Four hundred of Elizabeth Taylor’s friends and family gathered on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, Calif. on Oct. 16, 2011 to celebrate the late actress’ life.
Attendees included Colin Farrell, who hosted the service, Michael Caine and Elton John. Many others sent their well wishes, including Taylor’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” director Mike Nichols, who recorded a touching video message for the event.
“To say that the world got smaller, emptier, darker and lonelier when we lost Elizabeth is an understatement,” Elton John said during the event according to People Magazine. “She was a true rock, a pioneer, a pathfinder, a trailblazer and a star who will always burn bright and always had time to laugh at herself.” The musician also performed “Blue Eyes” during the memorial event.
Several sources reported that Taylor’s son Michael Wilding thanked the guests and called his mother an extraordinary woman who the family was very proud of. “Today it was especially meaningful for us to be with so many good friends to celebrate her spirit, which will be with us forever,” he said to the guests according to E! News.
Taylor died of congestive heart failure on March 23, 2011 at the age of 79.
