In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight, model and author Kathy Ireland reveals that her close friend Elizabeth Taylor ran an AIDS Pharmaceuticals ring out of her Bel-Air mansion during the 80’s.

In celebration of World AIDS Day this Tuesday, Dec. 1, Kathy Ireland together with Ricki Lake opened up to ET about past celebrities who were instrumental in helping HIV patients. They also gave weight on comedian actor Charlie Sheen on his recent revelation on the Today show.

"My heart and our prayers go out to [Sheen] and for everybody who is dealing with this," Ireland told ET. "It's heartbreaking."

"I think it was incredibly brave of him," Lake added. "It's good anytime we can raise awareness."

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Going back, Ireland dishes out that Taylor has been running her house for the sake of helping others who are suffering with AIDS.

"It was a safe house,” Ireland shared. “A lot of the work that she did, it was illegal, but she was saving lives. It was in a time when it was not something to do. Business associates pleaded with her, 'Leave this thing alone.' She received death threats. Friends hung up on her when she asked for help, but something that I love about Elizabeth is her courage."

According to Us Weekly, the academy award-winning actress Elizabeth Taylor founded her own Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991, got involved with the cause after her dear friend Rock Hudson died from the disease in 1985. During an interview with Vanity Fair in 1992, Taylor recalled that, at the time, nobody wanted to help.

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“They didn’t want to come to the evening, didn’t want to be associated. Some very big names [said no].” Some of her friends told her: “‘Oh, Elizabeth, this is one of your lame-duck causes. Back away from it. It’s going to hurt you.’"

Tags: Elizabeth Taylor Kathy Ireland AIDS AIDS awareness