Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, a legendary actress, was considered one of the last major stars to emerge from the old Hollywood studio system. Born on February 27, 1932, in London, England, she was an American citizen through her parents, Francis Taylor and Sara Taylor, who were art dealers from St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents had moved to London before her birth, and Elizabeth lived there until the age of seven, when the family relocated to Los Angeles due to the impending war in Europe.
Elizabeth's entry into the film industry began with a screen test, which impressed executives at Universal Pictures, leading to a contract with the studio. Her early films included "There's One Born Every Minute" (1942),"Lassie Come Home" (1943),and "National Velvet" (1944),which catapulted her to stardom. She soon became a top child star at MGM, starring in films like "Life with Father" (1947),"Little Women" (1949),and "A Place in the Sun" (1951).
Throughout the 1950s, Elizabeth continued to appear in numerous films, including "Ivanhoe" (1952),"Beau Brummell" (1954),"The Last Time I Saw Paris" (1954),"Giant" (1956),and "Raintree County" (1957). Her performances earned her two Academy Award nominations, for her roles in "Raintree County" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958).
In the 1960s, Elizabeth continued to star in films like "Suddenly, Last Summer" (1959),"BUtterfield 8" (1960),"Cleopatra" (1963),"The V.I.P.s" (1963),and "The Sandpiper" (1965). Her performance in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966) earned her a second Academy Award, and she continued to star in films like "The Taming of The Shrew" (1967) and "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967).
Despite her continued success in the 1970s, Elizabeth's film career began to decline, and she appeared in fewer films. She continued to work in television and made occasional film appearances, including "A Little Night Music" (1977) and "Winter Kills" (1979).
Elizabeth Taylor was a devoted philanthropist, particularly in the area of AIDS research and awareness. She was a long-time supporter of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and served as its chairperson from 1993 until her death.
