Iconic Actress Elizabeth Taylor Dead at 79

Sad news today out of Hollywood, the iconic Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79.

Taylor died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where she has been recovering from various ailments for the last three weeks.

A rep for the actress said:

“She was surrounded by her children, Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton." Elizabeth died peacefully from congestive heart failure, a condition with which she had struggled with for many years. Though she had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilized and it was hoped that she would be able to return home. Sadly, this was not to be."

Taylor was best known for her famous roles like "Cleopatra" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", and won an Academy Award for best actress twice for her roles in "Butterfield 8" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?".

Taylor, who was married eight times, twice to actor Richard Burton, is survived by 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

A private funeral is being arranged at her plot next to her parents at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles along with some other famous friends like Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Truman Capote, Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin and Walter Matthau.

Elizabeth Taylor's health 'still improving'

Elizabeth Taylor is continuing to make improvements in hospital, having been admitted last week for symptoms of heart failure.

The 78-year-old's publicist Jamie Cadwell reiterated that her condition is stable and that her recovery is on track.

"She has continued to show great improvement, and her family and friends are very pleased with her progress," he said in a statement.

However, Cadwell insisted that the actress will remain under observation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles "for the time being".

Earlier this week, Taylor's spokeswoman issued the first indication that her recovery was "steady"

Elizabeth Taylor hospitalised for heart failure

Elizabeth Taylor was taken to hospital earlier this week over symptoms caused by congestive heart failure.

The 78-year-old actress, who underwent heart surgery in October 2009, is being monitored at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles.

Her rep said in a statement: "This issue is being addressed. She is currently being kept in the hospital for monitoring.

"Her family and close friends are appreciative of the warm support and interest of her loyal fans, but have asked that people respect her privacy and allow her medical team the time and space to focus on restoring her back to health."