Academy Award winning Actress Elizabeth Taylor died early Wednesday of congestive heart failure. She was 79.
"She was surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton," Taylor's publicist, Sally Morrison, said in a statement. Taylor died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Hollywood, where she was admitted in early February.
In the statement, Michael Wilding said, "My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love," he said. "Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts."
Taylor was born Feb. 27, 1932, in Hampstead, a suburb of London, to American parents from Kansas.
She first gained stardom as a child in "National Velvet" and made more than 50 movies. She won two Best Actress Oscars, for "Butterfield 8″ in 1960 and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" in 1966.
She was married eight times, twice to actor Richard Burton.
In addition to her children, Taylor is survived by 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. ABC reported that a private family funeral will be held this week.
