Elizabeth Taylor remembered

“The shock of Elizabeth was not only her beauty. It was her generosity. Her giant laugh. Her vitality, whether tackling a complex scene on film or where we would all have dinner until dawn. She is singular and indelible on film and in our hearts.”

-- Mike Nichols made his feature directorial debut with 1966’s classic “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” for which Elizabeth Taylor received her second best actress Oscar as the frumpy, vulgar Martha.  (Jennifer S. Altman / For the Times)

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Elizabeth Taylor. Her artistic contribution to the motion picture industry is immeasurable. In a career spanning more than 70 years and 50 films, her talent endured the test of time and transcended generations of moviegoers. She truly was an American icon, whose legacy went far beyond her acting skills, most notably in her efforts to lead the battle against HIV/AIDS. Our thoughts are with her family and her many friends and fans during this difficult time.”

-- Sen. Chris Dodd, chairman of the Motion Picture Assn. of America  (Jessica Hill / Associated Press)

“She was warm and generous. I felt accepted and I had done nothing before. I felt hurt in the heart [when I heard the news]. She was an icon then and she is an icon now. She never stopped being one.”

-- Robert Forster, who earned an Oscar nomination for 1997’s “Jackie Brown,” made his film debut opposite Elizabeth Taylor in the 1967 melodrama “Reflections in a Golden Eye.”  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

“It’s a terrible loss. A unique talent and a singularly spectacular individual.”

-- Martin Landau, who worked with Elizabeth Taylor on 1963’s “Cleopatra.”  (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

“Elizabeth was the last great movie star. And a great human being. What I’ll always remember about Elizabeth was her laugh. She would walk into a room looking like a princess and suddenly there would be this cackle that filled the room that would crack us all up. I’m so glad to have known her. It’s a very sad day for me.”

-- Barry Manilow, the award-winning singer-songwriter remembering his friend Elizabeth Taylor.  (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

“With the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, America has lost one of its greatest talents and fiercest advocates for HIV/AIDS research. Born in England, Elizabeth became thoroughly American royalty. For more than a generation, she brought to life unforgettable characters on film, and her tireless efforts to combat AIDS brought hope to millions of people around the world. We were honored to host her at the White House in 2001 when she received the Presidential Citizens Medal for her relentless crusade for more AIDS research and better care. In founding amfAR, she raised both millions of dollars and our level of awareness about the impact of AIDS in the United States and around the world. Elizabeth’s legacy will live on in many people around the world whose lives will be longer and better because of her work and the ongoing efforts of those she inspired. Our thoughts are with her family, her friends and her many fans. We will miss her talent, her heart and her friendship.”

-- Former President Clinton, who presented Taylor with the Presidential Citizens Medal, and his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, remembered Elizabeth Taylor.  (Steve Jaffe / AFP/Getty Images)

“I loved Elizabeth Taylor. I loved the work we did together in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I learned from her to be passionate about what I did, because she was so passionate about her causes. It was infectious. She was one of the classiest, gentlest, most professional and elegant women I knew. She will be missed around the world.”

--Basketball legend Magic Johnson remembered actress Elizabeth Taylor, not for her contributions to film but for her contributions to HIV/AIDS awareness. Johnson learned he was HIV-positive in 1991.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

“We have just lost a Hollywood giant; more importantly, we have lost an incredible human being,”

-- Sir Elton John and Dame Elizabeth Taylor not only shared courtly prefixes but also a passion for promoting AIDS awareness. Like the actress had done in 1991 in setting up her Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, John established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992.  (Charles Sykes / Associated Press)

“She put human faces on issues. With her soft voice coming from that tiny frame, she held forth the giant purpose of the true meaning of love; that we are all equally valuable.”

-- Sharon Stone, who worked with Elizabeth Taylor for a number of years on the Macy’s Passport Gala to benefit HIV/AIDS.  (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)