Renowned actress Elizabeth Taylor was among the final icons of classic Hollywood cinema, with a career that began in her youth.
She enjoyed an incredible career overall, lasting over sixty years. Taylor’s personal life was also highly publicized, as she was married eight times and had four children.
Taylor died in 2011, leaving behind a significant estate.
Her final husband, Larry Fortensky, shared new insights about their life together, as well as what she bequeathed to him in her will.
Elizabeth Taylor was born in London, England, on February 27, 1932. Her parents, both Americans, were residing there at the time of her birth. However, shortly after World War II began, Elizabeth and her family moved back to the United States to begin a new chapter in Los Angeles.
Elizabeth Taylor – early career
Both of Taylor’s parents were art dealers, although her mother had previously worked as an actress before getting married. Their artistic talents were inherited by Elizabeth, who began dancing at a very young age.
As a child, Elizabeth auditioned for a screen test and soon after signed a contract with Universal Studios.
At the age of 10, she made her Hollywood debut in the comedy film There’s One Born Every Minute (1942), which she followed with more prominent roles in Lassie Come Home (1943) and The White Cliffs of Dover (1944).
Later in 1944, Taylor achieved her major breakthrough role in National Velvet. The film was a tremendous success, with the then-12-year-old Elizabeth earning over $4 million.
However, reflecting on her childhood amidst the Hollywood limelight, Taylor acknowledged that it wasn’t all perfect. In a 1987 interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, when asked if her upbringing felt like being part of a “big extended family” at the studios, Taylor described it as quite the contrary.
“It felt more like a large extended factory; I regret to say. But if you enjoy being overwhelmed, I suppose it was a very efficient family. I was just nine when I started making my first films in Hollywood. I was used from the moment I was a child and exploited by the studio,” she remarked.
She remarked: “I was promoted for their financial gain. I never perceived them as a sanctuary. I’ve always been very much my own individual. My true family was my mother and father — not the damn studio.”
Went off on studio executive
In contrast to other child stars, Elizabeth Taylor mastered the art of maneuvering through Hollywood, ultimately evolving into a colossal movie star. However, her journey was not without challenges, and there was one specific event that remained etched in her memory.
“When I was 15, and Louis B. Mayer began yelling at my mother, using curse words I had never encountered before (‘I took you and your f*cking daughter out of the gutter’),” Taylor recounted.
“I blurted out my first curse word and told him he had no right to speak to my mother like that, and that he and the studio could both go to hell, and I was never returning to his office. I left my mother there with her eyes closed, and I believe she was somewhat praying.”
She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Butterfield 8 (1961) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1967), in addition to receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which honors individuals for “exceptional contributions to humanitarian efforts.”
Additionally, Taylor received four more nominations for an Academy Award – her iconic performance in the film Cleopatra (1963) will never be forgotten.
“I have never taken an acting lesson in my entire life. However, I believe I have learned from observing greats like Spencer Tracy, Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and Jimmy Dean — all of whom were exceptionally skilled and trained in the craft of acting,” Taylor shared with Rolling Stone in 1987.
“They served as my education. I realized early on that I couldn’t perform like a puppet — there was always something tugging at my strings too forcefully — and that my best performances came from being guided rather than coerced.”
Elizabeth Taylor – personal life
Despite her remarkable professional achievements, Taylor’s personal life was often labeled as “scandalous.”
She was married eight times to seven different men – including two marriages to Richard Burton – and she had four children: Michael Wilding Jr., Chris Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton.
Her final marriage was to Larry Fortensky, which took place in 1991. This union lasted for five years before they divorced in 1996.
The highly regarded actress reportedly faced significant struggles in her later years, dealing with injuries, scoliosis, and skin cancer. In total, she is believed to have undergone more than 30 surgeries.
In 2011, Taylor was hospitalized at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles due to congestive heart failure. She sadly passed away six weeks later, on March 23, 2011.
“My mother was an incredible woman who embraced life with enthusiasm, humor, and love … Her lasting impact on our world will always inspire us,” her son Michael expressed in a statement.
“I’m relieved that she’s free from her suffering, as she endured a great deal of pain,” actress Debbie Reynolds shared with Access Hollywood shortly after Taylor’s death.
New insights into her life beyond the limelight
Before her passing, Taylor enjoyed the company of her children and grandchildren at her Bel Air mansion in Los Angeles. Currently, she has ten grandchildren, many of whom are dedicated to preserving Taylor’s legacy.
Elizabeth Taylor was famous for her striking, beautiful violet eyes, a result of a rare genetic mutation. Just by glancing at her grandson, Quinn, it’s clear he inherited the same captivating blue gaze that his grandmother was celebrated for.
“I always knew her as grandma, but in her everyday life, she was still larger than life,” he reflected on growing up with Taylor, as reported by The Morning Show. “She was an incredible matriarch.”
As previously mentioned, Elizabeth Taylor led a life that was quite newsworthy. Recently, her last husband, Larry Fortensky, shared new information about her life away from the public eye.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, he stated, “enough is enough,” expressing his desire to reveal the truth rather than allow falsehoods to persist.
Fortensky and Taylor first crossed paths at the Betty Ford Clinic in 1988. According to Fortensky, she was “in there for pills,” while he was there for beer.
Fortensky, a 36-year-old construction worker, utilized his job’s medical insurance to admit himself to the Betty Ford Center.
At that moment, he recognized who she was, mentioning that she had a sweet and humorous personality.
“Naturally, she was quite beautiful, and I wasn’t too shabby myself back then. We felt an immediate physical chemistry,” Fortensky remarked.
Elizabeth Taylor’s marriage to her final husband.
The couple successfully completed rehab and continued their relationship. Then, in 1991, Fortensky and Elizabeth Taylor exchanged vows at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Singer Carole Bayer Sage served as her maid of honor, and it was reported that the wedding expenses were approximately $1.6 million.
Being one of Hollywood’s most prominent stars, one might think that Elizabeth Taylor was a superficial individual who lacked concern for the world around her.
However, that wasn’t the case at all. Fortensky remembered her as a wonderful individual with a fantastic sense of humor, who always wished the best for others.
In 1992, during a couple’s getaway to Switzerland, Taylor suddenly felt the urge to step into the cold and create a snow angel. This moment turned into a treasured memory for Fortensky.
“I ran after her outside, and she tumbled into the snow, waving her arms and giggling like a little girl. That’s my favorite image. I keep it next to my bed,” he shared. “That’s how I think of Elizabeth. She had a youthful spirit. Even though she was 20 years my senior, I never perceived her as old.
Elizabeth adored pampering her husband. One Christmas, she surprised Larry with a Harley-Davidson motorbike, placing it right next to the Christmas tree in her five-bedroom mansion located in Bel Air, California.
“She was always unaware when she was being photographed.”
Taylor also gifted him a BMW for his birthday – however, Larry felt he couldn’t match her generosity.
“I realized I couldn’t measure up to Elizabeth, so I didn’t even attempt to. When she presented me with the bike, I reciprocated with chocolate-covered roses. Another year, I surprised her with a baby lop-eared bunny that she absolutely adored,” he shared.
Now, while the life of a Hollywood star may seem glamorous and exciting, it certainly comes with a large house, constant recognition, and invitations to numerous extravagant events. However, many stars often depict their lives as being incredibly stressful.
Several celebrities wish for something as simple as the ability to stroll down the street without being approached by fans or photographers.
Generally, celebrities have to adapt to this lifestyle. But for Larry Fortensky, it was an entirely new experience after he met Taylor.
“Wherever we went, there were cameras. Elizabeth would frequently apply lipstick because she claimed she never knew when she was being photographed. I found it challenging. It wasn’t my preference; those cameras were omnipresent. Elizabeth was accustomed to it. I never got used to it.
In 1996, Taylor and Fortensky ended their marriage. It was Taylor who initiated the divorce, expressing her unhappiness. However, she was clear that she wanted to avoid any animosity between them, which they successfully achieved.
Elizabeth Taylor’s will
Despite their divorce, Fortensky and Taylor maintained a close friendship. He shared that they would often have lengthy conversations on the phone, and their bond was beneficial for both.
Their final phone conversation took place just a day before Taylor was admitted to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in February 2011.
Reports indicate that Fortensky left the marriage with approximately $1 million. In a touching gesture, Elizabeth Taylor bequeathed him over $500,000 in her will to “honor their friendship,” which was truly heartwarming.
After her passing, the majority of Elizabeth Taylor’s wealth was inherited by her four children. Most of her jewelry and perfumes were sold at auction, with the proceeds benefiting The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
After getting married, Larry decided to leave behind the dazzling life of Hollywood and purchased a home in Temecula, California. His life took a drastic turn following a drunken fall in 1999 – without insurance, he found himself spending all his savings on medical expenses.
Even though Elizabeth Taylor is no longer with us, the memories of their relationship and the wonderful moments they experienced together will always remain in his heart.
“I love her. I always will. And I know she loved me, too,” Larry shared with Daily Mail.
Elizabeth Taylor was a genuine Hollywood icon who left us far too soon. Please consider sharing this article on Facebook with your friends and family to pay tribute to her!
