Iconic screen siren Elizabeth Taylor, star of famed films like ‘Cleopatra,’ ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,’ ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,’ was born on Feb. 27, 1932. After a multi-decade career, Taylor passed away from congestive heart failure on March 23, 2011. In honor of the Hollywood legend, take a look back at her life in pictures from the Daily News photo archive.
Elizabeth Taylor, circa 1940
Known as the most beautiful woman in the world, Taylor was a Tinseltown legend all her own, as photos from the Daily News archive reveal. Here, a teenage Liz Taylor visits the Daily News Color Studio in the 1940s. (New York Daily News)
Elizabeth Taylor, 1947
Elizabeth Taylor, 15, returns to the U.S. from her native England aboard the Queen Mary in 1947. The child-star had her first on-screen success in “National Velvet” in 1944. (Bill Wallace/New York Daily News)
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Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt, 1964
Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Sammy Davis Jr. and May Britt leave the Tony Awards, which were held at the New York Hilton Hotel in 1964. (Jim Mooney/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Conrad Hilton Jr., 1950
An 18-year-old Elizabeth Taylor smiles in 1950 with her first husband, hotel heir Conrad (Nicky) Hilton Jr., the great-uncle of Paris and Nicky Hilton. (New York Daily News)
Elizabeth Taylor and Nicky Hilton, who used to be married, study each other close in Liz’s Hotel Plaza suite in 1951, only to find their one-time romance had gone cold. They met, the film star said, to hash out some of the issues between them. Nicky admitted a property settlement was one. (Ed Jackson/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor, 1951
A gorgeous Elizabeth Taylor shows off the smile that made her famous at the Waldorf Towers in early 1951, near her 19th birthday and after the end of her nine-month marriage to Nicky Hilton. (Victor Twyman/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor, 1952
In early 1952, a 19-year-old Elizabeth Taylor shows off her engagement ring at what was then called LaGuardia Field. She was en route to London to marry husband number two, actor Michael Wilding. (New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor, 1954
Actress Elizabeth Taylor is the picture of tailored elegance as she arrives at what was then called International Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) from London in 1954. (Tom Gallagher/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd, 1957
Elizabeth Taylor and husband number three, producer Mike Todd, pose with newborn daughter Liza in August 1957. (Al Aaronson/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd, 1957
In early 1957, Elizabeth Taylor sports a 29-carat diamond ring from fiance Mike Todd, who is leading her to a plane to Mexico to recuperate from spinal surgery. (Tom Gallagher/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Theresa, 1958
Elizabeth Taylor and Theresa, her Yorkshire terrier, arrive at International Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) after a European tour with Liz’s showman husband Mike Todd in 1958. (Tom Gallagher/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd, 1957
Elizabeth Taylor and husband Mike Todd demonstrate a battling pose as they arrive aboard the SS Liberte in 1957. (Al Pucci/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher, 1960
Elizabeth Taylor dons a retro hat as she and fourth husband, singer Eddie Fisher, board the ocean liner Leonardo da Vinci. The star was en route to Italy, where she filmed “Cleopatra.” (Fred Morgan/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, 1964
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton enter a midtown nightclub for a party after his opening on Broadway in “Hamlet,” in which Burton played the title role. The two wed in 1964. (John Peodincuk/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, 1964
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor are the epitome of glamor as they attend a dinner after the Tony Awards at the New York Hilton Hotel in 1964. (Jim Mooney/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, 1968
Elizabeth Taylor cozies up with Richard Burton at the Plaza hotel in 1968. (Frank Russo/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, 1969
The always photogenic Richard Burton and Liz Taylor strike a pose at JFK International Airport in 1968. (Tom Gallagher/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton with daughters, Liza and Kate, 1968
Elizabeth Taylor just got off the Queen Elizabeth with husband Richard Burton and her daughter, Liza, and his daughter, Kate, at Pier 92. When asked about rumors of a separation and his interest in Brazilian actress Florinda Bolkan, 25, Burton said, “Yes, we’re planning a separation for Tuesday. You’ll be the first to know.” (Gene Kappock/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and John Warner, 1976
New bride Elizabeth Taylor looks happy with husband number six, Republican Senator John Warner, in 1976. (Bill Stahl/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Malcolm Forbes, 1987
Elizabeth Taylor ditches her normal red carpet glitz to have fun with publisher Malcolm Forbes at a motorcycle rally in 1987. (New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Keith Richards, 1980
One had to wonder just what Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones was trying to prove when he raised a bottle of Jack Daniels to his poutin lips and chug-a-lugged a healthy swig of Old No. 7, right in the middle of a chat with Elizabeth Taylor Warner. If he was trying to impress Liz, he succeeded. But from the look on the movie great’s fabulous face, it appeared as if Liz wanted to give him a slug of her own. (Richard Corkery/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minelli, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, 1988
Elizabeth Taylor knows how to surround herself with good company. Here, the star is seen with Liza Minelli, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston at the Sheraton Center in 1988. (Richard Corkery/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor, 1988
Elizabeth Taylor sparkles at a benefit to raise funds to fight AIDS at the Javits Convention Center in 1988. (Richard Corkery/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky, 1991
Elizabeth Taylor and her much younger husband number seven, Larry Fortensky, 39, attend a perfume promotion for her fragrance, White Diamonds. (Richard Corkery/New York Daily News)
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Elizabeth Taylor, 1998
Elizabeth Taylor receives a “Fashion Oscar” for her “Lifetime of Glamor” at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards in 1998. (Richard Corkery/New York Daily News)
