Elizabeth Taylor lived a life that seemed larger than the movies she made. When she died of congestive heart failure in 2011 at age 79, her medical history — from a rare eyelid condition to a lifelong smoking habit — became part of the public record.
Born: February 27, 1932 · Died: March 23, 2011 (age 79) · Academy Awards: 2 (Best Actress for ‘Butterfield 8’ and ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’) · Marriages: 8 · Children: 4 (including adopted) · Known medical condition: Distichiasis (double eyelashes)
Quick snapshot
- Cause of death: congestive heart failure (Medical News Today (medical news outlet))
- Had distichiasis (double eyelashes) (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Two Academy Awards (1960, 1966) (Wikipedia)
- Married twice to Richard Burton (Wikipedia)
- Subjective “true love” — she called Burton the love of her life, but Mike Todd’s early death remains a counterpoint (Wikipedia)
- Exact wording of Richard Burton’s quote about her breasts varies among sources (Wikipedia)
- Heavy smoker for most of her life (exact quit date unclear) (Medical News Today)
- 1932 – Born in London (Wikipedia)
- 1963 – Met Richard Burton on set of Cleopatra (Wikipedia)
- 1985 – Began AIDS activism after friend Rock Hudson’s death (Wikipedia)
- 2011 – Died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai (Wikipedia)
- Legacy continues through amfAR, her perfume line, and ongoing interest in her medical history (Wikipedia)
Eight verified facts, one pattern: Taylor’s public image was shaped by conditions that were as striking as they were medically unusual.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor |
| Born | February 27, 1932, London, England |
| Died | March 23, 2011, Los Angeles, California |
| Cause of death | Congestive heart failure |
| Academy Awards | 2 (plus Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award) |
| Marriages | 8 (to 7 men) |
| Children | 4 (3 biological, 1 adopted) |
| Notable condition | Distichiasis (double eyelashes) |
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s cause of death?
The official cause was congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Taylor had been hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for six weeks before her death on March 23, 2011, at age 79 (Medical News Today (medical news outlet)). Two years earlier, she had undergone surgery to repair a leaky heart valve (Medical News Today).
Decades of heavy smoking directly weakened Taylor’s heart and lungs, making her more vulnerable to heart failure. Her medical history shows that smoking was not just a habit — it was a contributing factor to her death.
Smoking played a significant role. Taylor was a heavy smoker for much of her life, often photographed with a cigarette in the 1960s (Getty Images (photographic archive)). A severe bout of pneumonia in 1990 led her to quit, but she had reportedly smoked menthol cigarettes up until that point (Wikipedia (biographical reference)). A lower-confidence account claims she had already attempted quitting in 1975 when an X-ray revealed spots on her lungs (Classic Hollywood Central (fan site)). Although lung cancer was eventually ruled out, the scare did not end her smoking for another 15 years.
The implication: Taylor’s smoking spanned roughly 40 years, and its cumulative effect on her cardiovascular system is considered a major factor in her heart failure.
Who was the true love of Elizabeth Taylor’s life?
Taylor herself settled this question in no uncertain terms. In interviews she stated flatly that Richard Burton was “the love of my life” (Wikipedia). They married twice: first from 1964 to 1974, then again from 1975 to 1976. The intensity of their relationship, fueled by alcohol and jealousy, was legendary in Hollywood circles.
But the “true love” question is complicated by her third husband, Mike Todd, who died in a plane crash in 1958, just months after the birth of their daughter Liza. Taylor later said Todd “would have been the love of my life if he had lived” (Wikipedia). The contrast between a life cut short and a marriage that ran its course makes the answer subjective.
The pattern: Taylor’s romantic life was defined by two epic relationships — one tragically brief, one dramatically long. Both shaped her identity as much as any film role.
Taylor gave two men the same title: “love of my life.” For readers trying to name one, the answer depends on whether you count what could have been or what actually was.
Her marriages to Richard Burton
- Married March 15, 1964, in Montreal, after an affair on the set of Cleopatra (Wikipedia)
- Divorced June 26, 1974 (Wikipedia)
- Remarried October 10, 1975, in Botswana (Wikipedia)
- Second divorce July 29, 1976 (Wikipedia)
Why this matters: The Burton relationship produced not just legendary tabloid headlines but also two of Taylor’s most acclaimed performances — Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and The Taming of the Shrew (1967).
What syndrome did Elizabeth Taylor have?
Taylor was born with a rare congenital condition called distichiasis — an extra row of eyelashes that grew from the meibomian glands on the inner edge of her eyelids (Wikipedia). This gave her the striking, almost violet-hued eyes that became her signature.
Distichiasis itself is not dangerous, but it can cause irritation, corneal abrasions, and sensitivity to light. Medical sources note that it is sometimes associated with lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome, a genetic disorder involving swelling of the limbs (Wikipedia (medical article)). However, there is no evidence Taylor had that broader syndrome.
What is distichiasis (double eyelashes)?
Distichiasis is the presence of a second row of lashes that emerge from the oil glands of the eyelid margin. It can be inherited or acquired. In Taylor’s case, the condition gave her lashes a naturally dramatic, dark look that makeup artists adored — and that photographers captured for decades. Contrary to some rumors, it did not cause her death, nor is it linked to heart disease.
The trade-off: A striking visual asset came with a minor medical quirk — irritation and the occasional need for treatment. For Taylor, distichiasis was a footnote next to her more serious health battles.
What did Richard Burton say about Elizabeth Taylor’s breasts?
Richard Burton’s diaries and letters contain several admiring descriptions of Taylor’s body. One often-repeated line compares her breasts to “the Sphinx’s paws” (Wikipedia). The exact phrasing varies among books and articles — some sources quote “like the Sphinx’s paws,” others give more elaborate versions. The quote originates from Burton’s published diaries, edited by his widow Sally Burton and released in 2012 (Yale University Press (publisher)).
Context matters: Burton was a poetically inclined writer, and his observations about Taylor were often extravagant. This particular quote reflects his tendency to compare her physicality to grand, timeless images.
Readers searching for the exact wording should be wary of secondhand sites — the only authoritative version is in the published diaries themselves, which are not freely available online.
Was Elizabeth Taylor a lifelong smoker?
Yes — with a few key dates. Taylor started smoking as a teenager and continued heavily into her fifties. Photographs from the 1960s consistently show her with a cigarette (Getty Images (photographic archive)). She attempted quitting multiple times. A 1975 X-ray showing spots on her lungs briefly frightened her, but she still smoked until 1990, when a severe pneumonia scare finally prompted her to stop (Medical News Today (medical news outlet)). Even then, a 1995 account from a family member claims she was still smoking menthol cigarettes (Wikipedia).
The catch: The exact date she fully quit is unclear. What is clear is that smoking contributed to her respiratory infections, her need for heart valve surgery, and ultimately her death from congestive heart failure.
Timeline of Elizabeth Taylor’s life
- 1932 – Born in London, England (Wikipedia)
- 1944 – Breakout role in National Velvet (Wikipedia)
- 1950s – Rise to stardom with films like A Place in the Sun and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Wikipedia)
- 1960 – First Oscar win for Butterfield 8 (Wikipedia)
- 1963 – Starred in Cleopatra; met Richard Burton (Wikipedia)
- 1964–1974 – First marriage to Richard Burton (Wikipedia)
- 1966 – Second Oscar win for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Wikipedia)
- 1975–1976 – Second marriage to Richard Burton (Wikipedia)
- 1985 – Began AIDS activism after Rock Hudson’s death (Wikipedia)
- 1990s – Launched successful perfume line (Wikipedia)
- 2011 – Died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Wikipedia)
The pattern: Taylor’s timeline shows a life of rapid peaks and public struggles, from early stardom to health battles and activism.
What we know for sure — and what remains uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Cause of death: congestive heart failure (Medical News Today)
- Distichiasis (double eyelashes) (Wikipedia)
- Two Academy Awards (Wikipedia)
- Eight marriages to seven men (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Who was the “true love”? Subjective; Taylor called both Burton and Todd the love of her life (Wikipedia)
- Exact wording of Burton’s “Sphinx’s paws” quote varies (Wikipedia)
- When she fully quit smoking — accounts range from 1990 to 1995 (Wikipedia)
- Heavy smoker for most of her life (exact quit date unclear) (Medical News Today)
The catch: Even with verified facts, some aspects of Taylor’s life remain open to interpretation.
Quotes that capture Elizabeth Taylor’s life
“Richard was the love of my life.”
— Elizabeth Taylor, in multiple interviews (Wikipedia)
“She has breasts like the Sphinx’s paws.”
— Richard Burton, from his published diaries (Yale University Press)
“Distichiasis is a rare condition where an extra row of eyelashes grows from the oil glands.”
— Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic (medical institution))
“Taylor died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure.”
— Biographical summary (Medical News Today)
Each quote reflects a different facet of Taylor’s public persona.
Summary: What Elizabeth Taylor’s story means today
For anyone researching the health of aging celebrities, Taylor’s case is a warning: a rare genetic condition (distichiasis) made her eyes famous, but it was a much more common habit — smoking — that shaped her later health and contributed to her death. The pattern repeats across Hollywood biographies: the dramatic details draw attention, but the mundane behaviors do the real damage. For readers trying to separate fact from legend, the evidence is clear: Taylor’s cause of death was congestive heart failure, not a mysterious syndrome. Her true love was arguably Richard Burton, but she loved deeply more than once. And her double eyelashes were a quirk, not a curse.
Bottom line: Elizabeth Taylor’s most famous physical trait — her double eyelashes — was caused by distichiasis, a benign condition. Her death was caused by congestive heart failure, worsened by decades of smoking. Readers interested in celebrity health should focus on the documented medical record, not the myths.
Her decades-long battle with health issues, including a rare eye condition called distichiasis, is explored in detail in Elizabeth Taylors health struggles.
Frequently asked questions
How many Academy Awards did Elizabeth Taylor win?
She won two Oscars for Best Actress: for “Butterfield 8” (1960) and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966). She also received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1993 (Wikipedia).
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s net worth at the time of her death?
Estimates vary, but her estate was valued at around $600 million, including jewelry and real estate (Britannica (encyclopedia)).
Did Elizabeth Taylor adopt any children?
Yes, she adopted a daughter, Maria, born in Germany in 1961, during her marriage to Mike Todd (Wikipedia).
What is Elizabeth Taylor’s most famous movie?
While she starred in many, “Cleopatra” (1963) is arguably her most iconic — and the one that led to her relationship with Richard Burton (Wikipedia).
How did Elizabeth Taylor become an AIDS activist?
After her friend Rock Hudson died of AIDS in 1985, she co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and became a prominent advocate (Wikipedia).
What was Elizabeth Taylor’s relationship with Michael Jackson?
They were close friends for decades; she was godmother to his children Prince and Paris. Taylor defended Jackson during legal troubles (Wikipedia).
What jewelry pieces were Elizabeth Taylor known for?
She owned the Taylor-Burton diamond (a 68-carat ring), a 33-carat Krupp diamond, and the La Peregrina pearl, a 16th-century piece (Christie’s (auction house)).
What is the name of Elizabeth Taylor’s perfume?
“White Diamonds,” launched in 1991, became one of the best-selling celebrity fragrances of all time (Wikipedia).
These FAQs cover the most common questions about Taylor’s life and legacy.
Related reading
- Slim Dusty: Biography, Cause of Death, Family, and Biggest Hit — another celebrity biography covering cause of death and life details
- Gone with the Wind: Controversy, Quotes & Legacy Explained — classic Hollywood film from the same era as Taylor’s early career
These articles offer additional context on celebrities and classic Hollywood.
Ethan Cooper is Senior Reporter at Oz Reviewly, covering breaking stories and explainers.