Elizabeth Taylor: Cause of Death, True Love & Health Facts
Elizabeth Taylor lived a life that feels almost too eventful to be real—a child star who became a screen legend, married eight times, and faced serious health battles from a rare eye condition to heart failure. This article explores the key facts behind her cause of death, her true love, and the medical conditions that shaped her, covering the most searched questions about her remarkable journey.
Born: February 27, 1932 · Died: March 23, 2011 · Spouses: 8 · Children: 4 · Academy Awards: 2 · Estimated Net Worth at Death: $600 million
Quick snapshot
- Died of congestive heart failure (Britannica)
- Suffered from distichiasis (double eyelashes) (Wikipedia)
- Won two Academy Awards (Britannica)
- 1932: Born in London (Britannica)
- 1964–1976: Two marriages to Richard Burton (IMDb)
- 2011: Died at age 79 (Official biography)
- Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation continues activism (Britannica)
- Her films remain cultural touchstones, including the 1974 classic Murder on the Orient Express (Murder on the Orient Express: Cast, Facts & Best Film)
- The novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo draws inspiration from her life (Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: Plot, True Story & Netflix)
Eight key facts that define Elizabeth Taylor’s life, from her full name to her academy awards.
| Full name | Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor |
| Born | February 27, 1932, Hampstead, London, England |
| Died | March 23, 2011, Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) |
| Eye color | Violet (due to distichiasis) |
| Spouses | Nicky Hilton, Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, Eddie Fisher, Richard Burton (twice), John Warner, Larry Fortensky |
| Children | Michael Howard Wilding, Christopher Edward Wilding, Liza Todd, Maria Taylor (adopted) |
| Academy Awards | 2 (Butterfield 8, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) |
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s cause of death?
- Official cause: congestive heart failure (Britannica)
- Hospitalized for six weeks before death (Official biography)
- Contributing factors included heart disease and smoking (Wikipedia)
Official cause of death
Elizabeth Taylor died of congestive heart failure on March 23, 2011, at age 79, according to Britannica. The Elizabeth Taylor Official Biography confirms she passed away in Los Angeles after a six-week hospitalization.
Health issues leading to death
Taylor had a long history of heart disease, diabetes, and heavy smoking. Wikipedia notes she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2004 and used a wheelchair due to back problems.
Final days
She was hospitalized for six weeks before her death, surrounded by family, per her official biography.
The implication: Taylor’s decades of smoking and health struggles ultimately caught up with her, despite her wealth and access to top medical care.
Taylor’s death from a preventable condition—congestive heart failure linked to smoking—serves as a stark reminder that even the most glamorous lives are vulnerable to lifestyle diseases.
Who was the true love of Elizabeth Taylor’s life?
- Richard Burton was her most famous husband (Britannica)
- They married twice: 1964–1974 and 1975–1976 (IMDb)
- Taylor called him “the love of my life” (Wikipedia)
Her relationship with Richard Burton
Taylor and Burton married in 1964, divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975, and divorced again in 1976, per Britannica. Wikipedia reports that Taylor repeatedly described Burton as the love of her life.
Other significant relationships
She had deep affection for Mike Todd, who died in a plane crash, and Eddie Fisher, whom she married after Todd’s death. Both relationships were highly publicized (Britannica).
What Elizabeth Taylor said about love
In interviews, Taylor stated: “He was the love of my life. I can’t imagine life without him,” as noted by Wikipedia.
What this means: Even with eight marriages, Taylor singled out Burton as her greatest romantic attachment, adding a layer of poignancy to her famously tangled love life.
What syndrome did Elizabeth Taylor have?
- Rare genetic condition called distichiasis (Britannica)
- Caused an extra row of eyelashes (Wikipedia)
- Contributed to her violet eye color (Britannica)
Distichiasis (double eyelashes)
Taylor was born with distichiasis, a rare genetic condition that gave her a double row of eyelashes. Britannica and Wikipedia both confirm the condition contributed to her striking violet eyes.
How distichiasis affected her appearance
The extra lashes made her eyes appear deeper and more dramatic, enhancing her screen presence. Many fans still wonder if her eye color was natural—it was, but the condition gave them an unusually intense hue.
Medical treatment and impact
The condition caused chronic eye irritation throughout her life and required ongoing treatment, according to Wikipedia.
The irony: The same condition that gave Taylor her signature look also caused her discomfort—a trade-off between beauty and wellness.
Taylor’s double eyelashes made her a screen icon, yet the condition required constant medical attention—a hidden cost of her legendary appearance.
Was Elizabeth Taylor a heavy smoker?
- Smoked up to three packs a day (Wikipedia)
- Continued until severe pneumonia in 1990 (Wikipedia)
- Smoking contributed to heart disease and death (Britannica)
Her smoking habit
Taylor smoked heavily for decades, reportedly up to three packs a day, according to Wikipedia. She stopped only after a severe bout of pneumonia in 1990.
Impact on her health
Her smoking habit is widely cited as a contributing factor to her heart disease, emphysema, and eventual death from congestive heart failure (Britannica).
When she quit
She quit smoking after her pneumonia scare in 1990, according to Wikipedia.
The trade-off: Taylor’s smoking habit, common among her Hollywood peers, likely shortened her life despite her later efforts to quit.
Was Elizabeth Taylor a nice person in real life?
- Many colleagues described her as generous and warm (Kennedy Center)
- She was a dedicated AIDS activist (Britannica)
- Some found her demanding on set (Wikipedia)
Reputation among peers
The Kennedy Center notes that Taylor was widely regarded as a warm and generous friend and colleague.
Philanthropy and kindness
She was a pioneering AIDS activist, founding the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991 and co-founding amfAR in 1985, according to Britannica.
Criticisms and controversies
Some biographies, referenced in Wikipedia, portray her as occasionally demanding and difficult on set, reflecting a complex personality.
The pattern: Taylor was both fiercely generous and occasionally difficult—a complex personality that only adds to her enduring fascination.
Timeline: Key dates in Elizabeth Taylor’s life
- 1932 – Born in London (Britannica)
- 1944 – Breakout in National Velvet (Britannica)
- 1963 – Released Cleopatra, met Richard Burton (Britannica)
- 1966 – Won Oscar for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Britannica)
- 1974–1976 – Married and divorced Burton twice (IMDb)
- 1991 – Founded Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (Britannica)
- 2004 – Diagnosed with congestive heart failure (Wikipedia)
- 2011 – Died in Los Angeles (Official biography)
The arc: From a London-born child star to a Hollywood legend and activist, Taylor’s timeline reflects a life of continuous reinvention and resilience.
Clarity: What we know and what remains uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Cause of death: congestive heart failure (Britannica)
- Had distichiasis (double eyelashes) (Wikipedia)
- Married eight times (Britannica)
- Four children (Britannica)
What remains uncertain
- Whether Richard Burton was her “true love” – subjective, though she claimed it (Wikipedia)
- If she was genuinely “nice” – mixed opinions from peers (Wikipedia)
- Exact net worth at death – estimates vary from $200M to $600M
- Whether she smoked until 1990 or 2004, and the exact number of packs per day – sources vary (Wikipedia)
- Exact number of competitive Oscars won: 2, though she also received a special Academy Award (Britannica)
The balance: While many details of Taylor’s life are well-documented, the subjective truths about her heart and character remain known only to those closest to her.
Quotes from Elizabeth Taylor and those close to her
“I’ve been lucky all my life. Everything was handed to me on a silver platter. Except my health.” – Elizabeth Taylor (Official biography)
“She is a woman of extraordinary beauty, but her breasts are … I think they are magnificent.” – Richard Burton on Elizabeth Taylor (Wikipedia)
The voice: Taylor’s own words and Burton’s admiration provide a raw glimpse into the private person behind the public icon.
Summary: The lasting legacy of Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor’s life was a remarkable blend of glamour, struggle, and resilience. She faced serious health challenges—distichiasis, heart failure, addiction—while building a legendary career and becoming a pioneer in AIDS activism. For anyone fascinated by Hollywood’s golden age, Elizabeth Taylor’s journey reminds us that extraordinary lives are ultimately shaped by the universal forces of health, love, and personal choice.
Hennes skönhet och utstrålning var legendarisk – 2002 utsåg Aftonbladet henne till världens vackraste kvinna genom tiderna.
Frequently asked questions
How many times was Elizabeth Taylor married?
Eight times to seven men: Nicky Hilton, Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, Eddie Fisher, Richard Burton (twice), John Warner, and Larry Fortensky (Britannica).
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s most famous film?
She is best known for Cleopatra (1963) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), for which she won her second Oscar (Britannica).
Did Elizabeth Taylor adopt any children?
Yes, she adopted one daughter, Maria Taylor (Official biography).
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s net worth?
Estimates vary widely, from $200 million to $600 million at the time of her death.
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s eye color?
Violet, due to her rare condition distichiasis (Britannica).
What charity did Elizabeth Taylor start?
She founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991 and co-founded amfAR in 1985 (Britannica).
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s perfume brand?
She launched several successful perfumes, including White Diamonds, in the 1990s (Official biography).
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