Liza Todd: Sculptor, Wildlife Supporter, Mother, and Elizabeth Taylor’s Daughter

Liza Todd is an American sculptor and the daughter of Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor and film producer Mike Todd. Born in 1957, she grew up in a famous family but chose not to build a career in Hollywood. Instead, she studied art and became a sculptor, with much of her work inspired by horses and other animals.

Liza was only a baby when her father died in a plane crash. She was later adopted by actor Richard Burton after he married Elizabeth Taylor. As an adult, Liza married artist Hap Tivey and had two sons, Quinn and Rhys. She has also used her artwork to support wildlife conservation.

Quick Facts

Liza Todd’s Early Life

Elizabeth Frances “Liza” Todd was born on August 6, 1957. Reports from the time said she was delivered by cesarean section and weighed 4 pounds, 14 ounces.

Her childhood was very different from that of most children because her mother, Elizabeth Taylor, was already one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Photographers regularly followed the family, and Taylor took steps to protect her children from unwanted attention.

Liza spent part of her childhood at a private school in Gstaad, Switzerland. She was also around film sets because of her mother’s work, but she did not develop the same interest in acting.

Her Parents, Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd

Liza was the only child born to Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd.

Elizabeth Taylor was an award-winning actress known for movies such as Cleopatra, Giant, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She became one of the best-known actresses of her generation.

Mike Todd was a successful American theatrical and film producer. He and Taylor married in Acapulco, Mexico, in February 1957, several months before Liza was born.

Their marriage ended unexpectedly when Todd died in 1958.

Her Father Died When She Was a Baby

Mike Todd died in a plane crash on March 22, 1958, when Liza was still an infant.

His private plane, named Liz after Elizabeth Taylor, crashed near Grants, New Mexico. Todd and the other people aboard were killed.

Elizabeth Taylor had reportedly planned to travel with her husband but stayed home because she was ill.

As a result, Liza grew up without having the chance to know her biological father.

Richard Burton Adopted Liza

Elizabeth Taylor married Welsh actor Richard Burton in 1964 after the two became involved while working together on Cleopatra.

Burton later adopted Liza. He also helped complete the adoption of Taylor’s youngest daughter, Maria.

Liza remained connected to Burton after growing up. In March 2013, she attended the ceremony honoring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Liza Todd’s Siblings

Liza is one of Elizabeth Taylor’s four children.

Her older half-brothers, Michael Wilding Jr. and Christopher Wilding, were born during Taylor’s marriage to British actor Michael Wilding.

Michael Jr. briefly worked as an actor before becoming a sculptor. Christopher worked behind the scenes in entertainment as a photographer and sound editor.

Liza’s younger sister, Maria Burton, was adopted by Taylor and later by Richard Burton. Maria has generally maintained a private life.

Education and Interest in Art

Liza showed an interest in art rather than acting.

She studied at the Hornsey College of Art in London and later attended the Otis Institute in Los Angeles. Reports say she completed her art studies around 1979.

Although she participated in some school productions and has been linked to a small appearance in the 1969 film Anne of the Thousand Days, acting never became her main career.

Instead, she chose sculpture.

Liza Todd’s Career as a Sculptor

Liza Todd began working professionally as a sculptor after completing her studies.

Horses became an important subject in her work. She created equestrian bronze sculptures and reportedly received private commissions from owners of purebred racing horses.

Her work was not limited to horses. Reports have also connected her to larger animal sculptures and public pieces.

One reported project was a life-size bronze calf created for the Swiss village of Gstaad. She has also been credited with creating a life-size rescue dog sculpture connected to the September 11 attacks.

Unlike her mother, Liza built her career mainly outside the entertainment industry.

Her Work With Elizabeth Taylor

Liza Todd did not follow her mother into acting, but the two reportedly worked together on creative projects.

Her longtime representative Jeanne Chisholm said that Liza enjoyed collaborating with her mother. One such project involved a jewelry line.

Elizabeth Taylor died from congestive heart failure on March 23, 2011, at age 79.

Wildlife and Elephant Conservation

Animals have remained an important part of Liza’s artistic interests.

Around 2016, she reportedly began focusing more of her work on African wildlife, particularly elephants. Her conservation-related work became connected with HERD, an elephant orphanage in South Africa.

Her artwork also included elephants and cheetahs.

In 2019, reports said she began producing Rescue Scarves using designs based on her animal artwork, including work associated with the exhibition From Line to Form: The Jabulani Elephants.

Profits from the scarves were reportedly directed toward supporting endangered animals in South Africa.

Marriage to Hap Tivey

Liza married artist and teacher Hap Tivey in 1984.

Tivey is known for his work as a contemporary artist. During their marriage, the couple welcomed two sons.

Liza and Hap divorced in 2003. Reports have described their relationship after divorce as amicable and said they continued living near each other in upstate New York.

There is no reliable public information showing that Liza remarried.

Liza Todd’s Sons

Liza Todd has two sons, Quinn Tivey and Rhys Tivey.

Quinn was born in 1986. He studied at the School of Visual Arts and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree. He has worked behind the scenes on film and television productions and has also been involved with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

In 2016, Quinn became a co-trustee of his grandmother’s estate. He has spoken publicly about continuing Elizabeth Taylor’s work in HIV and AIDS awareness.

Rhys was born in 1990. He studied jazz performance at NYU Steinhardt and became a trumpeter, singer, and songwriter. He has also worked as a yoga teacher and supported environmental causes.

Rhys has served as an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation as well.

Where Is Liza Todd Today?

Liza Todd has spent much of her adult life outside the public spotlight.

Older reports have placed her in upstate New York, including around Hudson, several hours from Manhattan. However, her current residence has not been publicly confirmed.

She has continued to be associated mainly with art, animals, family, and wildlife causes rather than Hollywood.

Liza Todd’s Net Worth

Liza Todd’s personal net worth is not reliably known.

Some websites have estimated her wealth at between $1 million and $5 million, but there is no reliable public financial information confirming those figures.

For that reason, an exact net worth should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed fact.

Is Liza Todd on Social Media?

Liza does not appear to maintain a prominent verified public social media presence.

This is consistent with the private lifestyle she has maintained for many years. Most public information about her comes from older interviews, family appearances, art-related coverage, and reports about Elizabeth Taylor’s family.

Interesting Facts

• Her full name is Elizabeth Frances Todd.
• She was born on August 6, 1957.
• Her parents were Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd.
• She was the only child Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd had together.
• Her father died in a plane crash when she was still a baby.
• Richard Burton later adopted her.
• She studied art in both London and Los Angeles.
• She chose sculpture instead of pursuing a Hollywood acting career.
• Horses have been an important subject in her artwork.
• She has supported African wildlife through animal-related art projects.
• She married artist Hap Tivey in 1984 and divorced him in 2003.
• She has two sons, Quinn and Rhys Tivey.
• Both of her sons have been involved with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
• Her exact net worth and current residence are not publicly confirmed.

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