The 8 Most Memorable Elizabeth Taylor Cameos

When we think back on the late Elizabeth Taylor, we tend think of her major films roles (particularly the two, in BUtterfield 8 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf, that won her Oscars) and, yes, her many husbands. What we don't always think of his just how accessible Taylor was as a movie star. After all, it's not every double Academy Award-winning Hollywood icon who does guest spots on productions as wide-ranging from General Hospital to The Simpsons. So, on a day of remembrance, let's look back at Taylor's eight most memorable cameos from television and film.

Here's Lucy (1970)

During the first of their two marriages, Taylor and Richard Burton guest-starred on Lucile Ball later-era sitcom. Their episode featured Burton as himself disguised as a plumber in an effort to escape his fans. Lucy needs a plumber... you see where this is going? Somehow this leads to Lucy getting Taylor's famous diamond ring stuck on her finger.

General Hospital (1981)

Sorry, James Franco: Elizabeth Taylor beat you to the recurring-role-on-General Hospital meme by almost 30 years. Amid the Luke and Laura plotline that was sweeping the nation, Taylor actually requested a part on the popular daytime soap; she, of course, was granted the role of Helena Cassadine. Taylor, who was even actually present during the famous Luke and Laura wedding scene, only played the role through 1981, but her character was so popular that Cassadine has been revived by two different actresses and continues to this day -- even intersecting with Franco's storyline.

All My Children (1984)

"I think that woman's pilot light is out." Opposite occasional AMC guest Carol Burnett, Taylor has a very funny blink-and-you-miss-it cameo as the comedienne's animated alter ego from the opening and closing credits of The Carol Burnett Show.

Captain Planet (1992)

Taylor was known for her tireless work in the HIV/AIDS community, so it wasn't too big of a stretch that Taylor would lend her voice to an episode of the environmentally conscious series Captain Planet in a disturbing, AIDS-themed episode. Taylor voices the mother of an AIDS-stricken high school basketball star (voiced by Neil Patrick Harris) who is shunned at by classmates who go as far to post fliers around school with the word "AIDS" written below his picture.

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Comments

  • Kay N. Baier says:

    Elizabeth Taylor was the most beautiful and talented movie star that I have ever seen. I grew up watching her movies and loving all of them. The "Lassie" movies and "National Velvet" were favorites of her childhood movies. As a teenager, she grew even more beautiful making the movies "Little Women" "Father of the Bride" and "Father's Little Dividend". She has always been my favorate female star, and I've seen all her movies more than once. My four favorite of her adult films are "Giant", "Raintree County", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "The Last Time I Saw Paris". She was marvelous and wonderful, and there will never be another Elizabeth Taylor or enough words to compliment her. I've been a fan for more than fifthy years and I will miss her.
    Kay Baier, Tryon, NC

  • edward says:

    Greedy, spoiled, and married eight times (divorced seven, widowed once), broke up two marriages, and with a huge retinue to cater to her every whim. Doesn't anyone remember the crap that this woman pulled, her every demand and insatiable appetites? Finally, after her movie career was over, she finally did something admirable--her AIDS charitable participation. There hopefully will never be another Elizabeth Taylor, with her star attitudes, her quest for diamonds and money; she was one of the major reasons why there is an independent cinema today,i.e., her behavior on Cleopatra. When she was doing Virginia Woolf, she set word to her boss Jack Warner that she wanted a brooch to match her diamonds; replied J.L.: I'm paying her one million dollars and ten percent of the gross. Tell her to buy her own goddamned brooch. This woman was a scumbag.

  • Charle says:

    I had no idea she was on The Simpsons, and as the voice of Maggie no less.

  • Stephanie says:

    GET OVER YOURSELF. Honest to God, how can you have so much hatred for someone you've never met and has never done any harm to you. And as for "breaking up marriages", Eddie Fisher LEFT Debbie Reynolds (who remained Liz's friend to the end despite le scandal). Richard Burton LEFT his life. Stop blaming the woman, seriously. These men had minds of their own you know!

  • CAROLE says:

    I GREW UP LOVING LA LIZ, AND ADMIRED HER BEAUTY, SENSE OF HUMOR, AND HER WAY OF LIVING, SHE WAS THE FIRST INDEPENDENT WOMAN THAT I EVER HEARD OF, GOD BLESS HER, AND MANY THANKS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT SHE PROVIDED FOR US, I SAW LIZ AND RICHARD BURTON IN PRIVATE LIVES ON BROADWAY AND NEVER FORGOT IT.....

  • soaplove says:

    There is the truth, and there are stories made up. Regardless of any of it, I did grow up watching Elizabeth Taylor in many movies. Back then, we did not have DVD's, etc. so you got to see movies on the big screen. Elizabeth Taylor was, and always will be, in my opinion, the most beautiful actress ever, and she had talent. She also was a humanitarian, and that is not a thing to scoff at. As for all her marriages, we weren't there. Her first marriage was all about being a punching bag, so I don't even count that one. Mike Todd died, so, even though she did marry him, she only moved on because he was gone. If he had lived things may have been very different. Should she have been stronger, when it came to Eddie Fisher? Probably, but who is without sin can throw the first stone. Elizabeth was one of a kind and she will be dearly missed. I also think it is strange that people would comment on her in hateful ways, but do not remember the way she was raised, how physically frail she was at times, or that she adored her family. Scumbags do not include Elizabeth Taylor.

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