ryan White Care Act.
In 1993, Elizabeth Taylor continued her role in The Simpsons.
In 1993, Elizabeth Taylor received the AFI Life Achievement Award.
In 1993, Elizabeth Taylor received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
In 1994, Elizabeth Taylor's last theatrically released film, The Flintstones, was released. She played Pearl Slaghoople in a supporting role.
In 1994, Elizabeth Taylor's mother, Sara Sothern, passed away. She was a stage actress.
On February 26, 1996, Elizabeth Taylor made cameos in four CBS series - The Nanny, Can't Hurry Love, Murphy Brown, and High Society - to promote her new fragrance.
On October 31, 1996, Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky divorced, attributing the split to her health issues and his obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, they remained in contact for life.
After 1996, Elizabeth Taylor rarely attended public events due to declining health.
In 1997, Elizabeth Taylor received a Lifetime of Glamour Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
In 1997, Elizabeth Taylor received the Screen Actors Guild honorary award.
In 1997, Elizabeth Taylor received the Screen Actors' Guild Lifetime Achievement Award for Humanitarian service.
In 1997, Elizabeth Taylor underwent surgery for a benign brain tumor.
In 1999, Elizabeth Taylor received a BAFTA Fellowship.
In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Elizabeth Taylor as seventh on its list of the greatest female screen legends, recognizing her significant contributions to cinema.
In 2000, Elizabeth Taylor experienced another serious bout of pneumonia.
In 2000, Elizabeth Taylor received the GLAAD Vanguard Award.
In 2000, Elizabeth Taylor was appointed a Dame Commander in the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
In 2001, Elizabeth Taylor received the Presidential Citizens Medal for her dedication to philanthropy.
In 2001, after supporting roles in the television film These Old Broads and in the animated sitcom God, the Devil and Bob, Elizabeth Taylor announced her retirement from acting to devote her time to philanthropy.
In 2002, Elizabeth Taylor published "My Love Affair with Jewelry", a book about her extensive jewelry collection.
In 2002, Elizabeth Taylor received successful treatment for skin cancer.
In 2004, Elizabeth Taylor was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
In 2005, Elizabeth Taylor founded a jewelry company, House of Taylor, in collaboration with Kathy Ireland and Jack and Monty Abramov.
In 2007, Elizabeth Taylor gave her last public performance in the play Love Letters at an AIDS benefit at the Paramount Studios with James Earl Jones.
On February 7, 2011, one day before checking into the hospital for her final stay, Elizabeth Taylor had her last phone call with Larry Fortensky. He told her she would outlive him.
On March 23, 2011, Elizabeth Taylor passed away, marking the end of her life as a renowned actress.
In 2011, Elizabeth Taylor died from congestive heart failure at the age of 79, after many years of ill health.
In 2011, Elizabeth Taylor passed away, and Catherine Opie created a photographic study of Taylor's house.
In 2015, Taylor's business partner Kathy Ireland claimed that Taylor ran an illegal "underground network" that distributed medications to Americans suffering from HIV/AIDS during the 1980s.
In 2019, it was announced that Rachel Weisz would portray Elizabeth Taylor in "A Special Relationship", a film about Taylor's journey from actress to activist.
In 2020, Elizabeth Taylor's brother, Howard Taylor, passed away.
In December 2022, the first Elizabeth Taylor biography authorized by the estate, "Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit & Glamour of an Icon" by Kate Andersen Brower, was released.
In 1952, Elizabeth Taylor signed a new contract that included a weekly salary of $4,700, equivalent to $55,237 in 2024 dollars.
In 1963, Taylor was paid $500,000, equivalent to $5.14 million in 2024, to appear in a CBS television special, Elizabeth Taylor in London.
In 1965, The Sandpiper grossed a successful $14 million in the box office, equivalent to $140 million in 2024.
In 2024, it was announced that Kim Kardashian would executive produce and feature in a BBC docuseries about Elizabeth Taylor, titled "Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar".
In 2024, the equivalent value of the Doctor Faustus Box office in 1967 was 5.66 million dollars.