Behind the violet eyes, legendary diamond collection, and eight marriages, Dame Elizabeth Taylor was a mother to four children. While global media hounded her every romantic turn, her kids grew up navigating the intense pressure of sharing one of Hollywood's biggest icons with the public.
Elizabeth Taylor had three biological children—Michael Jr., Christopher, and Liza—and one adopted daughter, Maria. They didn't chase the same stratosphere of blinding celebrity as their mother, choosing instead to carve out quieter paths in the arts, film production, and philanthropy.
Michael Wilding Jr.: The Firstborn Actor and Sculptor
Born in 1953, Michael Howard Wilding Jr. is the eldest son of Elizabeth Taylor and her second husband, British actor Michael Wilding. Growing up on film sets meant the entertainment industry was an early fixture in his life.
Career and Artistic Shift
Michael Jr. followed his parents into acting during the late 1970s and 1980s. He made an early appearance alongside his mother in the 1967 film The Taming of the Shrew. Television viewers might recognize him from his stint on the soap opera Guiding Light or multiple episodes of Dallas.
Acting wasn't his final destination, though. He eventually stepped away from weekly television production to focus on visual arts. Today, he works as a professional sculptor based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, finding quietude far removed from the Hollywood Hills. He shares three children—Laela, Naomi, and Tarquin—with his family.
Christopher Wilding: The Behind-the-Scenes Film Craftsman
Christopher Edward Wilding was born in Los Angeles in 1955, marking Taylor's second child with Michael Wilding. Unlike his older brother, Christopher resisted the pull of acting, preferring the technical craft of cinema.
Technical Career and Private Life
During the 1980s and 1990s, Christopher built a respected career in the sound departments of major Hollywood features. His technical credits include work on films like Tombstone (1993) and The Shadow (1994).
Christopher has consistently maintained a low public profile, choosing privacy over press attention. In rare interviews, he has spoken candidly about how public obsession with his mother often overshadowed her raw dramatic talent. He lives quietly in California, and his own children have remained closely tied to preserving their grandmother's philanthropic legacy.
Liza Todd: The Equine Artist and Sculptor
Born in 1957, Liza Todd is Taylor's daughter with her third husband, theater and film producer Mike Todd. Her entry into the world was marked by intense tragedy; her father died in a private plane crash just a year after her birth. Richard Burton later legally adopted Liza during his marriage to Taylor.
Finding Sanctuary in Sculpture
Growing up amidst shifting households in the US, England, and Switzerland, Liza found comfort in drawing and sculpting animals. She developed a profound passion for horses, which became the central focus of her adult career.
Operating as an accomplished equine artist, Liza is well known for detailed sculptures of horses, including a celebrated recreation of the legendary racehorse Secretariat. She resides in upstate New York, successfully keeping her professional art separate from her mother's monumental cinematic footprint.
Maria Burton: The Adopted Daughter and Philanthropist
During her turbulent first marriage to Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor sought to expand their family. In 1961, the couple adopted Maria Burton, who was born in Germany. Even after Taylor and Burton divorced, Burton maintained a close relationship with Maria, formalizing his legal adoption.
Advocacy and Lower Profile
Maria spent parts of her adult life exploring creative fields like design and writing, but she has primarily focused her energy on charitable work. Following in her mother's humanitarian footsteps—particularly inspired by Taylor's pioneering HIV/AIDS activism through the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation—Maria has dedicated much of her life to philanthropy and private community support.
How Elizabeth Taylor's Children Keep Her Legacy Alive
While none of the four children pursued full-time superstardom, they remain the stewards of her memory. Grandchildren like Lowell Wilding have taken active roles managing the official Elizabeth Taylor Archive and acting as ambassadors for her charitable foundations. Rather than treating their mother as a museum piece, her children have balanced honoring her monumental cinematic history with ordinary, grounded lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did all of Elizabeth Taylor's children have the same father?
No. Taylor had children across three of her eight marriages. Michael Jr. and Christopher share father Michael Wilding, Liza's father was Mike Todd, and Maria was adopted during her marriage to Richard Burton.
Did any of Elizabeth Taylor's children become famous actors?
None of them achieved major movie star status. Michael Jr. acted in television soap operas and minor films for a brief period, but ultimately transitioned to sculpting. The other children worked behind the scenes in film production or pursued visual arts and philanthropy.
How many grandchildren does Elizabeth Taylor have?
Taylor had ten grandchildren spread across her four children's families, several of whom work directly with her estate and charitable trusts.
Are any of Elizabeth Taylor's children still involved in Hollywood?
Not actively. While Christopher worked in film sound engineering and Michael Jr. acted decades ago, the siblings have largely retired from the entertainment industry to focus on fine art and private lives.
