Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79

From: Hollywood Reporter 9:10 AM 3/23/2011 by Lindsay Powers
Surrounded by her four children, the screen legend passes away of congestive heart failure early Wednesday morning in L.A.
Elizabeth Taylor died early Wednesday morning at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure. She was 79.

"She was surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton," Taylor's publicist, Sally Morrison, says in a statement.

"My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love," her son, Michael, said in a statement to ABC News. "Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts."

Her family has asked that contributions be made to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in lieu of flowers. Personal messages should be directed to Taylor's Facebook page.

Taylor was born in northwest London to American parents in 1932. She appeared in her first movie, There's One Born Every Minute, when she was nine years old.

She rose to fame at age 12 with box office hit National Velvet. As an adult, she won acclaim for 1951's A Place in the Sun. She earned beast actress Oscar nominations for Raintree Country, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Suddenly, Last Summer. One of her most famous roles Cleopatra in 1963. She starred in more than 50 films.

Taylor won two Oscars, for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Butterfield 8.

She was also known for her personal life, including her eight marriages.

Taylor had suffered from health problems in recent years.

Last month, she checked into the hospital with congestive heart failure, but her condition had stabilized.