The Four Pillars Of A Legend: What Elizabeth Taylor’s Children Are Doing Today (2024 Update)

Elizabeth Taylor, one of Hollywood's most enduring and captivating legends, was not only defined by her iconic film roles and dazzling marriages but also by her profound role as a mother. As of December 12, 2025, the lives and careers of her four children continue to captivate public interest, demonstrating that the legacy of the violet-eyed star is carried on not just through cinema, but through a fiercely private and dedicated family.

Far from the relentless spotlight that followed their mother, Michael, Christopher, Liza, and Maria have forged their own unique paths, ranging from film and art to philanthropy and academia. Their collective mission today is centered on preserving Elizabeth Taylor's most passionate cause: the fight against HIV/AIDS, ensuring her humanitarian spirit remains a powerful force in the 21st century.

Complete Biography Profile of Elizabeth Taylor's Children

Elizabeth Taylor had four children—two sons with her second husband, Michael Wilding; one daughter with her third husband, Mike Todd; and an adopted daughter with her fifth husband, Richard Burton. This diverse family unit was her anchor, and each child inherited a piece of her creative spirit and dedication to a life of purpose.

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• Michael Howard Wilding Jr.
  • Born: January 6, 1953
  • Father: Michael Wilding (Actor)
  • Career Path: Actor, Producer, and Writer. His credits include roles in films and television shows like The Bold and the Beautiful.
  • Current Focus: Lives a relatively private life in the United States, occasionally participating in events for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF).
• Christopher Edward Wilding
  • Born: February 27, 1955
  • Father: Michael Wilding (Actor)
  • Career Path: Film editor, Cinematographer, and Photographer. He worked on films such as The Kissing Booth and Overboard.
  • Current Focus: Actively involved in the ETAF and recently appeared in the 2024 BBC documentary Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel, offering fresh insight into his mother's life.
• Elizabeth "Liza" Frances Todd
  • Born: August 6, 1957
  • Father: Mike Todd (Film Producer)
  • Career Path: Highly acclaimed Equestrian Sculptor. She is recognized as one of the foremost artists in the field of animal sculpture, specializing in horses and dogs.
  • Current Focus: Continues her successful artistic career, with her bronze works featured in galleries and private collections worldwide.
• Maria Burton (née Maria McKeown)
  • Born: August 1, 1961 (Adopted in 1964)
  • Adoptive Father: Richard Burton (Actor)
  • Career Path: Non-profit executive, management consultant, and former academic.
  • Current Focus: Deeply committed to the humanitarian work of the ETAF, upholding her mother's passion for activism. She is often present at foundation events.

Upholding the Legacy: The Children's Current Careers and Projects

Unlike many celebrity offspring who either chase or reject Hollywood's glare, Elizabeth Taylor's children have carved out authentic, specialized careers. Their professional lives demonstrate a blend of artistic talent, business acumen, and a preference for privacy, which their mother often struggled to maintain.

Michael Wilding Jr.: The Quiet Performer

Michael Wilding Jr., the eldest son, followed his parents into the acting world but has consistently maintained a lower profile. While he has appeared in various films and television series, including a notable stint on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, his focus has shifted toward a life away from the perpetual media frenzy. He is known to be a private individual, preferring to support his mother's legacy through family gatherings and the occasional public appearance for the Foundation, rather than through a high-profile career.

Christopher Wilding: The Family’s Historian

Christopher Wilding, who built a successful career behind the camera as a film editor and cinematographer, has recently become the most public face of the family's shared history. In 2024, his interviews for the BBC documentary Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel provided a rare and intimate look into his mother's life, from her scandalous marriages to her pioneering activism. He offered a fresh perspective on her rebellious spirit, even drawing parallels between his mother and contemporary figures, noting that he saw a reflection of her "spirit" in Taylor Swift's bold moves.

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Liza Todd Tivey: The Equestrian Sculptor

Liza Todd is the only biological child from Elizabeth Taylor's marriage to the legendary producer Mike Todd. She chose a path far removed from Hollywood, dedicating her life to art and her passion for animals. Liza is now widely regarded as a foremost equestrian sculptor. Her work, which primarily focuses on bronze sculptures of horses and dogs, is highly sought after by collectors and has earned her recognition based purely on her artistic merit, not her famous lineage. Her commissions include sculptures of famous racehorses like Northern Dancer and Seattle Slew, solidifying her reputation in the art world.

Maria Burton McKeown: The Dedicated Humanitarian

Maria, adopted by Taylor and Richard Burton, has focused her career on management and humanitarian work. While she is the most private of the four, her dedication to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation is unwavering. She has embraced her mother's passion for philanthropy, often working behind the scenes to help manage and guide the organization's mission. Her commitment, along with that of her siblings, ensures the Foundation remains true to Elizabeth Taylor's original vision.

The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation: A Family’s Unbroken Commitment

The most powerful and enduring aspect of the Taylor children's public lives is their collective, unwavering commitment to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). Founded by the actress in 1991, the ETAF was a groundbreaking initiative when AIDS was still a heavily stigmatized disease.

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Today, the children and Elizabeth Taylor's 10 grandchildren serve as the driving force behind the organization. They regularly host and attend major fundraising events, such as The Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS, which took place most recently in September 2024. This generational involvement is crucial, transforming the foundation into a true family legacy.

The grandchildren, including Eliza Carson and Quinn Tivey (Liza's son), have taken on active ambassadorial roles, speaking publicly about their grandmother's activism and the ongoing global fight against HIV/AIDS. This ensures that Taylor's voice and commitment—her "greatest inheritance"—are amplified to a new generation.

Through the work of the ETAF, the family continues to support direct-service initiatives for people living with HIV, providing care, education, and advocacy. This dedication is perhaps the most profound way Elizabeth Taylor’s children honor the memory of a mother who taught them that true celebrity is measured by the good one does in the world.

Elizabeth Taylor's Grandchildren: Continuing the Legacy

Elizabeth Taylor was a grandmother to ten grandchildren, and even a great-grandmother, a role she cherished deeply. Her grandchildren are a key part of the modern Taylor legacy, with many of them actively involved in the family's philanthropic efforts. Their careers are as diverse as their parents', spanning art, business, and non-profit work, but their shared mission is the ETAF.

The children of Michael Wilding Jr. and Christopher Wilding, and the children of Liza Todd and Maria McKeown, are now grown, ensuring that the Taylor-Wilding-Todd-Burton lineage will continue to be a force in Hollywood’s humanitarian landscape for decades to come. Names like Quinn Tivey, Eliza Carson, and Laela Wilding frequently appear in connection with the Foundation, illustrating a powerful, multi-generational commitment to their grandmother's vision.