Liza Todd is the daughter of one of the most famous actresses in Hollywood history, Elizabeth Taylor. Most people know her mother’s name, but very few know much about Liza herself. She grew up in front of cameras and bright lights, but she chose a very different path. Instead of acting, she became a talented sculptor and lived a quiet, private life far from Hollywood. Her story is full of loss, strength, art, and love.
Biography Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elizabeth Frances Todd |
| Known As | Liza Todd / Liza Todd-Tivey |
| Date of Birth | August 6, 1957 |
| Place of Birth | New York, USA |
| Age (2025) | 67 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Mother | Elizabeth Taylor (actress) |
| Father | Mike Todd (film producer) |
| Stepfather | Richard Burton (adopted her) |
| Half-Siblings | Michael Wilding Jr., Christopher Wilding, Maria Burton |
| Education | Hornsey College of Art, London; Otis Institute, Los Angeles |
| Profession | Sculptor, Visual Artist |
| Spouse (ex) | Hap Tivey (married 1984, divorced 2003) |
| Children | Quinn Tivey, Rhys Tivey |
| Residence | Upstate New York, USA |
| Net Worth | $1 million to $5 million (estimated) |
Early Life and Family Background
Liza Todd was born on August 6, 1957, in New York City. She was the only child of Elizabeth Taylor and her third husband, Mike Todd. Her birth was not easy. She was born early by a cesarean section and weighed only four pounds and fourteen ounces. Her parents were very happy, but sadness came very soon after.
When Liza was just six months old, her father Mike Todd died in a plane crash on March 22, 1958. She never had the chance to know him. Her mother Elizabeth Taylor was left to raise Liza alone. Growing up, Liza had three half-siblings from her mother’s other marriages: Michael Wilding Jr., Christopher Wilding, and Maria Burton. The family lived a big, public life, but Elizabeth always tried to protect her children from too much media attention.
The Role of Richard Burton in Her Life
After Mike Todd died, Elizabeth Taylor later married the famous British actor Richard Burton. Burton became a very important person in Liza’s life. He formally adopted her, and Liza always felt close to him. People who knew the family said that Burton was the father figure Liza never had. She called him her “real” father in many ways.
Liza grew up spending time on her mother’s film sets and going to a private school in Gstaad, Switzerland. She lived between countries and experienced a very unique childhood. While she had every chance to enter the world of acting, she always felt that it was not the right path for her. When a reporter asked her at age 12 if she wanted to be an actress like her mother, she reportedly said, “An actress? Urgh.”
Education and the Start of Her Art Career
Liza had a strong love for art from a young age. She also had a deep passion for horses, which started during her childhood years in England and Switzerland. These two loves came together and shaped her future career. She studied at the Hornsey College of Art in London and then at the Otis Institute in Los Angeles.
After finishing her studies in 1979, she began working as a professional sculptor. She focused on equestrian art, which means she created bronze sculptures of horses. She started creating bronze editions of famous racehorses for The Newmarket Gallery in England. Her work was very detailed and full of emotion, and people in the art world quickly noticed her talent.
Career as a Sculptor
Liza Todd built a successful career as one of the best equestrian sculptors in the world. She received private commissions from owners of famous racehorses. Some of her most well-known works include sculptures of legendary horses like Northern Dancer, Secretariat, and Nashua. She also made a life-size bronze calf for the village of Gstaad in Switzerland, a place she knew well from her school days.
One of her most touching works was a sculpture of a life-size rescue dog made from debris collected from the World Trade Center site after the September 11 attacks. This showed that her art was not just about horses. It carried deep meaning and emotion. Her works have sold at auctions around the world, with prices reaching up to $22,500. She was the only modern sculptor, alongside John Skeaping, to be included in the influential book “Great Racehorses in Art” by John Fairley.
Work with African Wildlife
In 2016, Liza shifted her focus to African wildlife. She began working with HERD, an elephant orphanage based in South Africa. She created an art exhibition called “From Line to Form: The Jabulani Elephants,” which featured artwork inspired by the elephants she worked with closely.
Three years later, in 2019, she started a project called Rescue Scarves. These scarves had designs of elephants and cheetahs based on her artwork. All the profits from these scarves went directly to help endangered animals in South Africa. This showed a new and important side of Liza. She used her art not just for beauty, but also to protect animals and the natural world.
Personal Life and Marriage
Liza married artist Hap Tivey in 1984. Together they had two sons, Quinn Tivey, born in 1986, and Rhys Tivey, born in 1990. The couple later divorced in 2003. After the divorce, Liza continued to live a quiet life in upstate New York, surrounded by horses, dogs, goats, and nature.
Both of her sons grew up to have creative careers of their own. Quinn Tivey became involved with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, continuing his grandmother’s important work. Rhys Tivey became a musician, songwriter, and yoga teacher. Liza raised both boys away from the spotlight, giving them the kind of normal life she also wanted for herself.
Life Today
Today, Liza Todd lives on a quiet country road in upstate New York. She spends her time with her animals, creating her sculptures, and supporting causes she cares about. People who know her in her local community describe her as a completely normal person. Many say they only recognized her because of her eyes, which look very much like her mother’s.
She does not use social media in any active way and rarely appears in public. When she does share her work, it is usually connected to an art exhibition or a cause she supports. She has chosen to live simply and meaningfully, which is quite different from the glamorous world her mother was known for.
Conclusion
Liza Todd’s life is a story of quiet strength. She lost her father before she even knew him, grew up under the world’s most famous spotlight, and still found her own path. She became a respected sculptor, a caring mother, and a voice for animals in need. She is not famous in the way her mother was, but her life is full and meaningful. Liza Todd proves that you do not need the spotlight to live a life worth knowing about.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Liza Todd?
Liza Todd is the daughter of legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor and film producer Mike Todd. She was born on August 6, 1957. She is known as a talented sculptor who specializes in bronze equestrian art.
2. What does Liza Todd do for a living?
Liza Todd works as a professional sculptor. She is especially known for her detailed bronze sculptures of horses. She has also worked with African wildlife organizations and created art to raise money for endangered animals.
3. Did Liza Todd ever act in movies?
She had a very small, uncredited role in the 1969 film “Anne of the Thousand Days,” which starred her stepfather Richard Burton. But she never pursued acting as a career.
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