In an overwhelming story that seems to have been cut out of a fairytale Hollywood screenplay, a new book has revealed the extraordinary role that actress Elizabeth Taylor, popular for her role in Suddenly, Last Summer, played in transforming the life of a notorious bank robber into an upstanding citizen.
Terry Moogan, who had previously authored a memoir, Liverpool Bank Robber To Hollywood Butler in 2023 which detailed the story of his dramatic shift from a life of crime to embarking on a career that made him rub shoulders with some of Hollywood’s most powerful people, has recently disclosed in another book how an unplanned encounter with Taylor became the instrument for his redemption. In his latest revelations, he described how the late actress’ advice during their brief but impactful meeting motivated him to turn from his criminal past and start a fresh route in his life.
Terry Moogan was living a life of crime before meeting actress, Elizabeth Taylor
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Moogan revealed that his early life in Liverpool was marked by financial struggles, which made him become entangled in a life of crime, much like many other young people in his neighborhood who struggled to survive on the streets. He began with petty theft, stealing whiskey and vodka, but eventually graduated to more serious offenses, including bank theft. He stated that his life took a dramatic turn when his brother intervened, securing him a job as a chef aboard the prestigious Queen Elizabeth 2 Ocean liner, an opportunity that forced him to leave Liverpool and relocate to Southampton, which marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
Moogan explained that while he was working on the vessel, he transitioned from being a chef to serving as a waiter due to his inability to cook. He noted that it was this role that brought him in contact with the renowned actress, Elizabeth Taylor who was travelling on the ship in company of her lover-turned husband, Richard Burton.
Terry Moogan says Elizabeth Taylor’s advice turned his life around
Moogan disclosed that his meeting with Taylor was the turning-point in his life even though it started with a simple, heartfelt conversation. While Richard Burton was downstairs in the casino, he found himself discussing with the actress, who, despite her immense fame, treated him with kindly and asked if he had ever considered becoming a movie star. Moogan laughed off the idea, seeing himself as far removed from the world of acting. Undeterred, Taylor gently suggested he consider working as a butler in California.
Taking Taylor’s advice to heart, in 1980, when he was just 23 years old, Moogan moved to Los Angeles, fully ready to begin a new chapter. He found employment as a butler through the International Domestic Agency, a role that brought him into the homes of some of Hollywood’s A-listers, including Jack Benny, Clint Eastwood, Frederick R. Weisman, and George Segal.