From Nicky to Larry: The Men in Liz Taylor's Life

By PopEater Staff Posted Mar 23rd 2011 07:34PM

Between the ages of 18 and 64, Elizabeth Taylor did more than a life's worth of loving, marrying and divorcing. At many points in her career, the legendary actress, who died Wednesday of heart failure, garnered more attention from the public for her intoxicating love life than for the 50-odd films that padded her unparalleled filmography.

It's been written about endlessly -- her eight marriages to seven men have ended friendships, filled memoirs, kick-started political careers, graced Vanity Fair cover spreads and led countless tabloid newscasts. She reportedly nearly married an Iranian ambassador.

Taylor was a young starlet best known for her star-turning role in 'National Velvet,' when she married hotel heir Nicky Hilton in 1950. She soon grew weary of his party-boy status, and they divorced a whopping eight months later. It was her shortest union.

A year later, Taylor tied the knot with English actor Michael Wilding, who was twice her age. The pair were married between 1952 and 1957 and had two sons, Michael and Christopher. During this time, she starred in 'Giant' and 'The Last Time I Saw Paris.'

In no mood for being a single mom, Taylor very, very quickly moved on with film producer Michael Todd. Her divorce to Wilding was made official on a Saturday in late January of 1957, and one week later she was hitched again. Their daughter, Liz, was born in August. Sadly, Todd was killed in a plane crash right after their first anniversary.

She found comfort in the arms of pop sensation and actor Eddie Fisher on the set of their film, 'Butterfield 8.' He, of course, was married at the time to Taylor's friend, Debbie Reynolds, and the scandal was a tabloid sensation.

When the dust settled and they said "I do" in May 1959, she was a thrice-married Hollywood starlet, and he was still one of the hottest singers in the nation. As their marriage was crumbling, the duo began adoption proceedings for a daughter.

As was her custom, Taylor struck up a relationship with another man while her marriage to Fisher was still technically on. This time it was with actor Richard Burton, whom she had been romancing since they co-starred in 'Cleopatra.' A week after her divorce to Fisher was finalized she became Mrs. Burton.

They lasted 10 years and starred in several films together, including 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' (1966) and 'The Taming of the Shrew' (1967). They divorced in June 1974 but a year later were compelled to give it another go after doctors found spots on her lungs that she feared could be cancerous. But after Burton allegedly began drinking again, the remarriage turned sour yet again.

During the tail end of this turbulent relationship with Burton, Taylor is said to have been very close to marrying Ardeshir Zahedi, who was the Iranian ambassador to Washington at the time. With the Islamic Revolution on the horizon, there is no telling how that would have turned out.

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Having acquired a taste for politics, Taylor then became close to dashing ex-Secretary of the Navy John Warner, and they married in late 1976. During their marriage, she used her fame to help Warner win a seat in the United States Senate. They divorced in 1982 after she reportedly grew bored of being a politician's wife.

She then took a nine-year break before surprising the world by marrying a construction worker named Larry Fortensky. He was 39, and she was 59. They held their wedding at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch but divorced in 1996.

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Liz Taylor Snapshots

British born actor Elizabeth Taylor and her fourth husband American singer and actor Eddie Fisher arrive at a formal event, c. 1962. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Hulton Archive

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

British born actor Elizabeth Taylor and her fourth husband American singer and actor Eddie Fisher arrive at a formal event, c. 1962. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

(FILE PHOTO) US film star Elizabeth Taylor and her first husband Nick Hilton, of the hotelier family, on their wedding day. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

FILES)Elizabeth Taylor arrives on the red carpet for her performance of A.R. Gurney's play "Love Letters" starring Taylor and James Earl Jones, 01 December 2007 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California. Taylor, famed for her striking blue eyes and eight marriages as well a glittering film career, has died at the age of 79, a statement by her publicist said March 23, 2011. AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

16th January 1958: Film star Elizabeth Taylor and husband, film producer Mike Todd, arriving at Heathrow. (Photo by Miller/Keystone/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

FILE - In this March 2, 1959 file photo, actress Elizabeth Taylor, accompanied by her physician, Dr. Rexford Kennamer, walks through Waldheim Cemetery in Chicago where she attended ceremony dedicating the grave marker of her late husband, showman Mike Todd who died a year earlier. On Wednesday, March 23, 2011, Taylor, the violet-eyed film goddess whose sultry screen life was often upstaged by her stormy personal life, died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks. She was 79. (AP Photo/Ed Maloney, File)

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

HENDERSON, NV - FEBRUARY 27: (FILE PHOTO) Dame Elizabeth Taylor arrives with her children, (L-R) Michael Wilding Jr., Christopher Wilding, Maria Burton and Liza Todd Burton, for Taylor's 75th birthday party at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas on February 27, 2007 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

16th January 1958: Film star Elizabeth Taylor and husband, film producer Mike Todd, arriving at Heathrow. (Photo by Miller/Keystone/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

(FILE PHOTO) US film star Elizabeth Taylor and her first husband Nick Hilton, of the hotelier family, on their wedding day. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

British born actor Elizabeth Taylor and her fourth husband American singer and actor Eddie Fisher arrive at a formal event, c. 1962. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

(FILES) Movie star Elizabeth Taylor smiles as she appears before the Labor, Health and Human services Senate Subcommittee 08 May 1986 in Washington,DC.Taylor, famed for her striking blue eyes and eight marriages as well a glittering film career, has died at the age of 79, a statement by her publicist said March 23, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Jerome DELAY / FILES (Photo credit should read JEROME DELAY/AFP/Getty Images)

Elizabeth Taylor Snapshots

Tags: Elizabeth Taylor

Comments

(104)

Wednesday 23 March

By susan

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

If you don't shout, people will listen!

By heath

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Being married 724 times? I don't really think she would qualify as a "masterpiece".

By Heath

"The Men in her life". That's what the caption said right? Can anyone count that high? LMAO at the people who "ball-n-squall" over a woman they never knew. Dont matter how much money or fame anyone has, we're all gonna die.
That woman would have "snubbed" her nose at all of you morons at the mere suggestion of a simple autograph. She was human just like the rest of us! Lets move on. We've got way more important issues to worry about in this country.
Oh yeah I think she stopped getting married after her 438th husband I think.

Thursday 24 March

By Pinky

Vote down Vote up Report this

Heath: You too have the personality of a dented trash can! As you summarized: Everyone dies . . . and you won't go soon enough!

By carol foster

goodbuy elizabeth you came into the world when women needed a strong woman on screen, and off .you were a great humanaterian to the world we do not judge you by your private life but your legacy i know it is well with your lord. give michael jackson a hug have fun.

By Dennis Powers

Why so little about Liz's children? I don't know a thing about any of them and I do believe there were several, mostly adopted?

By berg1928

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Didn't she and Mike Todd adopt a little girl?

By Lauren

Elizabeth had Michael and Christopher with husband Michael Wilding ..... then she had her daughter, Liza, with husband Michael Todd. She and husband Richard Burton adopted Maria ...

By victor farias

Not much Love for the Privileged Do I Have....I hope God has more than I Do...

By Harry

Doubt that you have any love for anyone. I'm sure that the Good Lord will give you a fair shake, probably better then you deserve.

By cchucklest1

she was a good person a great actress and one good looking women. may god rest her soul.

By Jerry

Liz is known more for what she did off screen than on screen.

By HOGHAIR

it doesnt matter what she did. there isnt but one judge, GOD

By JP

She was an amazing woman period! She will always be my fav of female actors. She was effortless in the roles she played. I watch her movies all the time. I hope she is at peace now and my prayers and best wishes to her near and dear one's.

By Stuart Ann Bentley

Liz was a beautiful woman, inside & out. Some people are so jealous about her personal life. She would not intentionally hurt anyone. She is a 'one of a kind' Icon in her profession and life. Rest in Peace. Her family knows she is truly a Special Lady who will be missed by millions. God Bless.

By j6six

Maybe you should talk to Debbie Reynolds before you utter such nonsense!

By AJ

I'll remember Mrs. Taylor for her ardous work to help with AIDS and of course for her talented screen performances. Thank you the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and for all your great movies. May you Rest in Peace.

By FRANKIE

PEOPLE IF YOU CANNOT SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT ELIZABETH TAYLOR, KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELF.... THE LADY IS DEAD.. NOW WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR PEOPLE SAY ABOUT YOU WHEN YOU DIE???OR DO
YOU REALLY CARE...REMEMBER WHEN YOU POINT A FINGER THEY ARE 3
POINTING BACK AT YOU.

Elizabeth Taylor was never a "starlet." Whoever wrote this story obviously didn't follow her career. She had star billing for over 10 years before she married Eddie Fisher...

As to how many husbands she had, that was her business and her's alone. At least she didn't shack up with any of them prior to marriage and all her children were LEGITIMATELY-born children. None was born a bastard. They were born WITHIN marital bounds.

She didn't owe anyone anything ... except a great performance, which she delivered admirably.

By Amanda

There is a lot of stigma to having a divorce. Abused or cheated on or ignored in a marriage are grounds for divorce. Most people, especially attractive like her, have more intimate relationships than that do not work.They don't get married so they don't get the stigma. They were just sinning all along and breaking up was the end to sinning but no one talks about that. Getting divorced is what people like to talk about and look their nose down on even though they are no better.All though every one of her marriages were not so innocent considering the one with her friends husband. Being married that many times shows me that she wanted to do things the right way. She had the right intentions.I am sure she was not happy when the marriages did not work.

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