Elizabeth Taylor Family Tree: The Story Behind Hollywood's Violet-Eyed Icon

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (1932–2011), born 27 February 1932 in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, England, and died 23 March 2011 in Beverly Hills, was Hollywood's biggest star — National Velvet (1944), A Place in the Sun (1951), Giant (1956), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), BUtterfield 8 (1960 — Academy Award), Cleopatra (1963), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966 — Academy Award); married 8 times (twice to Richard Burton); AIDS advocacy pioneer.

The Family's Roots: An American Family in London

Both parents were American; family moved back to LA at outbreak of WWII.

Her Parents

Father: Francis Lenn Taylor (1897–1968) — American art dealer.

Mother: Sara Sothern Taylor (1895–1994) — American; former Broadway actress.

Her Brother

Howard Taylor (1929–2020) — elder brother.

Her 8 Marriages

Conrad "Nicky" Hilton Jr. (m. 6 May 1950, div. 29 January 1951) — hotel heir.

Michael Wilding (m. 21 February 1952, div. 26 January 1957) — British actor.

Mike Todd (m. 2 February 1957, until his death 22 March 1958) — film producer.

Eddie Fisher (m. 12 May 1959, div. 6 March 1964) — singer.

Richard Burton (m. 15 March 1964, div. 26 June 1974) — Welsh actor.

Richard Burton (m. 10 October 1975, div. 29 July 1976) — remarriage.

John Warner (m. 4 December 1976, div. 7 November 1982) — US Senator.

Larry Fortensky (m. 6 October 1991, div. 31 October 1996) — construction worker.

Her Children

Michael Howard Wilding, b. 6 January 1953 — son with Michael Wilding.

Christopher Edward Wilding, b. 27 February 1955 — son with Michael Wilding.

Elizabeth Frances "Liza" Todd, b. 6 August 1957 — daughter with Mike Todd.

Maria Burton, b. 1 August 1961 — adopted daughter with Eddie Fisher (later Richard Burton).

The Taylor Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Francis Lenn Taylor (1897–1968) — art dealer.

Mother: Sara Sothern Taylor (1895–1994) — Broadway actress.

Brother: Howard Taylor (1929–2020).

Husbands: Conrad Hilton Jr. (1950-51); Michael Wilding (1952-57); Mike Todd (1957-58); Eddie Fisher (1959-64); Richard Burton (1964-74); Richard Burton (1975-76); John Warner (1976-82); Larry Fortensky (1991-96).

Children: Michael Wilding (b. 6 January 1953); Christopher Wilding (b. 27 February 1955); Liza Todd (b. 6 August 1957); Maria Burton (b. 1 August 1961 — adopted).

Elizabeth Taylor:

  • Born 27 February 1932, Hampstead, London
  • Family to LA 1939
  • Signed with Universal Pictures at 9 (1941)
  • National Velvet (1944) at 12 — child stardom
  • Academy Award Best Actress: 1960 (BUtterfield 8), 1966 (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?)
  • AIDS advocacy: founded amfAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research) 1985
  • Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE): 1999
  • Presidential Citizens Medal: 2001
  • Died: 23 March 2011, Beverly Hills — heart failure at 79

What the Taylor Family Story Teaches Us

An art-dealer father. A Broadway-actress mother. Eight marriages (twice to Richard Burton). Four children (3 biological, 1 adopted). A career of two Oscars, iconic roles, and pioneering AIDS advocacy.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Elizabeth story carries the same lesson. Some lives make headlines for both craft and marriages.

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