Elizabeth Taylor’s Vibrant-Eyed Grandson Is ‘Honored’ To Carry On Her Legacy Of Helping Others

Dec 04, 2022 by apost team

When it comes to classic Hollywood royalty, Elizabeth Taylor is one of those names at the top of the list. The British-American actress was known for her stunningly unique features, violet eyes and charisma on the big screen, which made her one of the most sought-after actresses during her lifetime. 

Some of Taylor’s most popular performances were in “Cleopatra,” “The Taming of the Shrew” and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” all alongside her partner at the time, Richard Burton.

On top of a highly successful professional life, Taylor also had a very public personal life. She was married a total of eight times, two of which were to Burton. There were some controversies that surrounded her dating life, but ultimately Taylor got the family she had always wanted. She went on to have four children: Michael Wilding Jr. and Christopher Edward Wilding, who she had with her second husband Michael Wilding, Liza Todd, who she had with her third husband Mike Todd, and Maria Burton, who she adopted when she married her fifth husband Richard Burton. Taylor is survived by her four children along with her 10 grandchildren. 

Nowadays, all of Taylor’s grandchildren are grown up and have shared fond memories of their late grandmother and what she was really like. Her grandchildren include Naomi Wilding, Laela Wilding and Tarquin Wilding, who are all children of Taylor's son Michael; Caleb Wilding, Andrew Wilding and Lowell Wilding, who are Christopher's children; Quinn Tivey and Rhys Tivey, who are Liza Todd's children; and finally, Maria's children, Eliza Carson and Richard McKeown.

Quinn has proven to be very similar to his late grandmother, as they have the same stunning eyes and the same aspirations to assist people with illnesses.

While Taylor was most famous for her beauty, career, activism and relationships, it was her role as a grandmother that truly meant the most to her. Taylor had 10 grandchildren in total, all of whom are now grown.

“We would lay in bed together, watching movies, chatting – she would give me advice. “Those are some of the ways I remember her most,” grandson Quinn said, according to Magzter. His mother is Liza Todd, daughter of Taylor.

Laela spoke with TODAY in March 2021 about how Taylor wanted to share a message of hope with the rest of the world and participated in many forms of activism.

“I think that she very early on felt touched by the AIDS crisis,” Laela said. “She felt like people weren’t recognizing the urgency of need. So she put herself front and center in a very sincere way.”  

Taylor’s work ethic, dedication to her craft and passion have gone on to inspire not only her fans but also her own family. Laela said: 

“She was that person who saw injustice, and started talking about it and never stopped talking about it. Who she was is very relevant, and it might not be in the ways that a person might really think of when they think of her.”

According to TODAY, Taylor co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1985 and founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in 1991. The foundation is something the whole family has worked to involve themselves in, as carrying on Taylor’s legacy and dedication to activism is what’s important to them. Taylor’s grandson Quinn even helps run ETAF. 

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According to his biography on the foundation’s site, Quinn has served as an officer and ambassador for the foundation, representing it nationally and internationally. He also serves as a co-trustee of Taylor’s estate, per her request.

Speaking with PEOPLE in 2021, Quinn talked about how proud he believes Taylor would be to see the foundation still so active and so helpful. He shared:

“Thirty years ago, my grandma founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation to provide direct care for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. The fight against HIV/AIDS was such a vital part of her legacy, and although the fight is far from over, I'm honored to see ETAF continue her work — educating legislators, raising awareness for the public, disproving myths and decreasing fear and stigma. I know grandma would be proud of this work too.”

The foundation has an initiative called HIV Is Not A Crime, which aims to modernize outdated laws targeted toward people with HIV. The initiative’s goal is to change the laws so they better align with contemporary science, tackling the issues on a state-by-state basis.

Quinn added, “Grandma would have been incredibly proud of the work being done through the ‘HIV Is Not A Crime’ initiative. Grandma stood up for what she believed in, living boldly and courageously. She would never buckle under pressure, and she certainly would not support the status quo if the status quo didn't feel right.”

On top of carrying on his late grandmother’s legacy, Quinn also bears a striking resemblance to her, as he has her same vibrant eyes. It’s safe to say that Taylor’s memory will never be forgotten thanks to her grandchildren, who have proven to be beautiful inside and out.

What do you think about Quinn Tivey’s work with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation? Do you think he’s doing a good job carrying on his late grandmother’s legacy? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones.