When Elizabeth Taylor passed away in 2011, the world expected a spectacle. This was the woman of Cleopatra, the owner of the Krupp Diamond, and the veteran of eight weddings. We all thought there’d be a massive, star-studded parade through the streets of Los Angeles.
But she surprised everyone.
The funeral for Elizabeth Taylor was a quiet, intensely private affair held just 24 hours after she died. It wasn't a media circus. It was a small gathering of about 40 people—mostly family—tucked away behind the gates of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
And, in true diva fashion, she made sure she was late.
The 15-Minute Rule: Her Final Grand Entrance
Most people try to be on time for their own funeral. Not Liz. She specifically left instructions that the service was to start at least 15 minutes after the scheduled 2:00 PM start time.
She wanted the announcement made: "She even wanted to be late for her own funeral."
It’s kind of perfect, right? Honestly, if you’ve spent your whole life being the most beautiful woman in the room, you don't just sit there waiting for the audience. You make them wait for you. That 15-minute delay was her final wink to a public that had been obsessed with her every move since she was a child.
The service itself was short. It lasted about an hour. Rabbi Jerry Cutler, who had a reputation for being the "Rabbi to the Stars," officiated. Taylor had converted to Judaism back in 1959 before marrying Eddie Fisher, and she took her faith seriously. Jewish tradition usually dictates a quick burial, which is why the turnaround from her death on Wednesday morning to her burial on Thursday afternoon was so fast.
What Actually Happened Inside the Gates
Because it was so private, the details that leaked out were precious. Here’s the vibe:
- The Casket: It was a simple wooden casket, keeping with Jewish tradition. But this is Liz Taylor we’re talking about—it was draped in a massive, fragrant blanket made of gardenias, violets, and lily of the valley.
- The Poetry: Her close friend, actor Colin Farrell, didn't just show up; he stood up and read a poem. He chose "The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo" by Gerard Manley Hopkins. It’s a dense, beautiful Victorian piece about the fleeting nature of beauty.
- The Music: Her grandson, Rhys Tivey, performed a solo trumpet rendition of "Amazing Grace."
The whole thing felt more like a family living room than a Hollywood event. Her son Michael Wilding, her daughter Liza Todd-Tivey, and her grandson Tarquin Wilding all read various selections. No cameras. No red carpet. Just the people who actually knew the woman behind the "Dame Elizabeth" title.
Why the Funeral for Elizabeth Taylor Stayed at Forest Lawn
There was a lot of speculation about where she’d end up. Some thought she’d be taken back to Wales to be near Richard Burton, the great, messy love of her life. But Burton’s widow had famously bought the plot next to him to ensure that wouldn't happen.
Basically, Liz chose to stay in California.
She was interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn. It’s a massive, ornate building that feels more like a cathedral than a graveyard. If you go there, you’ll see a soaring marble Michelangelo angel watching over the area.
She’s also in some pretty famous company. The Great Mausoleum is the final resting place for icons like Clark Gable and Jean Harlow. But most notably, she is entombed near her long-time friend Michael Jackson.
Taylor had attended Jackson's funeral at the same location just two years earlier. She reportedly told friends that she felt a "sense of peace" there that she’d never felt anywhere else. After decades of being hunted by paparazzi, she finally found a place where the doors stay locked and the public can’t get in.
The Aftermath and the Legacy
Even though the funeral was small, the public grief was massive. Shortly after the private service, her family eventually held a memorial at the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards to honor her work with HIV/AIDS research.
People forget that while she was a movie star, she was also a powerhouse activist. She was one of the first major celebrities to put her reputation on the line for the AIDS crisis when most of Hollywood was too scared to speak up.
If you’re looking to pay your respects or dive deeper into her history, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Visit the Gates (But not the Crypt): You can visit Forest Lawn Glendale, but the Great Mausoleum is off-limits to the general public. You can see the exterior and the grounds, which are genuinely beautiful, but don't expect to take a selfie at her resting place.
- Support Her Foundation: The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation is still incredibly active. If you want to honor her, that’s where her heart really was.
- Watch the "Late" Performances: If you want to understand the woman who insisted on being 15 minutes late to her own burial, go back and watch Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? It’s the rawest, least "glamorous" she ever allowed herself to be, and it’s arguably her best work.
The funeral for Elizabeth Taylor wasn't the end of her story; it was just the final, perfectly timed exit. She lived a life that was loud, colorful, and often chaotic, but she chose to leave it with a quiet dignity and one last joke at the expense of the clock.