Elizabeth Taylor, Miami Resident and Original Tabloid Celebrity, Dies at 79

Liz Taylor sells candy in a 1950s Whitman's ad

​Movie legend, late-in-life food fan and onetime Miami resident Elizabeth Taylor has died. Taylor, 79, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure six years ago.

She was married eight times, won two Oscars, played footsie with Michael Jackson and was an AIDS activist. She was also a tabloid favorite who loved Miami long before the Kardashians, Diddy and Madonna strutted Lincoln Road.

When the Eden Roc Hotel opened in 1956, Liz Taylor was a Florida regular. In old photos, Liz was seen at Hialeah Racetrack, attending fabulous parties and hanging out on Miami Beach.

She purchased a pink house on Star Island in the 1980's from Don Johnson of Miami Vice Fame. A large rabbit sculpture on the grounds is said to have been given to Liz to signify her "jumping" from one man to the next.

Liz Taylor's Star Island "crib"

​While celebrities these days love bling, Liz invented jeweled excess. Famous for her love of diamonds, she outshone even herself with the Taylor-Burton diamond, a 69.4 carat piece of ice. Liz's heart was bigger than the rock and she later sold it for $5 million to help build a hospital in Botswana.

Liz also knew how to party. She admitted she was addicted to alcohol and drugs and had famous drunken fights with her twice-husband Richard Burton. Liz did two stints in rehab in the 1980s. Take that, Lohan.

Today, with celebrity comes endorsement deals. Even in that aspect, Liz came first. you could smell like Brit-Brit or Kim Kardashian, there was Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds. She started the celebrity fragrance craze in the 1980s and her fragrance is still a top seller. Liz loved her food and in the 1950s was the spokesmodel for Whitman's candies.

Liz will be missed, especially by everyone waiting in line at Publix. Instead of grabbing a copy of People to read about a legend, we've only got Lindsay Lohan and The Kardashians left. Bummer.

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