Despite the flash and splendor of notoriety, Elizabeth Taylor found solace in assisting others and fulfilling her duties as a grandmother. She adored her ten grandchildren, and as a result, her look-alike grandson, Quinn, inherited her charitable spirit and has carried on her legacy.

Elizabeth Taylor, the first female actress to earn $1 million for her role in “Cleopatra,” was a legendary performer known for her remarkable beauty, fashion flair, economic acumen, philanthropy, and status as a distinctive sex symbol.

Unlike Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot, her sex symbol status was based on her acting abilities. After many years in the industry, she climbed to become Hollywood’s powerful matriarch.

Last year, as the globe observed Women’s History Month, two children of Taylor’s first child, Michael Wilding Jr., who experienced their grandmother’s devotion, shared their happy recollections of her.

One of the women, Naomi, told TODAY correspondent Dylan Dreyer that she used to sit on the floor of her grandmother’s dressing room and watch at her while she got dressed.

According to Naomi, Taylor’s celebrity did not preclude her from being the best grandmother. She was hospitable and loving. The actress enjoyed her real-life roles just as much as the ones she played on television.

As a grandmother, Taylor did not spoil or indulge her grandchildren. Her granddaughter stated that she enjoyed teaching them family values. In her words:

“She believed she was responsible for parenting the family’s younger generations. It was crucial for her to teach such principles in us as well.”

The performer was as enthusiastic at home as she was in front of the camera. Naomi affirmed that her grandmother’s ideals included the “idea of following your heart and being true to whatever love you have—not to be afraid of being hurt.”

Taylor exhibited affection to her family and expressed her sentiments to her loves. Her granddaughter had found some love letters and never-before-seen photographs that would be included in her biography.

She not only treated everyone around her with kindness and compassion, but she also helped the sick and destitute. Her principles included activism and making the world a better place.

Taylor’s death was devastating; the family had hoped she would get out.
On March 23, 2011, the trailblazing actress died. The terrible news came after she had spent six weeks at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Taylor faced difficulties from congestive heart failure, which was identified in 2004.

For many years, she struggled from health issues such as a brain tumor, osteoporosis, a stroke, scoliosis, and respiratory sickness, and was frequently hospitalized.

Quinn, the eldest son of Liza Todd, grew far away from Hollywood, in a rural town, but enjoyed family time with Taylor.

Despite these past challenges, Taylor persevered, recovering after each hospital visit. In 2009, she boldly assured fans that she was hale and hearty, irrespective of what the tabloids said. According to her:

“Dear friends, my heart procedure went off perfectly. It’s like having a brand new ticker.”

Sadly, six months before her death, her condition got the better part of her physically. She became frail and moved around in a wheelchair, but surprisingly, the actress maintained her wits. Taylor’s mind remained sharp, and during an early birthday party in her Bel-Air home, she raised the glass and exclaimed:

“I’m not dead yet!”

Even though the star felt weak, she declined further surgery, and two months later, she passed away. This death devastated her friends and family, as they believed she would beat the illness. Sally Morrison, a close friend, and final publicist shared:

“She’d come back from the brink so many times. We all expected her to do it again. So in that sense it really was a shock when she didn’t.

In a sincere tone, the actress’s son, Michael, confirmed they were sad about the loss. However, he resounded his mother’s achievements in film, business, and activism, claiming that her legacy would live on. In his words:

“Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts.”

Quinn Wilding Inherited Taylor’s Eyes and Heart

Even though Quinn did not inherit his grandmother’s acting prowess, they share much in common— their eyes and passion for charity. Quinn, the eldest son of Liza Todd, grew far away from Hollywood in a rural town but enjoyed family time with Taylor, who loved having everyone around during the holidays.

Like his cousin, Naomi, he never struggled for attention from the famous movie star; at home, she was just his grandma, charming everyone around with love. One of his fond memories involved them watching TV. He quipped:

“We would lay in bed together, watching movies, chatting — she would give me advice. Those are some of the ways I remember her most.”

Despite the years that have gone by since her death, Quinn feels inspired by the notable figure. To him, his grandmother was “never afraid to speak her mind while always acting with courage and compassion.” He added:

“That’s inspiring to me.”

Quinn has proved this by being dedicated to activism —he is the trustee of her Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, has carried on her legacy, and is confident that she would be proud of him.