in 1964 elizabeth taylor married richard burton. couple went on location that spring to a small fishing village on the pacific coast of mexico where burton was cost in the movie the night of the iguana. worldwide press coverage resulted in a sudden tourist interest. tailer and burton bought a home in the town, which they used as a vacation getaway. over the years, it became a magnet for american tourists. last year, elizabeth taylor cooperated in a new book about her life with richard burton. she gave the author private letters, and other materials, motivated by a recent poll which found her name far more recognizable than his. at the time of his death in 1984, ktvu movie man bob shaw looks back at his career. >> reporter: one of 13 children, his first ambition was to become a preacher. >> i did seriously consider becoming a minister, priest, but whether i would have made a good one is from the rest of my life as you can imagine extremely doubtful. >> reporter: under the tutorship of a school master, he won a scholarship to oxford us

i was born in the same town as richard burton, the actor. i saw him. he and his wife used to drive their car into my father's shop. i would come up and as for his autograph and think i wanted to be like that. i wanted to get out of the environment i was in. a few years later, it all began to fall into place. it was a strange, mysterious thing. i believe in synchronous city. i ended up here. i visualized a lot of it. i did not understand anything about school, so i visualize myself doing it. i wanted to be a musician, but i did not have an instrument. i decided i wanted to be famous, so i became an actor. it took a long time. my life has been very easy, compared to some. richard burton was never close to his father. he came from a very large family. he said he arrived at his sister's house and said, "where's dad?" he was never close to his father. he arrived in dublin and his father was there. he said, "hello," as though i'd just been fun -- just been around the corner. my father looked at me and said "you have that money -- what for?" i have been askin

married eight times to seven men, she married richard burton twice, the public and paparazzi consumed her every romance. she said there were two great loves in her life. director mike todd, who tragically died after one year of marriage, and richard burton, who in 1962, she met on the set of "cleopatra." >> we both tried very hard to resist. it was just like, boom! >> reporter: and the rest, as they say is -- >> is history. >> reporter: both were married at the time. and their very public affair, condemned by the vatican, became an international scandal. unquestionably, their torrid relationship was one of the last century's great romances. richard burton was a great actor. >> and a hunk. >> reporter: throughout the '60s, the burtons were the most celebrated couple on the planet. superstars before there was such a word. lovers and friends all showered her with jewelry, a collection considered one of the finest in the world. >> don't get your fingerprints on it. >> reporter: look at that. in later years, taylor successfully transformed herself into a businesswoman, selling perfume. but

she had eight marriages to seven men, she married richard burton twice, and she felt in her heart of chard survived, there may have been a third time around. >> he did write his last letter to her was literally right before he passed. >> right. and he mailed it before he died. he died suddenly of cerebral brain hemorrhage and she received the letter when she returned back from london where she attended his memorial service and back in los angeles, there was this final letter waiting for her. it was the one letter she would not let us read because it was just too personal, too close. >> did she give you any inkling of what was in it or what it was like to read it? >> the implication is that he always loved her, he still loved her, and missed her, and wanted to come home and home was where she was. >> what was it about them, because they had this very as we saw in that "60 minutes" interview, it was liz and dick and in the press it was liz and dick and very public. >> they hated those terms by the way. >> in private, was it a different relationship than what was seen in public? >> we wr

which she starred with richard burton.of her highly publicized eight marriages, taylor eventually married burton twice. those stormy relationships ended in divorce. >> it was almost like everything was too much. we loved each other, almost too much. >> reporter: most of taylor's husbands were rich and powerful men from conrad hilton jr. to producer mike todd who died in a plane crash to singer eddie fisher. her choice for last husband was a unlikely one. unknown carpenter michael fortensky. they married at neverland ranch. taylor and jackson were good friended. he honored her for her 63rd birthday. >> i want to thank you all for wing here. for supporting me. >> reporter: the televised event was held days before she underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor. in 1961 she nearly dpried pneumonia. she also fought a continuing battle for her weight turning to booze and diet pills for salvation. >> i consumed inordinate amounts of alcohol and combined with pills, it was deadly. >> reporter: it was her own medical problems

but it was her fifth husband, richard burton, who took dazzling her to another level. one, at nearly 70 carats, it became known as the taylor-burton diamond. >> when you're with a new men and you're wearing the jewelry given to you by other men, is it ever awkward or uncomfortable for the other men in your life? >> so i've been told. >> what do you do about it? >> encourage them to give me more. >> reporter: white diamonds were more than just her fragrance. >> they always brought me luck. >> reporter: they were her inspiration. "good morning america" was the only media outlet invited into the house of taylor jewelry in beverly hills, where taylor met with the owners to sketch her dreams into jeweled reality. did she start with the stone? did she start with the diamonds? >> usually starts with the stone. sometimes she would come up with sketches on her own. >> reporter: the stone is the center of this piece, the emerald surrounded by 60 carats of diamonds. this bracelet of canary and white diamonds will cost you nearly $100,000. i'm a little nervous. how much is this wor

elizabeth taylor at the height of her career, starring opposite the love of her life, richard burton. they married twice in a tempestuous and toward relationship, scandalous even by hollywood standards. by the late 1960's, taylor's best years as an actress were behind her, but she stayed in e spotlight with a weakness for alcohol, prescription drugs, and the trappings of luxury. in the 1980's, she emerged as a prominent activist in the fight against aids, but the superstar was plagued with health problems and was in and out of the hospital for much of her later life. taylor and critical raves with her intense performance in the tennessee williams classic "cat on a hot tin roof." >> thank you for keeping still. >> richard burton once said of her, "she looks at you with those eyes, and your blood turns." elizabeth taylor -- one of hollywood's immortal -- has died at the age of 79. >> back right afterlobal ideas l 3000. >> welcome back. libya appears further away from a cease-fire than ever. the battle between rebel forces and troops loyal to muammar gaddafi in its fifth week. under the

she was married eight times, twice to richard burton.lor dead at the age of 79. >>> this morning, a bomb went off in central jerusalem, what appears to be the first terrorist bombing there in several years. the bomb went off a bus stop where dozens of people were waiting. officials say at least 25 people were hurt. so far, no deaths have been reported. israeli officials say >>> we want to bring you more on the life of dame elizabeth taylor. joining us in the studio kate quinn of people magazine and on the phone, dionne warwick. good to have both of you ladies with us. kate, you've been working on this for some time. you know so much about her. what is it you think that elizabeth taylor kept her an icon for so long, people of every generation know who she is. >> there's really been no one like her before or since. she is a caliber of star that can't be equalled. she's -- she was the last great, great movie star and an icon. >> dion, you're with us on the phone, if we can bring you in. >> yes, i am. >> good morning. >> good morning. >> let

reminded this past week, elizabeth taylor was married eight times in all, twice to fellow actor richard burtonon "60 minutes" with cbs news correspondent charles collingwood. here's part of it. >> if you were so devoted to each other, as i think you are, what about all these rows. you can't pick up a movie magazine or anything about liz and dick battling. >> i must say we enjoy fighting. i think that fighting with somebody you love and are really sure of and if you're really sure of yourself in your love, i think having a fight, an out-and-out outrage us ridiculous fight is one of the greatest exercises in marital togetherness. >> especially if you have no really weak parts. you see, you do not attack the weak parts. they're perfectly obvious in elizabeth and myself so when i insult elizabeth, which i frequently do, i do not attack that soft spot in the underbelly. >> my double chin. >> double chins. >> you bloody well have. >> she's going to slap me for that. we've always had, of course, the enormous problem. elizabeth and myself of my being essentially a stage actor and elizabeth a film actr

. >> he starred after her husband richard burton. is their romance was worldwide tabloid fodder. they divorced twice. >> it was everything too much. we loved each other but it was too much. >> eight husbands including the eddie fiber. her last husband she met at the betty ford clinic. >> i consumed inordinate amounts of alcohol and combined with pills it was deadly. >> they married at neverland ranch. she was be plagued with dozens of serious health problems. she then became involved national fight against aid and she raised more than $200 million. >> we will fight the odds and win because it was right to do so. >> and she was very helpful in raising funds and raising awareness at a time when most entertainers stayed away from aids. >> and fashion show in san francisco, one year, she also became the image of her own perfume. her later life was given to cause but we never stopped being fascinated by elizabeth taylor. >> her son released this statement. my mother was an extraordinary woman that lived life to the fullest that lived with humor and love. we know simply the world is a

. >> he starred after her husband richard burton. is their romance was worldwide tabloid fodder. they divorced twice. >> it was everything too much. we loved each other but it was totoo muchch. >> eigight husbsbands includinge eddie fiber. heher laast hususbandnd s she e betttty ford clinic. >> i consumed inordinate amounts of alcohol and combined with pills it was deadly. >> they married at neverland ranch. she was be plagued with dozens of serious health problems. she then became involved national fight against aid and she raised more than $200 million. >> we will fight the odds and win because it was right to do so. >> and she was very helpful in raising funds and raising awareness at a time when most entertainers stayed away from aids. >> and fashion show in san francisco, one year, she also became the image of her own perfume. her later life was given to cause but we never stopped being fascinated by elizabeth taylor. >> her son released this statement. my mother was an extraordinary woman that lived life to the fullest that lived with humor and love. we know simply the worl

elizabeth taylor at the height of her career, starring opposite the love of her life, richard burton. they married twice in a tempestuous and toward relationship, scandalous even by hollywood standards. by the late 1960's, taylor's best years as an actress were behind her, but she stayed in the spotlight with a weakness for alcohol, prescription drugs, and the trappings of luxury. in the 1980's, she emerged as a prominent activist in the fight against aids, but the superstar was plagued with health problems and was in and out of the hospital for much of her later life. taylor and critical raves with her intense performance in the tennessee williams classic "cat on a hot tin roof." >> thank you for keeping still. >> richard burton once said of her, "she looks at you with those eyes, and your blood turns." elizabeth taylor -- one of hollywood's immortal -- has died at the age of 79. >> back right after the break with more on the situation in libya. >> people with ideas aimed at halting climate change, doing their bit all over the world. >> is it 40% on fuel costs. -- i save 40% on fuel

richard burton twice. >> i think he's one of the finest actors honors. >>reporter: the taylor road into moviegoers hearts as a child actress in 1945 with national valve that. spiegel you're a pretty one pie >>reporter: actress downplayed her abilities. >> i love with the critics have never taken myself very seriously. my craft yes, but as an actress know. >>reporter: still taylor received five academy award nominations and twice named best actress for her role as a call girl in 1960 and as an ornery alcoholic wife in who is afraid of virginia woolf in 1966. through the years taylor battle the litany of healthy flows. it was a health crisis affecting other is that true for attention. she took up the fight against aids after close friend died of the disease in 1985. >> this is something, it's a catastrophe that belongs to all of us. it isn't a thing that belongs to a minority group anymore. >>reporter: taylor helped found the american foundation for aids research and established the elizabeth taylor aids foundation. later she publicly defended michael jack

. >> reporter: in "cleopatra," mark antony was played by richard burton. >> i want to be free of you. >> reporter: offscreen, the two fell madly in love and scandalously lived together before either of them were divorced. both the catholic church and the u.s. congress condemned them for living in sin. but she and burton obtained divorces and their marriage was later called the romance of the century. they were married for ten headline-grabbing years and starred in 11 films together. their lovers quarrels on screen and off were legendary. >> i will marry you. >> i'd rather die. >> reporter: still, burton showered his wife with spectacular jewels, including the famous 33 carat diamond. she showed me her jewelry in 2002. >> he said, i want to get you that ring. would you like to try? >> reporter: i would love to try. well, thanks, a lot, elizabeth, the interview is over. let's go home. >> reporter: but no amount of jewelry would keep the marriage stable. the two divorced, only to marry again, but that didn't last, either. >> it was almost like everything was too much. we loved each other

her co-star was, of course, richard burton. >> remember, remember. >> forget? no. could never been more far away from new the nest. -- i could never be more far away from you then as. >> their romance was immediate sensation that when on and on. they married and divorced, then married and divorced again. that stormy passion with merit another oscar-winning performance. >> i am it loud and i am vulgar, and i wear the pants in the house, because somebody has got to. but i am not a monster. >> and then there were the other husbands. eddie fisher, the senator, and the builder, larry portenski. and through all this, the ill health. she had ulcers, a brain tumor, arthritis. but her charity work was for another condition -- aids. following the death of rock hudson, she was furious at the taboos surrounding the topic. >> everybody was talking about it. but like this. and nobody was doing anything about it. including myself. and then i got really angry. >> the foundation she helped set up has distributed more than $230 million. it was for this she was made dame elizabeth. a

was married timetables, including being -- married eight times including being married twice to richard burton. she became an activist for a.i.d.s. causes after her friend, rock hudson died. she died this morning at cedars- sinai hospital surrounded by her children. >> she's always been a star. it's hard to know what made her a star. i would say initially it was her astounding beauty and sensitivity. >> she was plagued by ill health and was hospitalized 70 times during her lifetime. ed a cedars-sinai, doctors -- at cedars-sinai doctors said her condition improved and doctors expected her to go home. in hollywood, fans are gathering at her star. the family is working on a public memorial. u.s. barbara boxer talked about taylor's work on a.i.d.s. at a time it bass not popular. >> i rely admire the way she used her fame to step out, in the early stage, when people were afraid to talk about a.i.d.s. and say i'm gonna fight to see that there's a cure. i've expressed my sympathy to her family and i -- i laud her involvement. >> you can go to ktvu.com for more on the life of elizabeth taylor. click o

and then elizabeth went on to find great romance and love with richard burton.u know, through the years we remained friends. i spoke with elizabeth about two to three weeks ago. i just called her up to see how she was doing and, you know, if she was keeping her courage up. and she said it was really tough and she was not happy with the way things were going, but that she was doing the best she could. and she said, old age is not for sissies, which we all know is true. >> isn't that true. taylor's ex-husband, john warner, says he was friends with her until the end. later on we'll bring you more liz taylor memories. today on "good morning america," how she made an impact on fans not just here in the u.s., but around the world. >>> now to our other major story this morning. president obama is meeting with his top security team over the situation in libya this afternoon. the commander in chief is facing new pressure from republicans to justify the u.s. role in the conflict. meanwhile in libya, they say coalition forces have hit a fuel depot in tripoli. other targets

richard burton acted together in a series of films. >> i wear the pants in the house because someone has got to. there remained -- they married and divorced twice. they remained close until her death. she fought fear and prejudice towards aids. elizabeth taylor had her problems with ill health and addiction but her indomitable spirit and lust for life meant she could not be thwarted. as michael caine said, she was a great human being. >> her death is being mourned and perhaps nowhere more so is the outpouring > in los angeles. we have the part of the story. >> hollywood is honoring an icon the way it always mourns its own. with a wreath on the walk of fame. there is an added touch. >> we asked the florist to select flowers to commemorate the color of her eyes. we thought it was appropriate. >> she made an impression on many. >> i thought if i came here, i would say my goodbyes. i have always admired her. i am really hurting right now. >> she did contribute a lot to the aids foundation and who she was an actress and her essence is pretty amazing. it is sad. >> among the many public fi

she co-starred with richard burton and became the brangelina of their day. the film "the sand piper" at big sur, fred pardini went on set, shooting stills. >> the two of them so charming that i felt like if i said gee can you have dinner with us tonight in my home in san francisco, they would have said yes. >> she would marry burton twice. one of seven husbands. and her humanitarianism in the activist against aids. >> we'll fight and win because it's right. >> she started american foundation for aids research. former health director mervyn silverman was the first president. >> she was helpful in raising funds and wareness when most entertainers and almost all stayed as far as they can get. >> because of her support he's getting medication. >> she stuck up for ghaiz not many would. she stuck up for hiv and aids rights to eliminate stigma. no one else would. >> the fight brought her to san francisco for the passport fashion know. and i met her, she was gracious. she would stay at the fairmont. >> she had friends traveling with her and what have you. and she wa

aquÍ su esposo richard burton le comprÓ grandes de sus valorables joyas. ntaciones vendidas a capacidad y que ya anunciaron que prÓximamente se va a relanzar en la gran manzana. >> muchas gracias. sin lugar a dudas es una mujer que en muchos momentos y en muchos lugares ha dejado huella y la ciudad de nueva york es una ciudad que... incluso yo por alguna razÓn tÚ me decÍas elizabeth taylor e inmediatamente me transportaba a la gran manzana. >> asÍ es, aquÍ se compraron sus mÁs memorables joyas. >> allÍ es donde se gastÓ el billete. muchas gracias, birmania, con la cobertura especial de la muerte de elizabeth taylor. >> listo? >> la hora de la novela. es tu fuerte. >> me encanta la novela. >> viste el triunfo del amor? >> cuÉntanos. >> te cuento. >> max se quedÓ todo como dudoso. >> con la duda! >> quÉ clase de hombre es ese. >> hablar firmemente con ella y ligarla a que le diga la verdad. >> la verdad? a quÉ verdad te refieres? luz? >> cruz? >> yo no soy quiÉn para decÍrsela, pero marÍa desamparada lo necesita mÁs que nunca. es su obligaciÓn. cumplirle como

. >> married eight times to seven different men, it was her romance to richard burton whom she first married in 1964 and then again in 1975 that created a media frenzy. >> they were trailblazers for the paparazzi. there had never been anything like that. there had never been stars that big, there had never been a romance that big, that famous and public and scandalous. >> reporter: in 2009 she privately mourned the passing of one of her best friends, michael jackson. in her later years, it was her charity work for aids research that she says kept her going. stephanie stanton, nbc news, los angeles. >> really an american icon. a lot of tributes coming out for elizabeth taylor. >>> this comes to us from kxas nbc 5 in dallas, texas, where in nearby denton one teenager is pounding the pavement hoping to find some work in the world of politics. 18-year-old zorro is running for a seat on the city council. when he's not studying, the college student is campaigning meeting the residents he wants to represent. an incumbent opponent is his biggest hurdle on election day. but the chance to make

she fell in love with the role and richard burton, her costar, leading to one of the most 20th- century documented love affairs. they acted together in a series of films, including "who is afraid of virginia woolf? " before that, she won her second oscar. >> i wear the pants in the house. >> they married and divorced twice, but remained close until his death. the film roles began to subside, but her face and did not. she used it and her remarkable energy to work towards aids. elizabeth taylor had problems with ill health at and depression, but she could not be thwarted. as michael caine said today, she was a great human being. elizabeth taylor has died at the age of 79. >> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the globe and click-to-play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put

she costarred with richard burton. they met filming cleopatra and brangelina of their day.shot stills for the the old "san francisco examiner." >> the two were so charming i felt like if i said gee, can you have dinner with us tonight in my home in san francisco and they would have aid, yes. >> reporter: she married burton twice. one of seven husbands. marriages and glamour are one part of her life. it is her humanitarian that is a legacy. >> we will fight the odds and win because it is right. >> she started the american foundation for aids research. silverman was the first president. >> she was very active in raising awareness when most stayed as far away from aids as they could get. >> jason says because of her lobbying and effort he is getting information. >> she eliminated stigma when no one else would. >> reporter: it brought her for the fashion show. i met her back stage. she was gracious. she would stay at the fair month hotel. thomas wolf was the concierge. >> she had friends that traveled with her but she was not a demanding person. >> she is gone how but how would

opposite husband number 5, richard burton. >> i am not a monster! i am not!> reporter: their motto seemed to be, excess in all things typified by the huge diamonds he gave her. they made a string of over-the- top movies together. drank too much, caroused too much, fought, divorced, remarried and fought some more. there were two more marriages... senator john warner for six years, four years with construction worker larry fortensky. the passions of her later years included her work for aids research and a series of perfumes sold in her name. it's the failed marriages or the health problems -- if the failed marriages or the health problems ever overwhelmed this child of hollywood she never let on. friends said she never complained about the past and she always hoped to fall in love just one more time. bill whitaker, cbs news, hollywood. >> and again, elizabeth taylor died early this morning at a los angeles hospita according to the her publicist. she was 79. we'll have more on her life and legacy later on this cbs station on "the early show" for the west coast

but her off-screen affair with co-star richard burton, who she later married not once, but twice, overshadowed the production, which then opened to bad reviews. in all, elizabeth taylor married eight times. there was a singer, eddie fisher, who was married to debbie reynolds when they first met. there was a senator, republican john warner of virginia. there was even a builder, who taylor met when he was doing some home improvements for her. for a lot of her life, taylor battled health problems, near fatal pneumonia, a brain tumor, substance abuse and weight problems. >> either you look forward to waking up or you don't. i do. >> all of her troubles provided comics with a lot of material. she never gave up, and kept her name and famous face out there with product endorsements later in life. >> these have always brought me luck. >> her remaining years were defined by the death of her close friend and former co-star, rock hudson. his revelation that he was dying of aids shocked the country, but she went to work, devoting her life to raising money and research to fight the disease and fight the st

playing martha, the boozy shrew in "who's afraid of virginia wolf" opposite husband number 5, richard burton. >> but i am not a monster. i'm not! >> reporter: their motto seemed to be, excess in all things, typified by the huge diamonds he gave her. they made a string of over-the- top movies together, drank too much, caroused too much, fought, divorced, remarried and fought some more. there were two more marriages, senator john warner for six years, four years with construction worker larry fortensky. the passions of her later years included her work for aids research and a series of perfumes sold in her name. if the failed marriages or health problems ever overwhelmed this child of hollywood, she didn't let on. friends said she never complained about the past and she always hoped to fall in love just one more time. bill whitaker, cbs news, hollywood. >> and fans are already paying tribute to taylor at her star on the hollywood walk of fame. today the hollywood chamber of commerce also taylor with a pink wreath. she was one of the first stars on the walk when it began back in 1960. >>> all r

actor richard burton became her husband twice. later in life, elizabeth -- her act career, when she published a book and focused her attention on the world's aids epidemic. . in recent years as you mentioned she struggled with her health and hospitalized the last six weeks. again, her family, her four children, ten grandchildren were by her side when she passed early this morning here in los angeles. >> miguel almaguer. thank you very much. miguel in los angeles this morning. >> taylor won two oscars during her remarkable career. nbc's peter alexander joining with us more of her life and legacy. peter, good morning. >> good morning to both of you. this is sad news. obviously elizabeth taylor will be remembered than larger-than-life hollywood star. unforgettable performances on the silver screen. her personal courage off of it as well. she was described it is a last of a breed traveling with huge entourages, spending lavishly on diamonds and living a life of old-style hollywood glamour. she was one of the last of the screen goddess

. >> reporter: but it was her romance to richard burton, whom she first married in 1974 and then again in 1985 that created a media frenzy. >> they were trailblazers for the paparazzi. there had never been anything like that. there had never been stars that big, never been a romance that famous and public and scandalous. >> reporter: in 2009, she privately mourned the passing of one of her best friends, michael jackson. in later years, it was her charity work for aids research that she says kept her going. just days after celebrating her 79th birthday in february, taylor was hospitalized with congestive heart failure. she will be remembered her for beauty, generosity and grace. scott budman -- >> "cat on a hoot tin roof," one of the best movies ever made a private family funeral will be held for elizabeth taylor this week. elton john, joan collins, george michael and nancy reagan expressed their great grief over taylor's death. >>> let's bring in our chief meteorologist jeff ranieri. he rejoins us now. this was halftime, would you say and start up again, is that the deal? >> good way t

. >> couric: her leading man richard burton became husband number five, and later six when they remarried. they had a child together, her fourth. the two were extravagant as the jewels he bought her. her love affair with diamonds never died. her love affair with burton was over by 1976. but not before the couple had made one last iconic film... >> you what? >> couric: ...for which she won a second oscar, an explosive domestic drama about the unraveling of a marriage. >> i'm loud and i'm vulgar and i wear the pants in the house because somebody's got to. >> i don't think there was a reflection of their real lives in the characters of george and martha. but obviously taylor and burton had a tempestuous relationship. >> when i insult elizabeth, which i frequently do, i do not attack that soft spot in the under belly. >> my double chins? >> double chins. >> you bloody well have. >> couric: taylor would marry twice more, to virginia senator john warner, and finally in 1991 to construction worker larry fortensky, whom she met during her time at the betty ford center recovering from addiction to

still married to fisher, she began a stormy love affair with her co-star, husband five and six richard burton boozy and volatile. the couple would make nine films together with "who's afraid of virginia woolf" earning taylor her second oscar. what's considered her finest performance. theirs was a larger than life romance right down to the 69.5 carat diamond burton bought for her. they divorced in 1976. in 1991, taylor surprised everyone with her eighth marriage to larry fortensky, a 40-year-old recovering alcoholic construction worker. throughout her loves, taylor had two sons and two daughters. at 72 she revealed she had congestive heart failure. still, she never completely shied away from the public eye. when asked what she considered her biggest accomplishment, elizabeth taylor replied, i survived. manuel gallegus, cbs news, hollywood. >> she will be missed. >>> coming up a little bit later on "the early show," more on the remarkable life of screen legend elizabeth taylor. also, the latest on the incident at reagan airport, where the air traffic controller may have fallen asleep. and a pop

por grandes pelÍculas como cleopatra como la gata sobre el tejado de zinc,ella fue pareja de richard burtonuedara en la memoria por pelÍculas inolvidables. >> deja tres oscares en su haber,una mujer que no solamente cosechÓ Éxitos a nivel internacional sino que tuvo ocho matrimonios a lo largo de su vida,el Último le costÓ un millón de dÓlares,estuvo casada con richard burton,7 esposos y ocho matrimonios. >> asÍ es,una de las cosas que mÁs llama la atenciÓn es que se convirtiÓ en un icono del mundo del cine,una mujer conocida siempre por apoyar y ayudar a la comunidad, una mujer muy cercana a la vida Íntima de michael jackson,y por supuesto el hecho que haya fallecido enlutece el mundo del cine,ella tuvo una falla cardÍaca,estuvo siempre cerca de su familia, dejÓ nietos y bisnietos. >> ella falleciÓ acompaÑada por sus seres queridos en un hospital de los Ángeles,esto pone de luto a la comunidad de el espectÁculo y a sus familiares. pero era una mujer que siempre estaba contenta, con buen humor, vivÍa la vida hasta el Último momento, era una mujer que le veÍa el lado positivo a la vida.ademÁ

my favorite was made with richard burton and, taming of the shrew. it really it brought shakespeare l.i.. she made so many great films. she glamorized herself and who is afraid of virginia woolf. she was one amazing woman. but what she is also known for her extraordinary beauty. there will have some sort that remembered for her. >> she is the last of the studio system that starts you what you are really young. i got to be are wrong turn out one time at the academy awards. what a beautiful, a stunning woman. she has a great while body a laugh. she was truly bigger than life. she started at age 12. actually, even younger. she had a remarkable beauty and it brought her at a very young age into the hollywood world. she completely moved onto movies like catch on a hot tin roof. it said late last summer. a huge cache of influence all threat the world. -- it through out the world. she is the first person to get $1 million paid. she was remarkable on so many levels. >>mark: will be ever see an actress of this caliber again? >> i do not think so. they guided

during the filming, she fell in love with her co-star, richard burton. both were married at the time to others. she'd later marry burton not once but twice. in all, elizabeth taylor was married eight times including singer eddie fisher who was married to debbie reynolds when they met. there was also senator john warner of virginia and a handyman she met when they were both in rehab. they were married at michael jackson's neverland ranch. they would remain close friends till his death. through much of her life she's had health problems, near-fatal pneumonia, a brain tumor, substance abuse and weight problems. elizabeth taylor was a constant target of the tabloid media. like the time in 2006 when she reportedly was close to death suffering from alzheimer's. >> come on, do i look like i'm dying? >> reporter: taylor devoted much of her life raising money for aids research. >> if you reach out to them, you receive so much love in return. >> reporter: but it is what people notice first about elizabeth taylor that will remain in our memory, it was her eyes. the

she started in another play with richard burton two years later.lizabeth taylor was laid to rest yesterday in a brief private ceremony at a southern california cemetery. >>> this is where much of marin county sewage is supposed to end up. i'll tell you why the thousands of counties that ended up here and what the city plans to do about it. >>> at least one person tonight is saying there is no excuse. she's talking about thousands of gallons of raw sewage that spilled in marin county. it happened when some manhole covered were exposed. ic rassmussen is live where he's asking, what happened. >> reporter: you know they even gave us this graph. you can easily see just much rain fell. >> reporter: this warnings are still up and colleen ross is still angry. >> when you see rushing water going down the street, that suspect just mud. >> reporter: 8,000-gallons of saw sewage spilled out of manholes which means it never made it here to this treatment facility. this is one of the manholes that opened. neighbors are asking if anything is being done to keep the

she may be most well known for eight marriages including twice to film star richard burton and she had a close friendship to the late michael jackson. >> kristen: security will be noticeably stepped up at a highly rated east bay high school after police arrested three people for bringing guns to school. amy hollyfield has the latest. >> reporter: some are asking is it time for metal detectors here at berkeley high school. five guns have been confiscated in the past three months, they found two of them yesterday. twa two sprays incidents, first one bs a gun accidentally went off in the bathroom. two students were arrested a short time later and witnesses helped find them later. a third student was arrests after they received a tip that the student had a gun. that gun wasn't loaded. school officials are working to step set up a hot line where students can report crime. >> we don't have an indication that the weapon was brought with the specific intent to cause harm to anybody. >> this may be uncomfortable but we're quite certain that weapons are in school every day that we are not aware

she was paired with her two- time husband richard burton. >> as in almost all greek things i'm flattered >> reporter: taylor would marry eight times in all. over the years her dual love of men and diamonds often went hand in hand. >> each day in this world 5000 people become infected with hiv. >> reporter: after the death of actor and close friend rock hudson in 1985 taylor focused her attention on aids and aids research later calling acting artificial and said seeing people suffer is real. tail or leaves behind two daughters and two sons as well as 10 grandchildren. there is talk of a public remembrance. >>> elizabeth taylor used her celebrity status to raise millions of dollars for aids research and she was one of the first to do so. she was well known for her long time efforts to help people living with aids including many here in the bay area. >> elizabeth taylor's name was very much out there and as i say what made it so important is her name was out there and her voice was out there when very few others were. >> paul chambers will have more on what elizabeth taylor meant to hiv aid

she was married eight times including twice to richard burton. she died surrounded by her family. she was 79-year-old. elizabeth taylor was also well known for her work to fight aids. paul chambers tells us what she did back in the 80s was something very few others would do. and the gay community in san francisco has never forgotten. >> reporter: she is considered hollywood royalty by many. but if the attention that she brought to hiv aids is touching many in the gay community in san francisco. >> someone like elizabeth taylor was an incredible advocate and raised hundreds of millions of dollars. and we're going to miss her. >> reporter: it may be hard for the new generation to understand the impact elizabeth taylor had on the fight against hiv/aids. she brought millions of dollars here to san francisco and also spoke at a time when no one else would. taylor began her campaign to educate the world about hiv/aids in 1985 when her good friend rock hudson was ostracized when the word got out he had the virus. >> she helped reduce the discrimination. >> reporter: from 1985 to 1996 he

she was married eight times including twice to richard burton. she died surrounded by her family. she was 79-year-old. elizabeth taylor was also well known for her work to fight aids. paul chambers tells us what she did back in the 80s was something very few others would do. and the gay community in san francisco has never forgotten. >> reporter: she is considered hollywood royalty by many. but if the attention that she brought to hiv aids is touching many in the gay community in san francisco. >> someone like elizabeth taylor was an incredible advocate and raised hundreds of millions of dollars. and we're going to miss her. >> reporter: it may be hard for the new generation to understand the impact elizabeth taylor had on the fight against hiv/aids. she brought millions of dollars here to san francisco and also spoke at a time when no one else would. taylor began her campaign to educate the world about hiv/aids in 1985 when her good friend rock hudson was ostracized when the word got out he had the virus. >> she helped reduce the discrimination. >> reporter: from 1985 to 1996 he

years later, for her role as "who's afraid of virginia woolf," in which she starred opposite richard burton i hope that bottle was empty. you can't afford good liquor. >> brown: it was her affair and then two marriages to burton that became an indelible part of the taylor celebrity, beginning while filng the 1963 epic, "cleopatra." the hollywood press and american public couldn't get enough of the couple's romance and their breakups. in 1997, she reflected on their relationship in an interview with abc news. >> everything was too much, we loved each other too much. >> brown: over the years, taylor would become as famous for her stormy personal life and multiple marriages as for her film work. her first, at age 18, was to hotel magnate conrad hilton. it lasted just eight months. her second husband was british actor michael wilding. husband number three, movie producer michael todd, was killed in a plane crash in 1958. then came actor eddie fisher, who'd served as best man at her previous wedding. later on, taylor married john warner, who became a u.s. senator from virginia. they divorced in

and she will be remembered as a two-time academy ward winner married eight times twice to actor richard burtonorm the neighborhood. >> in order to revitalize the community have you to start with job development. >> the chamber backs the idea. >> and there is over 70% of the voters support this legislation for a mid market tax holiday. >> the majority of the speakers were opposed including former supervisor chris bailey. showing a video during the dot com boom. >> we talked about jobs 15 years ago and now but it's about a land grab. >> the city says the community will get tangible benefits from when twitter signs this deal its commitments in the form of twitter to increasing wi-fi accessible. >> three dales -- details are being flushed out. the board will meet in two weeks. >> and to japan now. official nouz say the tap water is too dangerous for infants and nursing mothers to drink. radiation readings indicate the water has more than twice the safe level of iodine for infants. and people have been hoarding bottled water as a result. black smoke billowed from unit three at the power plant today

then ran after richard burton, he ran toward her and together they were combustible. film what will be her legacy? >>reporter: passion, living out loud a woman who cared much about hurt passion of life and how was important to find some kind of cause and reason for aids. god bless your list. >>pam: we'll be back. ♪ [ male announcer ] unrestrained. unexpected. and unlike any hybrid you have ever known. ♪ introducing the most fuel-efficient luxury car available. ♪ the radically new, 42 mile per gallon ct hybrid from lexus. ♪ welcome to the darker side of green. but trying to grow grass from seed in tough areas like deep shade, along the driveway, and where the kids play can be a little intimidating... until now. with scotts ez seed. it's scotts best grass seed, starter fertilizer and a growing material that absorbs water and expands to surround and protect the seeds, you'll get a thick, green scotts lawn even if you've never been successful with other seed before. the revolutionary scotts ez seed. grow grass anywhere. >>rob: the working to carve a new road around the sl

her oddeight marriages, seven men, richard burton, twice. >> i think he is one of the finest actors. >> the british-born was a child actress in 1945 with " national velvet ". you are a pretty one, pike. >> the actress played in the ability. >> i along with the critics have not taken myself seriously. my craft, yes but as an actress, no. >> she received five academy award nominations and twice at best actress for her role and butterfield in 1960 as a call girl. and an alcoholic wife and " who is afraid of virginia woolf? 1966. >> you floozy. >> she had a litany of health woes but it was impacting other central retention. she took up the fight against against my crocketts and died. >> he did something-aids this catastrophe is not just a minority group in the locker. >> the american foundation for research was founded and of established elizabeth taylor foundation. she befriended michael jackson. several times and supported him. later in life the actress went to twitter. she opened up about her health issues including a heart procedure and 2009. amber body of work on screen she has been

i had just this weekend read the article on resident taylor and richard burton. i was very moved by that article. i hope -- i hope in the afterlife they are reunited. >> have you heard anything about funeral plans for her? >> reporter: no, that's too early. her son has issued a statement, as you know. but other than that it's -- there's talk about controversy where will she be buried. >>> in japan today, they've been able to restore power at one of the damaged rye actorses at a -- reactors at a nuclear plan. they plan to test a cooling pickup at the number 3 reactor today. it's the first reactor to have electricity stored since the quake and tsunami cut off electricity to that plant. they've been trying to keep them cool by spraying them with sea water. but radiation has still been leaking. >>> the government says the cost of this could reach $309 billion. that would make it the world's most expensive natural disaster on record. and the death toll continues to rise with more than 9400 bodies counted and more that 14,700 people listed as missing. >>> tonight, the

but it was her fifth husband, richard burton, who took dazzling her to another level.with a 33 carat diamond. then with this stone at nearly 70 carats, it became known as the taylor/burton diamond. >> when you're with a new man and you're wearing the jewelry given to you by other men, is it ever awkward or uncomfortable for the new man in your life? >> so i've been told. >> what do you do about it? >> you encourage them to give me more. >> reporter: white diamonds were more than just her fragrance. they were her inspiration. "good morning america" was the only media outlet invited into the house of taylor jewelry in beverly hills where taylor met with the owners to sketch her dreams into jewelled reality. >> she'd start with the stone? start with the diamonds? how did this come together? >> she usually starts with the stone. sometimes she'll just come up with sketches on her own. >> reporter: the stone is the clear center of this piece, a 42-carat colombian emerald surrounded by 60 carats of diamonds which sells for $320,000. this bracelet of canary and white diamonds

she was with your eed with the last letter her former husband richard burton wrote to her days beforeand never revealed its contents. >>> and a california snowboard helmet camera captured a frightening ordeal and embarrassing. he was buried upside down in six feet of snow at the base of a tree. he struggled for 20 minutes to reach his cell phone, just as his wife called. >> i am stuck in a tree well, give them my phone number. i am going to die if they don't find me. >> are you serious? >> call them! give them my number. >> drum ond was rescued after another half hour and was able to snowboard down the hill. >> i heard somebody say i found him. >>> it is four minutes past the hour. let's go back to matt and cam ran. >> i love that story. >> this is no time for questioning me, honey. let's check the weather. alice off this week. maria larosa is in with the forecast. >> good morning. what brings you to new york? >> um, choir. >> welcome. enjoy it. they have great lungs. they know how to scream. much of the country wel below average. take a look at the highs. 30s and 40s as you head from