Maria Burton Carson is best known as the adopted daughter of Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor and actor Richard Burton. Born in Germany in 1961, Maria became part of one of Hollywood’s most famous families but largely stayed away from the entertainment spotlight as an adult.
Elizabeth Taylor began adopting Maria while she was married to Eddie Fisher. After Taylor married Richard Burton, Burton became Maria’s legal father.
Unlike her famous parents, Maria has maintained a relatively private life. As a result, reliable information about her adult years is much more limited than the information available about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
This article looks at what is publicly documented about Maria Burton Carson, including her adoption, family background, marriage, children and connection to Elizabeth Taylor.
Maria Burton Carson Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Maria Burton Carson |
| Born | 1961 |
| Birthplace | Germany |
| Known for | Adopted daughter of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton |
| Adoptive mother | Elizabeth Taylor |
| Legal father | Richard Burton |
| First husband | Steve Carson |
| Daughter | Elizabeth “Eliza” Carson |
| Family connection | Taylor-Burton family |
| Public profile | Generally private |
Exact biographical details about Maria are not consistently reported across public sources, so this article focuses on information that can be supported by reputable historical records and authoritative family sources.
Who Is Maria Burton Carson?
Maria Burton Carson is the adopted daughter of Elizabeth Taylor, one of the most celebrated actresses of the 20th century.
Taylor began the process of adopting Maria while she was married to singer Eddie Fisher. The National Museum of Wales explains that Richard Burton later became Maria’s legal father after marrying Elizabeth Taylor.
Maria therefore became part of the Taylor-Burton family during a period when Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were among the most closely watched celebrities in the world.
Despite her famous family, Maria did not pursue a major Hollywood acting career like her parents.
When Was Maria Burton Carson Born?
Maria Burton Carson was born in 1961 in Germany.
Her exact birth date is not consistently documented across reliable public sources, so it is preferable to use the birth year rather than present an uncertain day or month as fact.
A February 1982 UPI report identified Maria as 21 years old when it announced her upcoming marriage to talent agent Steve Carson.
How Did Elizabeth Taylor Adopt Maria Burton?
Elizabeth Taylor began adopting Maria while she was married to Eddie Fisher.
Maria was born in Germany and became part of Taylor’s family through adoption. Richard Burton later became her legal father after marrying Taylor. The National Museum of Wales describes Maria as the daughter Taylor had begun adopting with Eddie Fisher and says Burton became her legal father.
This is why Maria is commonly described as the adopted daughter of both Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Maria Burton Carson and Richard Burton
Richard Burton was a Welsh actor whose career included major films such as Cleopatra, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
His relationship with Elizabeth Taylor became one of the most heavily covered celebrity relationships of its era.
After marrying Taylor, Burton became Maria’s legal father. The National Museum of Wales documents Maria as part of the family and notes that Burton became the legal father of Taylor’s adopted daughter.
Richard Burton died in 1984.
Maria was also present within the wider Burton family after his death. Contemporary UPI reporting identified her as Burton’s adopted daughter at the time of his funeral.
Growing Up in the Taylor-Burton Family
Growing up as Elizabeth Taylor’s daughter meant that Maria was connected to one of Hollywood’s most recognizable families.
Elizabeth Taylor was internationally famous for her acting career, marriages and public life. Richard Burton was similarly well known for his stage and film work.
Their relationship attracted enormous media attention, meaning that family life was often covered by newspapers and photographers.
Maria, however, remained much less visible than her parents.
That difference is an important part of her story. While Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton lived much of their lives in the public eye, Maria largely stayed outside Hollywood celebrity culture.
Did Maria Burton Carson Have a Career?
Information about Maria Burton Carson’s professional life is limited.
Earlier reporting has associated her with modeling, fashion and talent-related work, but she did not become a major Hollywood actress.
Because detailed information about her later professional activities is limited, claims describing her as a major fashion designer, entertainment executive or philanthropist should be treated carefully unless they are supported by reliable sources.
Her public identity has remained primarily connected to her family and her relationship with Elizabeth Taylor.
Who Was Maria Burton Carson’s Husband?
Maria Burton Carson married Steve Carson, a talent agent.
A February 12, 1982 UPI report described Maria as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s 21-year-old adopted daughter and reported that she was scheduled to marry Steve Carson, then a 28-year-old talent agent, that Saturday.
The couple later had a daughter, Elizabeth Diane Carson, who became known publicly as Eliza Carson.
Maria Burton Carson and Steve Carson
Steve Carson’s relationship with Maria is part of the documented history of the Taylor family.
Contemporary reporting also identified Steve Carson as Maria’s husband and reported the birth of their daughter later in 1982. UPI described the baby as Elizabeth Diane Carson, named after her two grandmothers.
Details about the couple’s later private life are less consistently documented, so it is best not to rely on unsourced claims about their relationship or exact separation timeline.
Who Are Maria Burton Carson’s Children?
Maria Burton Carson has a daughter named Elizabeth “Eliza” Carson.
The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation officially identifies Elizabeth Carson as the daughter of Maria Burton and Steve Carson. The foundation says she was born and raised in New York City and was named after her grandmother, Elizabeth Taylor.
Eliza later became publicly connected to Elizabeth Taylor’s humanitarian legacy.
Elizabeth “Eliza” Carson and Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Carson has spoken about her grandmother and her work fighting HIV/AIDS.
The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation identifies Eliza as an ambassador. Its official biography says she works for the Department of Child Protection in New York City and graduated magna cum laude from New York University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Psychology.
This provides a documented continuing connection between Maria Burton Carson’s family and Elizabeth Taylor’s humanitarian work.
Maria Burton Carson and Elizabeth Taylor
Maria’s relationship with Elizabeth Taylor is central to her public story.
Taylor adopted Maria and raised her as part of her family. After Taylor married Richard Burton, he became Maria’s legal father.
The relationship remained important throughout Maria’s life.
Contemporary reporting continued to identify Maria as Taylor’s daughter during major family events. In 1984, for example, UPI reported that Taylor had told Maria about her plans to marry construction worker Dennis Stein.
Maria therefore remained part of Taylor’s family even while maintaining a relatively private public profile.
How Many Children Did Elizabeth Taylor Have?
Elizabeth Taylor had four children:
- Michael Wilding Jr.
- Christopher Wilding
- Liza Todd
- Maria Burton
Maria was Taylor’s adopted daughter.
Richard Burton later became Maria’s legal father, making her an important part of the Taylor-Burton family.
Was Maria Burton Carson Elizabeth Taylor’s Biological Daughter?
No.
Maria Burton Carson was adopted by Elizabeth Taylor.
Taylor began the adoption process while she was married to Eddie Fisher, and Richard Burton later became Maria’s legal father after marrying Taylor.
Maria was therefore legally part of the Taylor-Burton family even though she was not Taylor’s biological daughter.
What Happened to Maria Burton Carson?
Maria Burton Carson largely stayed away from the Hollywood spotlight as she became an adult.
Unlike Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, she did not establish a long-running public acting career. Consequently, there is considerably less reliable information about her later life.
Historical records continue to identify her as part of the Taylor-Burton family, but many details about her present-day personal life have not been publicly documented.
That lack of information has also resulted in conflicting claims across websites about her current career, residence and family circumstances.
For that reason, it is better to distinguish documented historical facts from information that cannot be independently verified.
Maria Burton Carson Today
Maria Burton Carson today remains a relatively private figure.
There is no comparable volume of recent, first-hand public information about Maria as there is about her famous mother.
Her most clearly documented public connection in recent years comes through her daughter, Elizabeth “Eliza” Carson, who is associated with The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
Beyond that, reliable sources provide limited information about Maria’s current day-to-day life.
Therefore, claims about exactly where Maria lives, what she currently does professionally or what her private family life looks like should not be presented as established facts without strong sourcing.
Maria Burton Carson’s Connection to Elizabeth Taylor’s Legacy
Although Maria herself has remained private, her family continues to be connected to Elizabeth Taylor’s legacy.
Taylor became a major advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and research, and her humanitarian work became an important part of her public legacy.
Maria’s daughter, Elizabeth Carson, later became an ambassador for The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. The foundation describes Eliza as Taylor’s granddaughter and explains her personal connection to Taylor’s AIDS activism.
This creates a continuing family connection to one of the most important causes associated with Elizabeth Taylor.
Maria Burton Carson and the Taylor-Burton Family Legacy
Maria Burton Carson’s story is unusual because she became part of a legendary Hollywood family without becoming a major celebrity herself.
Her adoption connected her to Elizabeth Taylor, while Richard Burton later became her legal father.
The family lived under intense public attention, but Maria’s own adult life has largely remained private.
Her daughter Eliza has also continued a public connection to the family through her work with The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
In that sense, Maria’s story is as much about family history as it is about Hollywood.
What Can We Reliably Say About Maria Burton Carson?
The strongest documented facts include:
- Maria Burton was adopted by Elizabeth Taylor.
- Richard Burton later became her legal father.
- Maria was born in Germany in 1961.
- Contemporary UPI reporting identified her as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s adopted daughter.
- Maria married talent agent Steve Carson in 1982.
- Maria and Steve Carson had a daughter named Elizabeth Diane Carson, known as Eliza.
- Eliza Carson is officially identified as Maria Burton and Steve Carson’s daughter.
- Eliza has been an ambassador for The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
- Maria has generally maintained a private life away from Hollywood.
Historical sources support these core details, while some other biographical claims circulating online remain difficult to verify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Maria Burton Carson?
Maria Burton Carson is the adopted daughter of actress Elizabeth Taylor. Richard Burton later became her legal father after marrying Taylor.
Is Maria Burton Carson Elizabeth Taylor’s adopted daughter?
Yes. Elizabeth Taylor adopted Maria, and Richard Burton later became her legal father.
When was Maria Burton Carson born?
Maria Burton Carson was born in 1961 in Germany. A 1982 UPI report identified her as 21 years old at the time of her marriage to Steve Carson.
Who was Maria Burton Carson’s husband?
Maria Burton Carson married Steve Carson, a talent agent. UPI reported their planned marriage in February 1982.
Does Maria Burton Carson have children?
Maria has a daughter named Elizabeth “Eliza” Carson. The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation officially identifies Eliza as the daughter of Maria Burton and Steve Carson.
Who is Elizabeth “Eliza” Carson?
Elizabeth Carson is Maria Burton Carson’s daughter and Elizabeth Taylor’s granddaughter. She has served as an ambassador for The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
Was Maria Burton Carson an actress?
There is no major acting career documented for Maria. Her public story is primarily connected to her family relationship with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
How is Maria Burton Carson related to Elizabeth Taylor?
Maria Burton Carson is Elizabeth Taylor’s adopted daughter.
How is Maria Burton Carson related to Richard Burton?
Richard Burton became Maria’s legal father after marrying Elizabeth Taylor.
Why is there so little information about Maria Burton Carson?
Maria has generally maintained a private life away from the Hollywood spotlight. As a result, there is much less reliable information about her current life than about Elizabeth Taylor or Richard Burton.
Final Thoughts
Maria Burton Carson became part of one of Hollywood’s most famous families when Elizabeth Taylor adopted her in the 1960s.
Richard Burton later became Maria’s legal father, connecting her to two of the most celebrated actors of their generation.
While Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton spent much of their lives under intense public attention, Maria largely chose a more private path.
Her daughter, Elizabeth “Eliza” Carson, has provided an important continuing connection to Taylor’s humanitarian legacy through her work with The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
For Maria Burton Carson herself, however, privacy remains one of the defining features of her adult life. The most reliable information therefore focuses on her documented family history rather than speculation about her current private circumstances.
