Singer Elton John has called Elizabeth
Taylor a hero for her AIDS advocacy, the AP reported.
The legendary actress died Wednesday at
the age of 79 in Los Angeles. She was laid to rest at a private
service on Thursday.
Taylor became a leading advocate for
AIDS research after the 1985 death of actor Rock Hudson from AIDS
complications. She helped create amfAR, one of the world's leading
non-profits dedicated to raising awareness and funds to end the
disease.
The 64-year-old Sir Elton dedicated
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me at a Wednesday concert.
“Today I lost a friend and you lost a
hero named Elizabeth Taylor,” he told the audience.
“She stood up when no one was
prepared to stand up and be counted against AIDS. She supported
everybody in that with 1,000 percent of her body and her fiber. But
most of all she loved people. She fought for the underdog. She was
an incredible woman and I was privileged to have known her.”
“God bless you, Elizabeth. God knows
how we're going to replace you.”
Singer
Barry Manilow and fashion designer Kenneth Cole, amfAR's current
board chair, have also praised the Oscar-winning actress for her
contributions to the cause.