There comes a time in one’s life where we pass into the great beyond. Today one of the most lovingly beautiful women passed away. The woman I speak of is Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor. Who succumbed  to the symptoms related to congestive heart failure at the age of 79.

Liz Taylor was born in the opulent North West London district of Hampstead. Her parents Francis, & Sara were American born citizens living in England at the time. When WWII erupted into full-blown chaos, her mother brought Liz, and  her older brother Howard back to the United States to live. Being that she was born in England Liz was granted dual citizenship of the United States, and England.

Through a family friend, Hedda Hopper, Liz and her parents were introduced to Andrea Berens and her fiancée Cheever Cowden. Who at the time was the chairman and one of the lead stockholders at Universal Pictures in Hollywood.  After a meeting which was arranged with Cowden by Berens. At the first moment of meeting the future starlet Cowden was mesmerized by the stunning beauty Taylor beheld before his careful analyzing eyes. And this is how Dame Taylor got her starstruck ascent into movie stardom.

After the meeting with Cowden, and Liz Taylor’s name was brought up at showbiz parties, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer would soon take notice and offered her a  contract. But for some unforeseen reason the young up and coming celebutant failed to secure a contract with MGM. After an audition with the enchantingly colorful producer John Considine who noted that Taylor couldn’t sing. Despite this heartbreaking setback Universal Pictures signed Elizabeth to a six-month renewable contract in 1941 for a meager $100 a week.

Taylor had roles in over 70 films spanning just about sixty years. At the tender age of nine Taylor appeared in her first role as Gloria Twine in the 1942 film “There’s One Born Every Minute.” This film was the stepping stone to a long and prosperous career. Which included an extraordinary array of awards, and nominations.

Some of these nominations included an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress in the 1957 film “Raintree Country” then again for the 1958 classic “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” Some of the awards she won were for the 1960 film “Butterfield 8” and the list goes on. If your interested in seeing a complete listing of Taylor’s film credits I highly suggest you visit here.

Some of the things Taylor was passionate about included raising money for AIDS research. She also had a keen eye, for luxurious jewelry pieces, and was also a noted jewelery designer in her own right.  Taylor was married a total of eight times beginning with Conrad “Nicky” Hilton the hotel socialite, and ending with Larry Fortensky. Seven of the marriages ended in divorce, and one ended up with Taylor becoming a widow when she was married to Michael Todd. Through the eight marriages, she had a total four children.

As you can see Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor had an illustrious career, and somewhat rocky social/private life. She will live on as the last true dame of the golden era of Hollywood and be truly missed by millions of fans. On a lighter note there are several rumors floating around that she will most likely be buried at Westwood Memorial Park cemetery in Los Angeles, as that’s where her parents rest in peaceful bliss.