Elizabeth Taylor

She has broken her back five times, has survived a brain tumor, and has faced life-threatening bouts with pneumonia twice. Thelma Todd has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6262 Hollywood Blvd. She suffers congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart pumps insufficient amounts of blood throughout the body. Her remains were buried in "Bellevue Cemetery" in her hometown of Lawrence, Massachusetts. As of January 2005, Elizabeth Taylor is in ailing health. Her death certificate states her cause of death as accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Elizabeth Taylor's hand and foot prints are immortalized in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theater and she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6336 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. The fact that her body was cremated caused theorists to conjecture that this had been done to destroy evidence and to prevent a second autopsy, however by this time authorities were satisfied with her official cause of death.

In the early 1980s, she moved to 700 Nimes Road in Bel-Air, California, which is her current home. The Los Angeles DA's department and a Grand Jury were unable to establish the true circumstances surrounding her death and the conjecture that surrounded it at the time and which has never been resolved with a definitive explanation is an early example of what would become known as a conspiracy theory with rumours and suppositions being accepted as fact, and widely divergent opinions being given credence. Though she was thrilled with this honor, Taylor cracked, "I've always been a broad, now I'm a dame.". Roland West had closed the door to the garage without realising Todd was inside and she had died as a result. She received the title Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in 1999, and may now be addressed as "Dame Elizabeth.". A third theory was that Todd had turned on the motor of the car in order to keep warm, and had fallen asleep. And in 2002, she was a Kennedy Center Honoree. Her resulting death according to this theory was accidental, however a key, which would have allowed her to escape was found in Todd's handbag.

The following year, 1993, she received the AFI Life Achievement Award. A second theory widely supported by Todd's friends was that Roland West had grown frustrated by Todd's flightiness and to keep her from leaving her premises to attend another party had locked her in the garage. In 1992, she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. The investigation was unable to establish any evidence to support this theory. By 1999, she had helped to raise an estimated $50,000,000 to fight the disease. This was the only sign of violence and there was no evidence of any struggle taking place. She also created her own AIDS foundation. When Todd's body was found she had blood on her face and her nose was broken.

She helped start the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) (http://www.amfar.org/) after the death of her former co-star and friend, Rock Hudson. One theory suggested that the gangster Lucky Luciano had tried unsuccessfully to coerce Todd into allowing gambling on her premises, and when she declared that would happen "over my dead body" had replied that he could arrange that. Taylor has devoted much time and energy to AIDS-related charities and fundraising. Police were offered other alternatives throughout their investigations. She also launched two perfumes, "Passion" and "White Diamonds," that together earn an estimated $200,000,000 in annual sales. She had been involved in an argument with her then boyfriend Roland West, but her friends stated that she was in good spirits and were aware of nothing unusual in her life that could suggest a reason for committing suicide. Taylor has also acted on stage in revivals of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes (1982) and Noel Coward's Private Lives (1983), the latter she starred in with former husband, Richard Burton. She had spent the last night of her life at a party hosted by entertainer Stanley Lupino and his daughter, the actress Ida Lupino.

She has also appeared on a number of TV programs, including General Hospital, All My Children and The Simpsons (as the voice of Maggie). Police investigating her death determined that Todd had a wide circle of friends and associates and a busy social life. And in 2001, she played an agent in These Old Broads. On the morning of December 16, 1935, she was found dead in her car inside her garage and her death was determined to have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. In 1985, she played movie columnist Louella Parsons in Malice in Wonderland and appeared in the mini-series North and South. In the early 30's she commenced a successful commercial venture when she opened a cafe at Pacific Palisades called "Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe" which attracted a diverse clientele of Hollywood celebrities as well as gangsters and criminals. Elizabeth Taylor has also appeared a number of times on television, including the 1973 made-for-TV movie with then husband, Richard Burton, titled Divorce His - Divorce Hers. During her career she appeared in more than 130 films and was publicised as "The Ice Cream Blonde" and "Hot Toddy".

She and Todd had one daughter, Elizabeth Frances Todd, called "Liza," (born August 6, 1957). And in 1964, she and Fisher started adoption proceedings for a daughter, who Burton later adopted, Maria Burton (born August 1, 1961). She became highly regarded as a capable film comedienne and also appeared successfully in such dramas as the original 1931 film version of The Maltese Falcon. Taylor and Wilding had two sons, Michael Howard Wilding (born January 6, 1953) and Christopher Edward Wilding (born February 27, 1955). With the advent of the talkies, Todd was given opportunity to expand her roles by the producer Hal Roach who contracted her to appear with such comedic stars of the day as Harry Langdon, Laurel & Hardy and The Marx Brothers and she appeared as the lead actress in a series of comedy films with actresses Zasu Pitts and Patsy Kelly. Taylor has been married eight times to seven husbands: hotel heir Nicky Hilton (married May 6, 1950-divorced January 29, 1951); actor Michael Wilding (married February 21, 1952-divorced January 26, 1957); producer Mike Todd (married February 2, 1957-his death March 22, 1958); singer Eddie Fisher (married May 12, 1959-divorced March 6, 1964); actor Richard Burton (married March 15, 1964-divorced June 26, 1974); actor Richard Burton (2nd Marriage) (married October 10, 1975-divorced July 29, 1976); senator John Warner (married December 4, 1976-divorced November 7, 1982); and teamster construction-equipment operator Larry Fortensky (married October 6, 1991-divorced October 31, 1996). During the silent era, she appeared in numerous supporting roles that made full use of her beauty but gave her little chance to act. And it was during the filming of that movie that she worked for the first time with future husband, Richard Burton, who played Mark Antony. While representing her home state in the "Miss America" pageant later that year she was spotted by a Hollywood talent scout and began her career in film.

In 1963, Taylor became the highest paid movie star up until that time when she accepted $1,000,000 to play the title role in the lavish production of Cleopatra for 20th Century Fox. She intended to become a school teacher but in her late teens began entering beauty pageants winning the title of "Miss Massachusetts" in 1925. She was nominated for Raintree County (1957), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959). Todd was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts and as a child was a bright student who achieved good academic results. Elizabeth Taylor won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performances in BUtterfield 8 (1960) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966). Thelma Todd (July 29, 1905 - December 16, 1935) was a American film actress. Considered one of the most beautiful women in the world, she also gained great respect as an accomplished actress.

Taylor is famous for her beauty, violet eyes and raven hair. She attended school on the MGM lot and University High School in Los Angeles, where she received her diploma on January 26, 1950. National Velvet was a big hit, grossing over $4,000,000 at the box-office, and she was signed to a long term contract. After a couple more movies, the second on loan-out to 20th Century Fox, she appeared in her first leading role and achieved child star status playing Velvet Brown, a young girl who trains a horse to win the Grand National in Clarence Brown's movie National Velvet (1944) with Mickey Rooney.

This drew favorable attention. Her first movie with that studio was Lassie Come Home (1943). They let her contract drop and she was signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Taylor appeared in her first motion picture at the age of nine for Universal.

They settled in Los Angeles, California, where Sara's family, the Warmbrodts, were then living. Her mother took the children first, while her father remained in London to wrap up matters in the art business. After England entered World War II, her parents decided to return to the United States to avoid hostilities. At the age of three, Elizabeth began taking ballet lessons.

Sara retired from the stage when she and Francis Taylor married in 1926 in New York. Her father was an art dealer and her mother a former actress whose stage name was Sara Sothern. Her American parents were both originally from Arkansas City, Kansas. Taylor was born with dual British and American citizenship.

She prefers her given name to be pronounced Eee-lizabeth. Her given and middle names were in honor of her paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Taylor, who was born Elizabeth Mary Rosemond. Though sometimes referred to as "Liz," she is not fond of that name. She was born Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor in Hampstead, London, England, the second child of Francis Lenn Taylor (December 28, 1897-November 20, 1968) and Sara Viola Warmbrodt (August 21, 1896-September 11, 1994). Her older brother is Howard Taylor (born 1929). Elizabeth Taylor (born February 27, 1932) is an English-born Academy Award winning actress.

Pearl Slaghoople. The Flintstones (1994) (Universal) .. Nadina Bulichoff. Il Giovane Toscanini (1988) (RAI) ..

Marina Rudd. The Mirror Crack'd (1980) (Associated Film Distribution) .. Lola Comante (uncredited). Winter Kills (1979) (Avco Embassy Pictures) ..

Desiree Armfelt. A Little Night Music (1977) (New World Pictures) .. Queen of Light. The Blue Bird (1976) (20th Century Fox) ..

Lise. The Driver's Seat (1974) (Rizzoli Film S.p.a.) .. Barbara Sawyer. Ash Wednesday (1973) (Paramount) ..

Ellen Wheeler. Night Watch (1973) (Avco Embassy Pictures) .. Jimmie Jean Jackson. Hammersmith Is Out (1972) (Cinerama Releasing Corporation) ..

Rosie Probert. Under Milk Wood (1973) (Altura Films International) .. aka X, Y and Zee. Zee Blakeley ..

Zee and Co. (1972) (Columbia) .. Fran Walker. The Only Game in Town (1970) (20th Century Fox) .. Courtesan (uncredited).

Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) (Universal) .. Secret Ceremony (1968) (Universal) Leonora. Flora Goforth. Boom (1968) (Universal) ..

Martha Pineda. The Comedians (1967) (MGM) .. Leonora Penderton. Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967) (Warner Bros.) ..

Helen of Troy. Doctor Faustus (1967) (Columbia) .. Katharina. The Taming of the Shrew (1967) (Columbia) ..

Martha. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) (Warner Bros.) .. Laura Reynolds. The Sandpiper (1965) (MGM) ..

Frances Andros. The V.I.P.s (1963) (MGM) .. Cleopatra. Cleopatra (1963) (20th Century Fox) ..

Gloria Wandrous. BUtterfield 8 (1960) (MGM) .. the real Sally Kennedy (uncredited). Scent of Mystery (1960) (Michael Todd Company) ..

Catherine Holly. Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) (Columbia) .. Maggie "The Cat" Pollitt. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) (MGM) ..

Susanna Drake. Raintree County (1957) (MGM) .. Leslie Lynnton Benedict. Giant (1956) (Warner Bros.) ..

Helen Ellswirth/Wills. The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954) (MGM) .. Lady Patricia. Beau Brummell (1954) (MGM) ..

Ruth Wiley. Elephant Walk (1954) (Paramount) .. Louise Durant. Rhapsody (1954) (MGM) ..

Jean Latimer. The Girl Who Had Everything (1953) (MGM) .. Rebecca. Ivanhoe (1952) (MGM) ..

Anastacia "Stacie" Macaboy. Love Is Better Than Ever (1952) (MGM) .. Angela Vickers. A Place in the Sun (1951) (Paramount) ..

Kay "Kitten" Dunston. Father's Little Dividend (1951) (MGM) .. Christian prisoner in arena (uncredited). Quo Vadis? (1951) (MGM) ..

Kay Banks. Father of the Bride (1950) (MGM) .. Mary Belney. The Big Hangover (1950) (MGM) ..

Melinda Greyton. Conspirator (1949) (MGM) .. Amy March. Little Women (1949) (MGM) ..

Susan Packett. Julia Misbehaves (1948) (MGM) .. Carol Pringle. A Date with Judy (1948) (MGM) ..

Cynthia Bishop. Cynthia (1947) (MGM) .. Mary. Life with Father (1947) (MGM) ..

Kathie Merrick. Courage of Lassie (1946) (MGM) .. Velvet Brown. National Velvet (1944) (MGM) ..

Helen Burns (uncredited). Jane Eyre (1944) (20th Century Fox) .. Betsy at 10 (uncredited). The White Cliffs of Dover (1944) (MGM) ..

Priscilla. Lassie Come Home (1943) (MGM) .. Gloria Twine. There's One Born Every Minute (1942) (Universal) ..