Elizabeth Taylor: 1932-2011

Hollywood has lost a member of its royalty. Icon Elizabeth Taylor died of congestive heart failure this week at the age of 79. The famous actress had been struggling with health issues for years and her condition went downhill over the last few weeks. According to the Cleopatra actress' publicist, Taylor was "surrounded by her children -- Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton." Although Taylor died "peacefully" in her sleep, her death came as a shock to friends and family, according to the publicist. "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." The Academy-Award winning actress who starred in such classics as Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and BUtterfield 8, is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. In addition to her stunning violet eyes, Taylor was also famous for her eight marriages, two of which were to fellow screen legend Richard Burton. She was a tireless activist for AIDS and HIV causes. Singer Elton John says, "We have just lost a Hollywood giant; more importantly, we have lost an incredible human being." Meanwhile, Taylor's son Michael issued the following statement about his mother, "My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love."Taylor will be buried in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in the same resting place as Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood,Truman Capote, Farrah Fawcett and Dean Martin. In her last interview for the March issue of Harper's Bazaar, Taylor told the writer, "I never planned to acquire a lot of jewels or a lot of husbands. I have been supremely lucky in my life in that I have known great love, and of course, I am the temporary custodian of some incredible and beautiful things."