A new HBO documentary, ‘Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes,’ is set to reveal shocking and deeply personal confessions from the iconic actress, detailing a suicide attempt during her “awful” marriage to Eddie Fisher and recounting terrifying instances of his dangerous, gun-wielding behavior that ultimately led her to flee their home.
Even years after her passing in 2011, Elizabeth Taylor remains an unparalleled figure in Hollywood, her life and loves continuing to captivate. While celebrated for her acting prowess and social activism, her seven marriages to eight husbands were often as dramatic as any film plot. Now, newly unearthed interviews from the documentary ‘Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes,’ debuting on HBO August 3, promise to redefine our understanding of the screen legend, offering raw and candid insights into her most challenging relationships, particularly her notorious marriage to Eddie Fisher.
The Unhappy Union: Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher
The documentary, featuring 40 hours of conversations between Taylor and late journalist Richard Meryman from 1964 and 1965, delves deep into her tumultuous fourth marriage to singer Eddie Fisher. Taylor, with her characteristic candor, explicitly states, “I never loved Eddie. I liked him. I felt sorry for him,” as heard in the film according to People. Their relationship began amidst scandal, with Fisher leaving his wife, Debbie Reynolds—a close friend of Taylor’s—after the tragic death of Taylor’s third husband, Mike Todd.
Taylor confessed that she was “fed up with living” during this period, revealing a shocking suicide attempt. She recalls taking sleeping pills “deliberately, calmly and in front of Eddie,” stating, “I’d rather be dead than face divorce,” a poignant moment that highlights her deep depression and desperation at the time. She later reflected on this act as “self-indulgent,” recognizing the “horrific” consequences it would have had for her children.
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5/12/1959-Las Vegas, NV- Eddie Fisher and Elizabeth Taylor are shown after their wedding at Temple Beth Shalom.
The Dangerous Undercurrent of the Fisher Marriage
Beyond her own despair, Taylor’s interviews also expose a darker side of Fisher’s behavior. She recounted harrowing nights where Fisher would sit with a gun, stroking her arm and repeatedly saying, “I’m not going to kill you, I wouldn’t shoot you. You are much too pretty,” as reported by AOL. This terrifying ordeal ultimately led her to flee their home, confessing, “I was so scared.” She candidly described their marriage as “one big friggin’ awful mistake,” acknowledging that she knew it before they even wed but felt trapped.
Their union, which lasted from 1959 to 1964, was born from shared grief over Mike Todd’s death, with Taylor admitting she liked talking to Fisher “about Mike.” However, the connection was fleeting, and the marriage was marred by a sense of isolation and control. Taylor lamented that “Eddie made sure that I felt lonely. We never went out,” depicting a stifling environment that contributed to her severe depression.
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Eddie Fisher, wearing a tuxedo, stands with arm around his wife, American actor Debbie Reynolds (R) and smiles while looking at British-born actor Elizabeth Taylor, smoking a cigarette, Las Vegas, Nevada.
A Whirlwind of Loves: Taylor’s Other Notable Marriages
Taylor’s life was defined by love, loss, and constant reinvention. Her many marriages provided a continuous narrative, each offering unique challenges and joys. Examining her other unions helps to contextualize the unique difficulties she faced with Fisher.
- Conrad “Nicky” Hilton Jr. (1950-1951): Her first marriage at just 18 was short-lived and reportedly abusive, ending after nine months. Taylor claimed he physically abused her, causing a miscarriage. “Turn on the sirens,” she once urged her police escort to her first wedding, “Let them know I’m coming!“
- Michael Wilding (1952-1957): A calmer period, Wilding, 20 years her senior, provided stability and fathered her first two sons, Michael and Christopher. Taylor described him as a “wonderful father.“
- Mike Todd (1957-1958): Often called her first true love, Todd, a flamboyant producer, brought immense joy until his untimely death in a plane crash, leaving Taylor a widow at 26. “God, I loved him,” she wrote, “My self-esteem, my image, everything soared under his exuberant, loving care.“
- Richard Burton (1964-1974; 1975-1976): The passionate “Liz & Dick” affair, ignited on the set of ‘Cleopatra,’ led to two marriages and two divorces. Their fiery chemistry was legendary. Taylor remarked, “We were like two atom bombs.“
- John Warner (1976-1982): Her marriage to the politician marked a more restrained period. Taylor found the life of a senator’s wife “very lonely.”
- Larry Fortensky (1991-1996): Meeting in rehab, their union transcended class lines. Taylor later cited a lack of respect as a reason for their split: “He stopped working. You can’t have love without respect.“
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American Actors Liz Taylor and Richard Burton
The Enduring Fascination and Legacy of ‘The Lost Tapes’
The release of ‘Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes’ offers a rare, unfiltered look into the mind of a woman who was constantly in the public eye. By sharing these intimate confessions, the documentary helps us move beyond the “caricature” that fame often creates, as producer Glen Zippler noted in an interview cited by AOL. It allows fans to connect with the “reality of who she was,” highlighting her groundbreaking spirit not just as an actress, but also as a feminist and philanthropist. These tapes underscore the complex layers of Taylor’s life, revealing a vulnerability and strength that make her story even more compelling to new generations.
For fans of classic Hollywood, understanding these deeper struggles adds profound context to her legendary status. It paints a picture of a woman who, despite immense fame and fortune, navigated personal traumas with remarkable resilience, albeit with deep emotional scars. The revelations about her marriage to Eddie Fisher are a stark reminder that even the most glamorous lives are often fraught with hidden pain and difficult truths.
