Elizabeth Taylor Hospitalized Due To Congestive Heart Failure

LOS ANGELES — Elizabeth Taylor has been hospitalized for treatment of congestive heart failure.

Her spokeswoman, Sally Morrison, said Friday that the Oscar-winning actress was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center within the past couple of days.

The 78-year-old Taylor is being treated for symptoms caused by congestive heart failure, a condition she disclosed she had back in November 2004.

Morrison said it's unknown how long she might be in the hospital. She added that Taylor's family appreciated the support from fans, but asked for privacy to allow the medical team space to do its work.

Taylor had been scheduled to attend an amfAR benefit gala Wednesday night in New York, where she was to receive an award alongside President Bill Clinton and designer Diane von Furstenberg, celebrating their dedication to AIDS research.

But she missed the event, so Elton John accepted the honor on her behalf and passed along a message from her: "I am there in spirit and I join you in saluting my fellow honorees and all these extraordinary leaders. I am inspired by their example, exhilarated by their vision, and encouraged by their compassion and love. And I love them in return."

Taylor, who's appeared in more than 50 films, won Oscars for her performances in "Butterfield 8" (1960) and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966). But she's been just as famous for her marriages – all eight of them, including two to Richard Burton – and her lifelong battles with substance abuse, her weight and physical ailments, including numerous visits to the hospital for more than 20 major operations and countless treatments.

The actress had near-fatal bouts with pneumonia in 1961 and 1990, and another respiratory infection forced her to cancel all engagements for several weeks in late 1992. She had both hip joints replaced in 1994 and 1995.

Her 2004 diagnosis for congestive heart failure, compounded with spinal fractures and the effects of scoliosis, left her nearly bedridden. She's also battled ulcers, amoebic dysentery, bursitis, and had a benign brain tumor removed in 1997. In recent years, she has had to use a wheelchair when out in public.

Comments

[IMissAmerica]

08:09 AM on 02/13/2011

No one can count the number of times the headlines have claimed Liz is on her death bed. Anyway with all the fine work and compassionate deeds this woman has done, she will live forever. Feel better soon Liz!

[bike2055]

08:00 AM on 02/13/2011

Lena Horne is as beautiful as ever.

[oxjr]

03:21 AM on 02/13/2011

Not only is she a star (someone whom you are drawn to watch regardless of the quality of the work) and not only is she a talented actress, she is also responsible for thousands of people being alive today due to her dedication to AIDS research. Few people get to own a claim like that. May you feel better soon.

[peacekitten]

02:07 AM on 02/13/2011

la liz is a true hollywood legend, one of the few living icons of  hollywood's most glamorous days.

she was one of the most exquisite beauties to appear on screen.

she has matched that outer beauty with her good works for others, showing her inner beauty as well.

i wish her all the best for a speedy recovery.  she is a one of a kind, and truly irreplaceable.

[1johnf]

01:10 AM on 02/13/2011

Best of luck to her. Hopefully unknown, unfameous 78yr olds with CHF will be able to recieve the same care. Probably will due to the infernal government controlled health care called Medicare. Would be nice if the rest of us could have it. Wait...maybe not entirely, but we do have the affordable health care act being incorporated...unless the republiteabags can win the Senate and return us to the dark ages.

[ajbiggs]

11:37 PM on 02/12/2011

Get Well Soon Lizzy!

[thecornerangel]

11:14 PM on 02/12/2011

Another one of your fans, who feels she knows you, prays for you. You've brought us a lot of enjoyment, Liz, and we are grateful.

[flyinskyler]

10:40 PM on 02/12/2011

Elizabeth Taylor has more glamor and charisma in her little toe than most of the actresses in Hollywood today.

[AlsoSarah]

09:36 PM on 02/12/2011

Don't bury her yet. She is a tough old bird.

[Widespread Panic]

09:29 PM on 02/12/2011

I hope she has a speedy recovery.

And I have to say even in her 70s she's one of the most beautiful women ever. Those violet eyes...stunning!

[lillibelle]

08:48 PM on 02/12/2011

Ms. Taylor is in my prayers tonight. My mother stood, heavily pregnant with me, awaiting my father's small plane to land out west, when it was announced that one had crashed into the mountains ~ Ellizabeth's husband was on that plane. My mother thought it was my father's.

While, like everyone on the planet, I have loved Ms. Taylor from her brief role in "Jane Eyre" to her days on Broadway and everything in between. But mostly, I love her commitment to friends ~ no matter their battle ~ and to the way she has suffered through such tormenting pain throughout her life while keeping her children's lives their own.

I have also had the same brain tumor as Ms. Taylor ~ alas, not her violet eyes. She will never know what strength has given me.

May her suffering cease and may she feel the love for her which we carry in our hearts.

[wtchyldy]

07:15 PM on 02/12/2011

Blessings to her.
I grew up loving her.

[RODERICK098]

06:14 PM on 02/12/2011

The greatest film star actress of all time. There is no one today that even remotely lights up the screen the way Elizabeth Taylor did. This was a star who made people want to go out and see a movie. Several people writing here have mentioned Jane Eyre when she was very young with a small part. She is very dramatic and absolutely riveting. She is on screen for about five minutes and in many copies of the movie she is not even the credits. People who like her should check this out-Orson Welles in Jane Eyre. Another unacknowledged brilliant performance of hers is in Ash Wednesday- an great example of a great star taking so so material and making it work. She is pretty amazing in it-In fact she has been pretty amazing in all her films There is no one toady that even light a match to the magic she brought to the screen.

[cocolola]

03:46 PM on 02/12/2011

One of Hollywood's last iconic movie stars. In her day, Liz was beautiful, talented and dynamic. All of the best to you Ms. Taylor.

[JenniferWest]

03:22 PM on 02/12/2011

A true American Icon! And one of the most beautiful women ever!

[tapscotter]

08:00 PM on 02/12/2011

i guess she considers herself american. much as elsa lanchester. didnt they star in a movie together, come to think of it?

[JenniferWest]

10:57 AM on 02/13/2011

Yeah, I guess she's an American? She was born in England. Her parents were Americans and she's lived here since she was a child. She IS an American Icon/Legend. She has had a huge HOLLYWOOD film career.