liz taylor 4Elizabeth Taylor, the epitome of old-school Hollywood glamour, died in Los Angeles yesterday of congestive heart failure. Liz was known for her torrid personal life as well as her magnetic screen presence and patrician beauty, marrying no less than 8 times (to 7 men- Richard Burton received the honor of being Mr. Elizabeth Taylor twice).

Liz started acting at the tender age of 9, and had her first big breakthroughs as Lassie's sidekick and as a young equestrian in National Velvet (1944). In the 1950s she starred in award-winning epics like Giant (1956),Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) and won an Oscar for her performance in Butterfield 8 (1960). In a case of diva life imitating diva art, her adulterous sexcapades with costar Burton scandalized Hollywood and delayed the release of Cleopatra (1963).

In the late 60's and 70's La Liz continued to bring the diva full force, pushing the envelope with outrageous moments like seducing her husband's mistress in X,Y, and Zee (1972), bath time with Mia Farrow in Secret Ceremony (1968) and a roadside BJ in Driver's Seat (1975). Her last onscreen role was in the live action adaptation of The Flintstones (1994), where she was still a stunner at 62.

Liz committed herself to raising money for AIDS research in her later years, despite her deterioriating health. This grande dame of the dramatic arts made an indelible impact on Hollywood, and her white diamonds will sparkle on forever.