Elizabeth Taylor died this morning in Los Angeles at age 79. Famed actress, lover, hypochondriac, and AIDS activist, Taylor was the biggest star of the modern Hollywood era. Her multiple marriages and soap opera personal life overshadowed her great acting career from age 50 on, but she managed to overcome even the tabloids by becoming the torch bearer for AIDS research as friends like Rock Hudson and Roddy McDowall succumbed to the disease. Expect to see her oldest and best friends, George Hamilton, Jose Eber, and Mickey Rooney, giving statements today and appearing on television. They knew her best, and loved her most. Her other best pal, Michael Jackson, sadly preceded her in death. And what people don’t know is that two years ago, on Easter, Jackson and his kids were with Taylor even as he was rehearsing for his London shows. Their friendship endured just about everything. More to come…
PS I met Liz Taylor once, at the Cannes AmFAR event in 2002. Here’s the column: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,53712,00.html
