Larry Fortensky
Encyclopedia
Larry Fortensky is a construction worker best known as the eighth and last husband of actress Elizabeth Taylor
.
Fortensky and Taylor were married on October 6, 1991, at Michael Jackson's
Neverland Ranch
and divorced on October 31, 1996.
, and dropped out of Garden Grove, California
's Pacifica High School in the 10th grade. He was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1972 and discharged three months later. He married Priscilla Joan Torres in 1972, divorcing in 1974 after having one daughter, Julie Fortensky. He subsequently married Karin McNeal and divorced in 1984.
parking lot, "very intoxicated" and in possession of marijuana. Using Teamster
medical insurance from his construction job, he checked himself into the Betty Ford Clinic in 1988, where he met Elizabeth Taylor
. At the time, he was living in a small house in Stanton.
During the courtship she would sometimes deliver "goodies" to Fortensky at his work site.
The wedding, which cost between $1.5 and $2 million, was attended by 160 at the Neverland Ranch, and presided over by Marianne Williamson
. It was a high profile event with paparazzi helicopters buzzing overhead, and a guest list that including Liza Minnelli
, Eddie Murphy
and Nancy Reagan
as well as Franco Zeffirelli
, Arsenio Hall
, Pia Zadora
, George Hamilton
, Merv Griffin
, Quincy Jones
and Macaulay Culkin
. Taylor's $25,000 dress was a gift from Valentino
. She was escorted by Jackson and her eldest son Michael Wilding Jr. Their toast was with mineral water
. Fortensky's best man was Taylor's hairdresser Jose Eber
. Fortensky's family arrived in their own cars rather than limousines. The couple donated money from selling wedding photos to AIDS charities.
When Taylor and Fortensky married in 1991 Fortensky was reported to have a pre-nuptial agreement where he would receive $1 million (with no additional support) if the marriage lasted five years. The couple split after five years in 1996 with Fortensky hiring New York divorce attorney Raoul Felder
.
Linda Untiet, Fortensky's sister, said they were divorced because Fortensky did not want to be known as "Mr. Elizabeth Taylor" anymore and that the two had remained in contact after the divorce.
In August 1996, Fortensky was arrested for drug use after police in Hemet, California
found him in an illegally parked luxury motor home with no license plates with a woman he identified as his live-in maid. Fortensky, whose black BMW
was parked by the home's front door, refused to allow police to search the motor home, but was arrested for being under the influence of drugs at the time.
on January 29, 1999 and was hospitalized for two months, during which he was in a coma for six weeks. He suffers short-term memory loss as a result of the fall. He was reported to have been drunk at the time mourning the death of a prized pet.
He bought a three-bedroom house in Temecula, California
in 2002 with money from the divorce settlement. In 2009 Taylor, with whom he remained friends, and spoke on the phone twice a month, reportedly gave him $50,000 to pay the $5,800/month mortgage and keep the house out of foreclosure. It was repossessed in 2010 after plummeting in value.
Fortensky's last phone call with Taylor was a day before she entered the hospital in February 2011. Following her March 2011 passing, she left Fortensky $800,000 USD in her will. As of April 2011 he lives with his sister Donna in a rented two-bedroom bungalow in Menifee, California
. He is unable to work following his accident, for which he takes medication. He is estranged with his sister, Linda, who sold information to The National Enquirer
, and to his daughter, Julie, following a conflict over money.
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
.
Fortensky and Taylor were married on October 6, 1991, at Michael Jackson's
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
Neverland Ranch
Neverland Ranch
Neverland Valley Ranch is a developed property in Santa Barbara County, California, most famous for being a home of American entertainer Michael Jackson from 1988 to 2005. Jackson named the property after Neverland, the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan, a boy who never grows up...
and divorced on October 31, 1996.
Early life
Fortensky, the eldest of seven children, was raised in working-class Stanton, CaliforniaStanton, California
Stanton is a city located in western Orange County, California. The population was 38,186 at the 2010 census, up from 37,403 at the 2000 census. Like most of Orange County, it is more politically conservative compared to the rest of the state. The City was incorporated in 1956 and operates under...
, and dropped out of Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove is a city located in northern Orange County, California. The population was 170,883 at the 2010 census. State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city running east-west. The city is known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H...
's Pacifica High School in the 10th grade. He was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1972 and discharged three months later. He married Priscilla Joan Torres in 1972, divorcing in 1974 after having one daughter, Julie Fortensky. He subsequently married Karin McNeal and divorced in 1984.
Substance Addiction and Marriage to Elizabeth Taylor
In 1987 he was convicted for driving while intoxicated. Police found him in a San Clemente, CaliforniaSan Clemente, California
San Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
parking lot, "very intoxicated" and in possession of marijuana. Using Teamster
Teamster
A teamster, in modern American English, is a truck driver. The trade union named after them is the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , one of the largest unions in the United States....
medical insurance from his construction job, he checked himself into the Betty Ford Clinic in 1988, where he met Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
. At the time, he was living in a small house in Stanton.
During the courtship she would sometimes deliver "goodies" to Fortensky at his work site.
The wedding, which cost between $1.5 and $2 million, was attended by 160 at the Neverland Ranch, and presided over by Marianne Williamson
Marianne Williamson
Marianne Williamson is a spiritual activist, author, lecturer and founder of The Peace Alliance, a grass roots campaign supporting legislation currently before Congress to establish a United States Department of Peace. She is also the founder of Project Angel Food, a meals-on-wheels program that...
. It was a high profile event with paparazzi helicopters buzzing overhead, and a guest list that including Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
, Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
and Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
as well as Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian center-right Forza Italia party....
, Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the...
, Pia Zadora
Pia Zadora
Pia Zadora is an American actress and singer. After working as a child actress on Broadway, in regional theater, and in the film Santa Claus Conquers the Martians , she came to national attention in 1981 when, following her starring role in the highly criticized Butterfly, she won a Golden Globe...
, George Hamilton
George Hamilton (actor)
George Stevens Hamilton is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Hamilton was the youngest son of bandleader George "Spike" Hamilton and his first wife, Ann Stevens . He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and lived in Blytheville, Arkansas...
, Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W Broadcasting...
, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
and Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Carson Culkin is an American actor. He became widely known for his portrayal of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He is also known for his roles in Richie Rich, Uncle Buck, My Girl, The Pagemaster, and Party Monster...
. Taylor's $25,000 dress was a gift from Valentino
Valentino
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani , best known as Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer and founder of the Valentino SpA brand and company. His main lines were Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma, and R.E.D...
. She was escorted by Jackson and her eldest son Michael Wilding Jr. Their toast was with mineral water
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
. Fortensky's best man was Taylor's hairdresser Jose Eber
José Eber
José Eber is a well known hairstylist. His flagship salon is in Beverly Hills, California. He has written two books, and created one video tape. The first book, published in 1982, was titled "Shake Your Head, Darling". The video tape on hairstyling tips, called "Why Do I Call You Sexy?", was...
. Fortensky's family arrived in their own cars rather than limousines. The couple donated money from selling wedding photos to AIDS charities.
When Taylor and Fortensky married in 1991 Fortensky was reported to have a pre-nuptial agreement where he would receive $1 million (with no additional support) if the marriage lasted five years. The couple split after five years in 1996 with Fortensky hiring New York divorce attorney Raoul Felder
Raoul Felder
Raoul Lionel Felder is an American lawyer and matrimonialattorney. Felder has written several books and has published numerous articles related to matrimonial law, politics and social issues...
.
Linda Untiet, Fortensky's sister, said they were divorced because Fortensky did not want to be known as "Mr. Elizabeth Taylor" anymore and that the two had remained in contact after the divorce.
In August 1996, Fortensky was arrested for drug use after police in Hemet, California
Hemet, California
Hemet is a city in the San Jacinto Valley in Riverside County, California, United States. It covers a total area of , about half of the valley, which it shares with the neighboring city of San Jacinto. The population was 78,657 at the 2010 census....
found him in an illegally parked luxury motor home with no license plates with a woman he identified as his live-in maid. Fortensky, whose black BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
was parked by the home's front door, refused to allow police to search the motor home, but was arrested for being under the influence of drugs at the time.
Post-divorce
Fortensky fell down a flight of stairs at his home in San Juan Capistrano, CaliforniaSan Juan Capistrano, California
San Juan Capistrano is a city in southern Orange County, California, located approximately southeast of Downtown Santa Ana. The current OMB metropolitan designation for San Juan Capistrano and the Orange County Area is “Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA.” The population was 34,593 at the 2010 census,...
on January 29, 1999 and was hospitalized for two months, during which he was in a coma for six weeks. He suffers short-term memory loss as a result of the fall. He was reported to have been drunk at the time mourning the death of a prized pet.
He bought a three-bedroom house in Temecula, California
Temecula, California
Temecula is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States with a population of 100,097 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it the lowest populated American city over 100,000 population. It was incorporated on December 1, 1989...
in 2002 with money from the divorce settlement. In 2009 Taylor, with whom he remained friends, and spoke on the phone twice a month, reportedly gave him $50,000 to pay the $5,800/month mortgage and keep the house out of foreclosure. It was repossessed in 2010 after plummeting in value.
Fortensky's last phone call with Taylor was a day before she entered the hospital in February 2011. Following her March 2011 passing, she left Fortensky $800,000 USD in her will. As of April 2011 he lives with his sister Donna in a rented two-bedroom bungalow in Menifee, California
Menifee, California
Menifee is a relatively new city located in Southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. The city is roughly in size. As of the 2010 census, Menifee has a population of about 77,519...
. He is unable to work following his accident, for which he takes medication. He is estranged with his sister, Linda, who sold information to The National Enquirer
The National Enquirer
The National Enquirer is an American supermarket tabloid now published by American Media Inc . Founded in 1926, the tabloid has gone through a variety of changes over the years....
, and to his daughter, Julie, following a conflict over money.