Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor has died in Los Angeles at age 79.
The Oscar-winning actress, who was married eight times, had a long history of ill health and was being treated for symptoms of congestive heart failure.
Her four children were at her side when she passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, according to her publicist.
In a statement, her son, Michael Wilding, said: “My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humour, and love. 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’s most noteable films included National Velvet, Cleopatra and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
She found fame at the age 0f 12 and the peak of her film career came in the 1950s and 1960s, with four consecutive Oscar nominations and two Oscar wins for Best Actress for her roles in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Butterfield 8.
In 1960, she became the highest paid actress of her time when 20th Century Fox signed her up for $1 million to appear in the epic film Cleopatra. It was during filming that her romance started with co-star Richard Burton.
Burton is often regarded as having been the true love of her life, even though they had a tempestuous relationship which saw them divorce and remarry in 1975.
Taylor’s health problems began with a fall while filming her first hit film, National Velvet, which led to a lifetime of back problems.
A rare strain of pneumonia almost killed her in 1961 and she also battled addictions to alcohol and painkillers.
In the 1990s, she underwent two hip replacement operations, suffered another near-fatal bout of pneumonia and survived surgery for a benign brain tumour.
In 2004, it was revealed that she was suffering from congestive heart failure and scoliosis, which twisted her spine.
But despite her list of health problems, she continued to campaign for her AIDS charity, which she set up in 1991 after the death of her friend and co-star Rock Hudson.
Taylor is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. A private funeral is to be held this week.
In paying tribute to Taylor, British actress Joan Collins, who starred alongside Taylor in the 2001 TV film These Old Broads, called her “the last of the True Hollywood Icons”.
“A great beauty, a great actress and continually fascinating to the World throughout her tumultuous life and career. She will be missed,” she added.
One-time co-star Sir Michael Caine also paid tribute, remembering her as “a beautiful woman, a wonderful actress, and a great human being.”
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