Today (March 23), Hollywood icon and Oscar-winning actress, Elizabeth Taylor died of congestive heart failure at age 79, surrounded by loved ones at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, reports People.
"She was surrounded by her children – Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton," said Taylor’s publicist, Sally Morrison, in a statement. In addition to her children, Taylor is survived by 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Taylor dealt with various health problems over the years, and on February 11, new symptoms related to congestive heart failure caused her to be admitted to hospital for treatment. Two days later, it was reported that she was being kept in the hospital for monitoring.
"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,” said her publicist. “Sadly, this was not to be.” Around 1:30 a.m. this morning she “peacefully died there.”
The former child star (Lassie Come Home, National Velvet) was born February 27, 1932 to American parents residing in London, England.
The violet-eyed beauty was known for her acting talent, as well as her Hollywood lifestyle, which included seven husbands, among them, Welsh actor Richard Burton, whom she married twice. She was known for her impressive jewelry collection, her medical battles, and as a tireless advocate for AIDS research.
Nominated for her performances in Raintree County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Suddenly Last Summer, Butterfield 8, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, she won best actress Oscars for the latter two films. Taylor was considered one of the great actresses of Hollywood’s golden age.