Elizabeth Taylor (Feb. 27, 1932—March 23, 2011)
By Elton John
From her very first big role in National Velvet, Elizabeth was just the most beautiful-looking girl, and then the most beautiful-looking woman. I don't think there's ever been anyone as beautiful as her. She landed all the great roles — Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Giant, BUtterfield 8, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? — and she delivered. She was beautiful, but she was a really fantastic actress. She had an aura and a mystique around her. She was without doubt the most glamorous movie star that ever existed. Then she had all this incredible turmoil in her personal life, which made her so much more fascinating.
As an activist, she was a trailblazer. She spoke out about HIV at a time when it was incredibly unfashionable. And it came from a woman, which was great because everyone was calling AIDS a gay male disease. She was fearless in what she said. She set up amfAR and saved millions of people's lives. She became known for her activism even more than her acting, and I think 
she would be happy with that. She did my video for ''Original Sin,'' which was the last thing she ever did on film. And it was such a hoot. We laughed and laughed and laughed.
We used to insult each other and send each other up. She had the most incredible sense of humor, and she never took herself seriously at all. I miss talking to her on the phone and hearing that wicked laugh of hers. She had a cackle of a laugh. I miss dishing the dirt with her. And I miss her compassion most of all.
Taylor died of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles.
Image Credit: Everett Collection
Late Greats 2011: Stars Pay Tribute
Elton John on Elizabeth Taylor; Arnold Schwarzenegger on Jack LaLanne; Seth Macfarlane on Patrice O'Neal; Max Weinberg on Clarence Clemons; and more
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