Family
These pictures of the Hollywood icon will warm your heart
ByNakeisha Campbell
Actress Elizabeth Taylor was a Hollywood legend who graced the big screen for decades in classics like Cleopatra and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. (Who can forget those stunning eyes?) But while she was under constant scrutiny, the famous mom was always careful to shelter her kids Michael Howard Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Burton Tivey and Maria Burton.
“She was this globetrotting beautiful siren who kept them out of the spotlight — she wasn’t pushing them onto TV shows as some famous parents do. There wasn’t a lot of use of her children in the media,” William J. Mann, author of How to Be a Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood, told ABC News.
We’ll admit it was quite easy for all of us to forget that the glamorous actress mothered four children. (Did you know she even allegedly invented the chocolate martini with Rock Hudson? Click through to learn more.) However, her public image didn’t prevent her from being a supportive mom and friend to her kids in their times of need.
“She was more of the pal than the disciplinarian. She was the kind of mother who said, ‘I’m here if you want to talk to me.’” William also noted in his book, “She was only [20] when she had Michael, they weren’t that far apart in age, and she took that approach with all of them.”
Her close bond with her kids is obvious in these adorable photos below — and if it were up to us, we would have given her many “Mother of the Year” awards to go with all her Oscars.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Children in Photos
Elizabeth's first son, Michael Wilding Jr., was born in 1953. We can tell how easily she bonded with her precious newborn!
In 1955, Michael's brother Christopher Edward Wilding was born. We can already see the resemblance between him and his mom!
Michael Jr. was clearly eager to have a new sibling! Elizabeth Taylor and her second husband, Michael Sr., looked like the perfect family with their adorable kiddos.
The boys grew up pretty fast! By the late '50s, Liz and her kids were posing for family portraits.
Liz and Michael play with their sons in their Beverly Hills home.
In this photo on set of the film Giant, Liz is wearing aging makeup for her role as Leslie Lynnton Benedict. We wonder if her boys recognized her!
In 1957, Elizabeth and her third husband Michael Todd welcomed their daughter, Liza Todd. Wasn't she adorable?
This sweet photo of Elizabeth snuggling with newborn Liza shows just how much she cherished each of her children.
How beautiful is Liz giving Liza a bottle while her adoring brothers marvel at their new little sister?
Michael Jr. and Christopher look so dashing in matching outfits with their mom and then-husband Eddie Fisher.
Here is a classic family photo of Liz and her sons with her husband, Eddie, at Disneyland. The group was photographed at the amusem*nt park in 1959, enjoying some popcorn before making their way to the rides.
Liz was the fun sort of mom who wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty with her kids. Here she is in a heated bumper car battle with her son, Michael.
Liz and her daughter, Liza, looked sweet as can be in their matching Dior outfits at Bertram Mill’s Circus in London.
After a near-fatal bout of pneumonia in 1961, a still-recovering Liz greets her children at the airport in Southern California with husband Eddie Fisher.
Here, Liz was spotted enjoying a fun outing with Liza and Michael.
Liz clearly enjoyed window shopping with her kids.
In 1963, Liz was spotted with six-year-old Liza on the set of the film Becket. We imagine her children spent a lot of time on film sets!
On the set of Cleopatra, Liza got to bond with Liz’s future husband, Richard Burton.
Christopher, shown in the middle, got to meet one of his mom's on-screen children while visiting the set of Cleopatra. It's amazing to see Liz doing her own makeup, too!
Shortly after she divorced her fourth husband Eddie Fisher in 1964, Liz and Richard adopted a three-year-old girl named Maria. She's now a philanthropist and goes by Maria Burton Carson, according to Express.
Liz and then husband Richard Burton took the kids on a family vacation to the French Riviera in 1965.
Richard and Elizabeth were famous for having one of the most passionate romances in history, but they always made sure to put their kids' needs first.
Liz and a teenage Liza were seen hanging out in England in 1969.
Maria, Elizabeth, and Liza all look perfectly chic in their swinging '60s outfits.
A shaggy-haired Michael Jr. embraces the hippie look while out on the town in London with mom.
The actress and her daughter, Maria, on the left, were seen celebrating at a special event in the '70s.
Both Liz's and her then-husband John Warner's children look happy to join together after their parents' engagement in the '70s.
Liz and Maria were spotted at the Roxy Roller Disco in New York during the '80s. These two loved to have a good time!
Elizabeth celebrated with all of her children after she was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth in 2000. The others pictured are the wives of her two sons!
In 2007, Elizabeth and all of her children celebrated her 75th birthday in LA. They make one gorgeous family!The actress sadly passed away in 2011 at the age of 79. This was the last public photo taken of her with her children.
