Acting legend dies of heart failure in hospital

By Daily Mail Reporter


Actress Dame Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79, her publicist confirmed in a statement today.

The star passed away from congestive heart failure in hospital last night having suffered from the condition since November 2004.

She was admitted to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles 'for monitoring' last month.

'Legendary actress, businessman, and fearless activist Elizabeth Taylor died peacefully today in Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

'She was surrounded by her children- Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton,' it added.

In addition to her children, she is survived by ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Son Michael Wilding, paid tribute to his mother. He said: 'We will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world.'

The actress's star burned brightly in the spotlight since finding fame in Hollywood at the age of 12.

She earned four Oscar nominations- for Raintree County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Suddenly, Last Summer - finally winning at her fourth attempt with film Butterfield 8.
Her second Oscar came in 1967 for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.

Dame Elizabeth turned 79 on February 27 but celebrated with her friends and family a month early as ten days later she was admitted to hospital to undergo surgery to repair a leaky heart valve.

Her last show: Elizabeth was snapped celebrating her 79th birthday a month early in January before she was admitted to hospital a few days after


The Hollywood veteran, who was born February 27th, in Hampstead north London, announced the news via social networking site Twitter.

She used the Twitter to relay news of her illness to supporters asking them to pray for her.

'I'll let you know when it is all over. Love you, Elizabeth,' was one of the final messaged tweeted.

Dame Elizabeth had struggled with her health for a number of years - and was more often not seen at events in a wheelchair.

She broke her back at least five times, had three bouts of pneumonia of which one, in 1961, required a tracheotomy, and another, in 1990, nearly killed her.

Enduring love: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor met during filming of 1963's Cleopatra - one of the most expensive films of all time


There were two hip-replacement operations and surgery to remove a benign golf ball-sized brain tumour, plus two stays at the Betty Ford clinic.

Dame Elizabeth managed to retain her sense of humour despite her health woes. In 1999, asked what she would like to see written on her gravestone, she replied: 'Here lies Elizabeth. She hated being called Liz. But she lived.'

The actress who was born in Hampstead, north London, was one of the last great Hollywood movie stars, and became famed not just her talent but her stunning beauty and chequered love life.

She married eight times to seven husbands - most notably - the late Welsh born actor Richard Burton who she married twice.


The warring couple, who met during filming of 1963's Cleopatra - one of the most expensive films of all time - made 12 films together.

As well as her film career, Dame Elizabeth is also known for her pioneering work for AIDS charities. She became a committed activist after close friend Rock Hudson died in 1985. At the time little was known about the disease.

Elton John paid tribute to fellow activist: 'We have just lost a Hollywood giant; more importantly, we have lost an incredible human being.'

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Sourse:dailymail