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Actor Richard Burton was born in Wales in 1925. The famous celebrity died in 1984 at the age of 58. Burton’s birth name was Richard Jenkins, but he made his stage name Richard Burton to honor the man who adopted him and encouraged him to become an actor.

Richard Burton | Evening Standard/Getty Images Richard Burton was taken in by a man named Philip Burton

After Burton’s mother died, he was taken in by his older sister Cecelia and her husband. While in school and training as a cadet with the Royal Air Force, Richard Burton met Philip Burton.

Philip Burton was impressed with Richard Burton’s promising talent and began tutoring him and helping him with theatre. He attempted to officially adopt Richard Burton, but was unable too because of the actor’s age.

Instead, Philip Burton became his official legal guardian and changed the actor’s name to Richard Burton.

Actors Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor are considered to be one of Hollywood’s most timeless love stories. The iconic celebrity couple made multiple movies together and were married twice; they divorced for good in 1976. After Burton died in 1984, he did not leave any money to Taylor.

Richard Burton | Evening Standard/Getty Images Richard Burton left most of his money to his fourth wife

Throughout his lifetime, Burton was married four times. He was married to actor Sybil Christopher from 1949 until 1963.

Burton married Taylor for the first time in 1964 and divorced in 1974. The two married for a second time in 1975 until they divorced again in 1976.

In 1976, Burton married Suzy Miller. They divorced in 1982. He married his fourth wife Sally Hay in 1983, and they were married until Burton’s death in 1984.

According to the Associated Press, Burton “left the bulk of his 2.7 million estate to his fourth wife and nothing to Elizabeth Taylor.

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Los Feliz gastropub Messhall Kitchen has a new (and Hollywood-approved) item on its menu this November: a film festival.

It’s one that couldn’t happen anywhere else. The fest features eight short films, all of which were produced and filmed entirely at Messhall over an eight week period, accomplished by talent that is either on staff or frequently seated at restaurant tables.

Messhall server Jon Bangle and bartender Andrew Pack, both creative multi-hyphenates in their own right, conceived of the fest after surveying the scene and noting the potential of its talent pool. Their plan was met with overwhelming interest and they were able to produce the shorts (seven comedies and one drama) over an eight-week period by leaning into overnight shoots when Messhall was closed. Add to that small crews and no budgets, which seems like an insurmountable task but impossible...

The Directors Guild of America announced its new Women’s Steering Committee Squad Mentorship Program along with its first class of mentees. In the program, 10 mid-career directors are each paired with filmmakers that are well established in the field.

The Wsc Squad will last for six months. Mentors will not only discuss craft and artistic opportunities with their mentees, but will also provide guidance on the unique challenges involved with navigating the film industry as women. A second round of the Wsc Squad will begin in Jan. 2022.

“We started this program because the need for mentorship and community never goes away, even when you are working at very high levels in the industry. Women-identifying directors deal with particular situations and it was our goal to forge a sort of sisterhood of mid-career directors,” said Amber Sealey, co-chair of the program. “We purposely paired them with mentors who can offer advice...

Twenty-one DGA members have graduated from the guild’s 2021 TV Mentorship Program, which pairs seasoned episodic television directors with members seeking to develop TV directing careers. Read the names below.

The program, which is part of the DGA’s diversity and inclusion initiative, pairs early-career directors (protégés) with veteran TV directors (mentors) who serve as their professional guides to the working world of episodic television.

“Today we shine a light on our graduating class for their talent, commitment and hard work – and extend our heartfelt gratitude to this exceptional group of accomplished mentors who dedicated so much of their time to teach, to listen, and to set their protégés up for success,” said DGA president Thomas Schlamme. “Seeking to build a career as an aspiring episodic television director in the middle of a pandemic couldn’t be more challenging, but every one of our graduates chose to take that time...

Thomas Schlamme was re-elected president of the Directors Guild of America by acclamation today by the delegates to the guild’s biennial convention. The Emmy-winning West Wing director was first elected in 2017.

“It is my honor to once again accept the position of President of the Directors Guild of America,” he said. “It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly. We’re in a time of immense change, and the next few years will be critical for the DGA and for our industry. I am focused and ready to lead us through our next negotiations, and to ensure that the creative and economic rights of directors and their teams are protected for years to come. And I am fortunate that serving alongside me is a dedicated, experienced team of fellow officers elected to represent our members.”

“It is my privilege and pleasure to nominate such a highly qualified candidate for president,...

Actor and musician Roger V. Burton died November 30 at his home in Santa Monica, Deadline has learned. He was 90.

At 11 years old, Burton established himself as a professional musician. He was a jazz trombonist in big bands and studio film soundtracks. After graduating from USC, he played with many musical icons including Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Johnny Ray, The Ink Spots, and many more. He was a regular on Ernst Gold studio recordings for films, as well as The Hoagy Carmichael Show on NBC.

In addition to music, Burton was invited to pursue graduate studies in the field of psychology, and given a full scholarship to Harvard University. Burton became a developmental psychology researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, with a specialty in the development of morality. He would also go on to become a full professor at Suny Buffalo in Moral Development and Childhood Social Development.

Updated with semifinalists, 10:15 Am: Sony Pictures Television has announced the 15 semifinalists in its 2018 Diverse Directors Program. The shortlisted folks for fifth annual initiative are Amir Farhang, Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul, Darien Sills-Evans, James Sims, Jeannette Godoy, Kim Nguyen, Leena Pendharkar, Lynda Reiss, Maria Burton, Mel Rodriguez III, Nora Kirkpatrick, Ryan Richmond, Stephanie Martin, Tiffanie Hsu and X. Dean Lim.

Previous Exclusive, June 18: Sony Pictures Television has begun accepting applications for its fifth annual Diverse Directors Program, aimed at providing opportunities to talented artists of diverse backgrounds.

Fifteen semi-finalists will participate in the Diverse Directors Program’s episodic directing workshop consisting of six evenings of discussion and instruction from working directors, production personnel and entertainment professionals. About five finalists will then be chosen to work closely with established TV directors on episodes of hour and half-hour scripted Spt series. Last year’s program finalists worked on such shows as The Blacklist,...

Disney|ABC Television has revealed the list of 15 people selected to participate in its 2018-20 directing program. The two-year professional program aims to connect experienced helmers on the cusp of transitioning into episodic directing with their first broadcast or cable assignments.

This newly named group includes indie film directors Maria Burton (A Sort of Homecoming), Pablo Gomez-Castro (El Alquiler), Stephanie Martin (Wild Horses) and Marshall Tyler (Night Shift); TV movie director Princess Monique (Seasons of Love); brand director and entrepreneur Ryan Brown (The Rough Part); feature screenwriter Michelle Steffes (The Interview); indie film/commercial directors Alonso Mayo (Fixed) and Phillip Rhys (The Scarecrow); digital writer-directors Cynthia Kao (Groundhog Day for a Black Man) and Marvin Lemus (Gente-fied: The Digital Series); commercial/streaming writer-director Dinh Thai (Monday); Broadway producer-director and indie film director Coy Middlebrook (For Spacious Sky); actor-director and law enforcement professional Jeremy Earl (Constance Murphy); and music video and...

’We strongly believe that the future is female and Project Her is a platform to make women’s voices heard.’

Condé Nast Entertainment (Cne) and Indigenous Media have released six short films by female filmmakers under the auspices of the digital video incubator series Project Her.

Rodrigo Garcia (In Treatment), Lesli Linka Glatter (Homeland), Kasi Lemmons (Eves Bayou), Betty Thomas (Private Parts), and Sarah Treem (The Affair) served as mentors.

The Project Her selections are: 1930s-set mystery drama Beauty; supernatural thriller Black Night (pictured) by Jordan Trippeer; relationship drama Good Eggs by Maria Burton; prison drama The Row by Philiane Phang...

Five helmers are set to participate in the 2017-18 CBS Directors Initiative. Jennifer Derwingson, Paige Morrow Kimball, A. Laura James, Maria Burton and Kevin Berlandi will take part in the program, which gives experienced directors access to showrunners, executives, managers and agents and allow the opportunity to shadow CBS Television Network and CBS Television Studio shows throughout the year. In its 14th year, the program helps directors develop strategic objectives…...

During her life in the spotlight, Elizabeth Taylor was quadruple threat: a world-renowned actress, businesswoman, activist and a beauty and fashion icon. But with three children, the star’s role as a mother was the most sacred. Taylor once said about her children, “They make me the proudest of anything that I’ve ever done.”

And now, six years after her death, we’re getting an intimate look at Elizabeth Taylor the mom role with rarely before seen photos of the actress and her kids in the video above.

The short film, which was created by the Elizabeth Taylor Trust...

The indie romantic comedy “inspired” by George Clooney has filled out its cast as filming begins. Tate Donovan, Kristen Johnson and Rosanna Arquette have joined the ensemble of For the Love of George led by Nadia Jordan, who also co-scripted with Hayley Nolan. Director Maria Burton’s film follows the plight of a jilted British wife (Jordan) who comes to Los Angeles after discovering her husband cheating on her, with the fantasy of meeting her ultimate dream man…...

“Divergent” actor Parker Mack is set to star alongside Disney Channel veterans Laura Marano and Katherine McNamara in the indie movie “A Sort of Homecoming,” TheWrap has learned. Maria Burton is directing from a script by Lynn Reed, who is producing with Marcus Brown, Yvette Brown and Sean Rankin. Also Read: ‘Divergent’ Stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James Unveil New Trailer on Kimmel (Video) Story follows a Amy Harrigan, a news producer who is successful but withdrawn as a result of problems stemming from a national debate tournament in high school. Marano will play Amy as a teenager. Mack will play heartbreaker Nick Stevenson,...

Everest

Clive Standen ("Robin Hood," "Vikings") has joined the cast of Baltasar Kormakur's "Everest" at Working Title and Universal.

The action-adventure drama deals with the 1996 multi-expedition assault on Everest that left eight climbers dead. Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Jason Clarke and Jake Gyllenhaal also star. [Source: Variety]

A Sort of Homecoming

Parker Mack ("Divergent") will join Laura Marano and Katherine McNamara in Maria Burton's indie movie "A Sort of Homecoming". The story follows a news producer still wrestling with problems stemming from a national debate tournament in high school.

Flashing back to her teenage years, Mack plays a star debater who teams up with her at debate camp before the two end up competing for a national championship. [Source: The Wrap]

Midnight Rider: The Gregg Allman Story

Chad Lindberg ("The Fast and The Furious," "Supernatural") has been cast in Randall Miller and Jody Savin's music biopic "Midnight Rider: The Gregg Allman Story" for Open Road Films.

• Meg Ryan will make her directorial debut with Ithaca, an adaptation of William Saroyan’s novel The Human Comedy, which frequent co-star Tom Hanks will executive-produce. The story follows the teenage Homer Macauley, left at home in Ithaca, Calif., to care for his mother, sister, and little brother, Ulysses, while his older brother fights in World War II. Ryan will also star in the film opposite Melanie Griffith, Sam Shepard, and Jack Quaid (Ryan’s 21-year-old son, who played Marvel in The Hunger Games). Clarence Brown directed a version of the story in a 1943 film starring Mickey Rooney. [THR]

• Forest Whitaker...

Los Angeles, Jan 30: Actress Laura Marano has been roped in as the lead for upcoming comedy movie "A Sort of Homecoming".

"A Sort of Homecoming" follows the story of a news producer who is successful, but withdrawn, as a result of problems that ensue during a high school national debate tournament. The 18-year-old will portray the teenage version, reports variety.com.

It will be directed by Maria Burton and co-produced by Marcus Brown, Lynn Reed and Yvette Brown.

Ians...

Elizabeth Taylor would have turned 81 today.

And in honor of her birthday, we're taking a look back at the legendary star's timeless beauty, from 1944 until her death in 2011.

Through her acting, charity work and fashion, Taylor touched the lives of many, starring in some of the most iconic films while championing HIV and AIDS programs, as well as humanitarian efforts. And the violet-eyed beauty still managed to look stunning through it all, flaunting her untouched style and luxurious diamonds for all to see.

Appearing in her first motion picture at the age of nine, Taylor eventually catapulted into success, nabbing Oscar-nominated roles in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Suddenly, Last Summer" before finally winning an Academy Award for "Butterfield8" in 1960. She was awarded her second Oscar for her performance in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in 1966.

Her last theatrical film was 1994's "The Flintstones."

But let's not forget,...

Sir Elton John paid tribute to Dame Elizabeth Taylor at a private memorial yesterday (16.10.11). Close friends and family of the Hollywood legend - who died of congestive heart failure in March aged 79 - gathered at the Steven J. Ross Theatre on the Warner Brothers lot in Burbank, California, for a 70-minute service, which was hosted by her friend Colin Farrell. Speaking to the assembled guests - which included Sir Michael Caine, the actress' children Michael and Christopher Wilding, Liza Tivey and Maria Burton, and stepdaughter Kate Burton - Elton said: 'To say that the world got smaller, emptier, darker and...

Close friends and family of the late Elizabeth Taylor gathered Sunday afternoon to remember the beloved Hollywood legend during a private memorial on the Warner Brothers lot in Burbank, People has learned. With Taylor's good friend Colin Farrell hosting the 75-minute celebration in the lot's Steven J. Ross Theater, the tribute was attended by Taylor's children Michael and Christopher Wilding, Liza Tivey and Maria Burton, as well as close friends Michael Caine, stepdaughter Kate Burton and Sir Elton John, who sang a stirring rendition of "Blue Eyes" to close the program. "To say that the world got smaller, emptier, darker...

A number of AIDS charities are expected to benefit from Elizabeth Taylor's death. The Hollywood star passed away from congestive heart failure at the age of 79 on Wednesday, March 23, and although the details of her will have not yet been made public, a number of charities including the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and amfAR are set to receive proceeds from the sale of her jewelery.

Christie's auction house in London will oversee the sale of $240 million worth of the "Cleopatra" star's jewel collection, including a Cartier necklace from husband Mike Todd and the famous 69.42-carat pear-shaped Burton-Taylor diamond which cost former husband Richard Burton over $1 million in 1969, with the money set to be shared among the two charities.

Elizabeth raised $270 million for her AIDS Foundation during her lifetime after taking up the cause when her close friend Rock Hudson died from the illness in 1985. The savvy actress amassed the...

Now that Elizabeth Taylor has passed, the focus falls on her fortune and the man who Taylor relied on during her final years, Jason Winters. He may be one of the heirs to her fortune -- estimated at over $600 million -- which Winters will reportedly administer via a trust with her AIDS foundation, reports the Daily Mail.

Winters, who owns a talent agency, met Taylor in the late '90s via her AIDS charitable work,...

Glendale, Calif. -- Elizabeth Taylor's family mourned the screen legend in a brief private funeral service Thursday at a Southern California cemetery famous for being the final resting place of Hollywood celebrities, including her good friend Michael Jackson.

Inside the sprawling Forest Lawn Cemetery, barricades blocked access to the funeral, where about four dozen family members mourned the actress during a service that lasted about an hour, said Glendale police spokesman Tom Lorenz. Five black stretch limousines transported Taylor's family to and from the funeral, but no procession was held.

The service began 15 minutes after its announced start time in observance of Taylor's parting wish that her funeral start late, her publicist Sally Morrison said.

Taylor had left instructions asking for the tardy start and had requested that someone announce, "She even wanted to be late for her own funeral," Morrison said.

Taylor died early Wednesday of congestive heart...

Service attended by friends and family comes day after death, in keeping with Jewish faith

Elizabeth Taylor has been buried at a cemetery in Los Angeles favoured by film stars and other celebrities, including her friend Michael Jackson.

The service came a day after her death, in keeping with the Jewish faith to which she converted in her 20s. It was attended only by about 40 friends and members of her family. A public memorial service is planned for a later date.

Taylor, who was married eight times, had four children, who were all at the funeral: daughters Maria Burton-Carson and Liza Todd-Tivey and sons Christopher and Michael Wilding.

Sergeant Tom Lorenz, a police spokesman, said Taylor was placed in the great mausoleum in Forest Lawn memorial park but in a different wing from Jackson.

"There's nowhere in the world where more famous people are laid to rest," Lorenz was...

After a long and colorful life, Elizabeth Taylor arrived at her final resting place Thursday. The Hollywood legend, who died Wednesday at the age of 79, was remembered with a small, private funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale Calif., where her family gathered on Thursday afternoon. Just after 2 p.m., five black stretch limousines pulled up to the mausoleum where Taylor was placed, according to a source. Taylor's longtime friend, Michael Jackson, was also laid to rest at Forest Lawn. The service was exclusively for Taylor's family, including her 10 grandchildren, another source tells People. Photos: Elizabeth Taylor: Hollywood's QueenTaylor,...

Elizabeth Taylor, who converted to Judaism for her marriages to Mike Todd and Eddie Fisher, is following the rules of the religion by being buried soon after her death Wednesday. The funeral for the star, who succumbed to congestive heart failure at age 79, is taking place at Forest Lawn, Glendale, on Thursday, say reports. It will be strictly for family members, including her 10 grandchildren. The cemetery is also where Taylor's friend, Michael Jackson, is buried. It is expected that a public memorial for Taylor will take place at a later date. Taylor had four children: Michael and Christopher Wilding...

Elizabeth Taylor found getting old "really s**t". The actress, who died of congestive heart failure on Wednesday, March 23 at the age of 79, was in a lot of pain towards the end of her life, but did her best to "hang in there", says her friend Debbie Reynolds.

Recalling their final conversation a few weeks ago, Debbie, whose husband George Fisher left her for Elizabeth in 1957, told Access Hollywood, "I said, 'Getting old is really s**t. And she said, 'It certainly is. It certainly is, Debbie. This is really tough.' I said, 'Well, you just hang in there now, Elizabeth.' And she said, 'I'm really trying.' "

Though Debbie, 78, is sad her friend, who she has known since they were both 17, has passed away, she thinks her death was a "blessing in disguise" because she was in so much pain. She said, "God bless her, she's on to a better place.

The movie queen, one of the world’s most famous and beautiful women, was battling congestive heart failure. She died in La, surrounded by her four children from her eight marriages.

Elizabeth Taylor, the mega-star who had survived so many health problems, died today at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in La. Still, her passing came as a bit of a shock– her heart condition had appeared to stabilize in recent weeks and loved ones hoped she might have been heading back home soon!

Elizabeth, 79, a two-time Oscar-winner who made dozens of major movies, was probably even more famous for her violet-eyed beauty, her voluptuous form and her eight stormy marriages — including two go-rounds with the man who seemed to be the true love of her life, actor Richard Burton.

In her later years, Liz promoted her own jewelry and fragrance lines — including the popular Passion and White Diamonds scent — and became a...

Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor, one of the greatest beauties to ever grace the big screen, and one of the most benevolent, died of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles Wednesday. She turned 79 on Feb. 27th while in the hospital.

Her son, Michael Wilding, released this statement: "My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love. Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held...

Sad news comes out of Hollywood today. Elizabeth Taylor a screen legend and icon died early this morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where she had been being treated for congestive heart failure for approximately six weeks was the statement issued by publicist Sally Morrison. Elizabeth Taylor was 79.

Remembering Elizabeth Taylor 1932 - 2011

As infamous off screen as she was famous on screen, this film legend won two Oscars for the films Butterfield 8 and Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf? She gave ground breaking performances in films like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Suddenly, Last Summer. She also won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Oscar for her humanitarian efforts. She was the epitome of the classic old Hollywood movie star and her loss signals the true end of an era.

Elizabeth Taylor was one of the last classic Hollywood era movie stars.

Her career spanned a phenomenal...

Hollywood icon Dame Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79.

The actress, who was suffering from congestive heart failure, passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in the early hours of Wednesday morning with her children by her side. Taylor's death comes six weeks after she was hospitalised because of her ill health.

Her son Michael Wilding confirmed the sad news and paid tribute to his late mother in a statement, which reads, "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."

A statement from Taylor's representative reads, "Legendary actress, businesswoman, and fearless activist Elizabeth Taylor died peacefully today in Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. She was surrounded by her children... The actress had been hospitalised six weeks ago with congestive heart failure, a condition with which she had struggled for some years. Though she had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilised and it was hoped that she would be able to return home. Sadly, this was not to be."

A private funeral will be held later this week (beg21Mar11) and the family has asked for donations to be made to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Born in Hampstead, north London on 27 February 1932, Taylor was the second child to Francis Lenn Taylor and Sara Viola Warmbrodt, who were Americans residing in England.

She appeared in her first motion picture at the age of nine for Universal Studios before later signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring in 1943's Lassie Come Home, but it was her role in 1944's National Velvet that skyrocketed her to stardom at the tender age of 12.

Taylor went on to carve out a hugely successful Hollywood career, with her most famous roles including turns in Cleopatra and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She picked up a long list of accolades for her performances over the years including two Academy Awards for Best Actress, for Butterfield 8 (1960) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), and four Golden Globes, while she was declared a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1999.

But despite her stellar success, Taylor was arguably more famous for her eight marriages.

Her first marriage to Conrad Hilton ended after just eight months in 1951. A year later she married Michael Wilding and the couple went on to have two sons. They divorced in 1957 and just days later she wed theatre producer Michael Todd - the father of her daughter Liza - but he died in 1958 when his private jet, named Lucky Liz, crashed in New Mexico.

Fourteen months after Todd's death, Taylor married his best friend, actor Eddie Fisher and they went on to star together in her Oscar-winning movie Butterfield 8. The union came to an end in 1964 and just nine days after her divorce from Fisher was finalised, Taylor married Richard Burton for the first time.

They met while shooting 1963 epic Cleopatra in Italy and their onscreen romance quickly turned into an offscreen love affair.

Taylor's marriage to Burton crumbled and the couple divorced in 1974 after 10 years together, but they remarried in a secret ceremony in Africa 16 months later.

The actress admitted she had remarried Burton after an x-ray revealed spots on her lungs which she feared were cancerous. She said the anxious 12 hours of waiting for the prognosis, which turned out to be clear, convinced her to remarry her lover.

They divorced for a second time in 1976 and Taylor went on to wed John Warner later that year and Larry Fortensky in 1991. Both marriages ended in divorce.

Taylor is survived by four children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding and Liza Todd and adoptive daughter Maria Burton.

Elizabeth Taylor, the Hollywood icon who was synonymous with celebrity glamor, died today of congestive heart failure. She was 79.

Known for her roles in such classic movies as National Velvet, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and Butterfield 8, Taylor is possibly most famous for her portrayal of Cleopatra in the 1963 movie of the same name, and that of Katharina in 1967's The Taming of the Shrew — a movie she also produced.

Married often, twice to Richard Burton (whom she worked with on 11 movies), Taylor once famously said, "The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues."

The widely lauded, two-time Academy Award winning actress (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Butterfield 8) is survived by her brother Howard Taylor; her four children, Michael Wilding Jr., Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd Tivey, and Maria Burton Carson; and by nine grandchildren.

Elizabeth Taylor died this morning at the age of 79. Elizabeth Taylor died at 1:28 Am at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles ... where she had been hospitalized for the past couple of weeks. A private funeral will be held later this week. Taylor's publicist says she was "surrounded by her children -- Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton." Taylor's rep says the actress died "peacefully" from congestive heart failure , "a condition with...

Sorry to start the day off with some sad news, but I'm sure many of you have already heard that legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor has passed away from congestive heart failure earlier this morning. She was 79 years old.

The actress won two Oscars for her performances in Butterfield 8 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff? and was nominated for three others perviously, as well as another one for her humanitarian work. She also was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement award from AFI and a Cecille B. Demille award from the Hollywood Foreign Press. 

Taylor has been in a movie since 1994's The Flinstones, but she easily one of the last great classic beautiful actresses from the golden age of Hollywood. She started her career off at the age of 10 in There's One Born Every Minute in 1942 followed by roles in Lassie Come Home and National Velvet, the latter being her big breakout.

Elizabeth Taylor passed away early this morning at Cedar Sinai Hospital in La. She was 79 years old. According to her rep, she died "peacefully" around 1:30 Am of congestive heart failure and, "she was surrounded by her children – Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton." Her publicist went on to say, "Though [Taylor] had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilized and it was hoped that she would be able to return home. Sadly, this was not to be." Along with her sons and daughters, Elizabeth has 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Her family asks that in leiu of flowers, donations be made to her Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Bella is looking back at some of her iconic beauty moments and Tres her celebrity legacy as our thoughts are with her loved ones and everyone remembers the one-of-a-kind Hollywood legend.

Hollywood icon and Academy Award winner Elizabeth Taylor has died at age 79.

"She was surrounded by her children – Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton," Taylor's publicist, Sally Morrison, said in a statement. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Elizabeth was hospitalized in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. on Feb. 11 for congestive heart failure symptoms. "Though she had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilized and it was hoped that she would be able to return home. Sadly, this was not to be."

read more...

Hollywood icon and Academy Award winner Elizabeth Taylor has died at age 79.

"She was surrounded by her children – Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton," Taylor's publicist, Sally Morrison, said in a statement. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Elizabeth was hospitalized in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. on Feb. 11 for congestive heart failure symptoms. "Though she had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilized and it was hoped that she would be able to return home. Sadly, this was not to be."

read more...

Elizabeth Taylor, the grande dame of Hollywood, has passed away early Wednesday morning at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure. She was 79.

Surrounded by her children, Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton, Taylor closed her eyes and joined other classic Hollywood icons to live in cinema heaven.

In a statement to ABC News, her son, Michael, said: "My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, 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/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that...

Oscar winner was one of the screen's great beauties and object of tabloid fascination.

By Gil Kaufman

Elizabeth Taylor in 1957

Photo: Hulton Archive/ Getty Images

One of Hollywood's most legendary beauties, Elizabeth Taylor, died on Wednesday (March 23) at the age of 79 after spending two months in a Los Angeles hospital for treatment of congestive heart failure. One of the brightest stars in the history of the American movie business, Taylor starred in a string of hit movies in the 1950s and 60s, including "Giant," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Cleopatra," while becoming an international sex symbol and object of tabloid fascination for her string of love affairs with leading men.

Photos from the life and career of Elizabeth Taylor.

In addition to being a fashion icon, perfume mogul and movie legend, later in life Taylor also became one of the leading advocates for victims of AIDS, raising millions...

Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor died early this morning at the age of 79 of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. She was surrounded by her four children, Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton.

In a statement to ABC News her son Michael said the following: "My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, 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/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,...

Screen legend and social activist Elizabeth Taylor died early Wednesday morning, a rep for the actress announced. She was 79.

The actress died peacefully at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif. surrounded by her children Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton. In addition to her children, Taylor is survived by 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

She had been hospitalized six weeks ago with congestive heart failure, a condition with which she had struggled for some years. Though she had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilized and hoped existed that she would ...

Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor, the violet-eyed film goddess whose sultry screen life was often upstaged by her stormy personal life, died Wednesday at age 79.

She died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks, publicist Sally Morrison said.

"All her children were with her," Morrison said. Taylor had four children - Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton - and her son Michael released a statement to ABC News calling his mother's death "devastating."

"My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love," the statement read.

"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...

Two-time Academy Award winner Elizabeth Taylor died in La today at the age of 79, after being hospitalized for hospitalized for congestive heart failure in February. “She was surrounded by her children – Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton,” said a publicist. “My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love,” said Michael Wilding.

Though frail and frequently ill throughout her life (she famously almost died before winning her first Oscar for 1960′s Butterfield 8), Taylor wound up surviving five of her seven husbands (Conrad Hilton, Michael Wilding, Michael Todd, Eddie Fisher and Richard Burton). Along with her four children, she is survived by ten grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and ex-husbands Larry Fortensky and Sen. John Warner.

See photos from her amazing, almost unbelievable life in the gallery below.

[Photo: Getty Images]...

Elizabeth Taylor, the Hollywood icon and Oscar-winner who was practically born in the spotlight, died Wednesday morning. She was 79. "She was surrounded by her children - Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton," Taylor's publicist, Sally Morrison, said in a statement. In addition to her children, Taylor is survived by 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. On Feb. 11, it was announced that she had been in taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles earlier that week for symptoms caused by congestive heart failure, and around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, she "peacefully died there," according to her publicist. "Though...

Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79. The actress died of congestive heart failure in the early hours of this morning. Taylor's publicist Sally Morrison said in a statement: "She was surrounded by her children - Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton." Her son Michael added: "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." He continued: "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 (more)...

Legendary Hollywood actress and violet-eyed beauty Elizabeth Taylor, who captured hearts in "National Velvet" to launch a film career that spanned five decades, died on Wednesday aged 79.Taylor had been in Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai hospital for six weeks with congestive heart failure, a condition with which she had struggled for some years and had recently suffered complications, a family statement said."She was surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton," it said, noting that Taylor, who married eight times, was survived by 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren."My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love," Michael Wilding 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."Taylor won two Academy Awards for best actress,...

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. In Photos: Elizabeth Taylor Throughout the Years 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...

Screen legend and two-time Oscar winner Elizabeth Taylor, who commanded nearly as much attention for her tumultuous love life and work against HIV/AIDS as for her classic films, has died. She was 79. She died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks, publicist Sally Morrison told The Associated Press. See slideshow: Elizabeth Taylor, A Life in Pictures  "She was surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton," Morrison said in a statement to ABC News. In...

Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor has become a great-grandmother for a fourth time - but she missed the occasion because she was stuck in hospital with stomach problems. On June 10 the Cleopatra star's grand-daughter Eliza Carson, 21, gave birth to a huge baby boy, Christian - who weighed in at 11 pounds - at New York's ST. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center. Meanwhile, Taylor spent a good portion of the day in hospital for gastrointestinal problems. A source says, "Liz was ecstatic about being a great grandmother again. But she's dealing with new health problems. She wants to be well to help take care of the new baby." Newlywed Eliza is the child of Taylor's adopted daughter with Richard Burton, Maria Burton, and New York talent agent Steve Carson.