Post by teleadm on Jan 11, 2020 10:51:26 GMT
Rodney Sturt Taylor could have been 90 this year. He was born in Lidcombe, a suburb of Sydney (Australia), the only child of William Sturt Taylor, a steel construction contractor and commercial artist, and Mona Taylor (née Thompson), a writer of more than a hundred short stories and children's books. For a time he worked as a commercial artist, but decided to become an actor after seeing Laurence Olivier in an Old Vic touring production of Richard III.
Taylor acquired extensive radio and stage experience in Australia, where his radio work included a period on "Blue Hills" and a role as "Tarzan". Earlier in his career he had to support himself by working at Sydney's Mark Foy's department store, designing and painting window and other displays during the day. In 1951, he took part in a re-enactment of Charles Sturt's voyage down the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers, playing Sturt's offsider, George Macleay. A short documentary, Inland with Sturt 1951, was based on it. Taylor also appeared in a number of theatre productions for Australia's Mercury Theatre.
Taylor made his feature film debut in the Australian Lee Robinson film King of the Coral Sea 1954, playing an American. He later played Israel Hands in a Hollywood-financed film shot in Sydney, Long John Silver 1954, an unofficial sequel to Treasure Island. Following these two films, Taylor was awarded the 1954 Rola Show Australian Radio Actor of the Year Award, which included a ticket to London via Los Angeles, but Taylor did not continue on to London.
King of the Coral Sea 1954, Rod's movie debut.
Hell on Frisco Bay 1955, Rod's Hollywood debut in a feature length movie, a crime drama starring Alan Ladd and Edward G. Robinson.
Giant 1956 as Sir David Karfrey. George Stevens epic drama that starred Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean.
The Catered Affair 1956, with Debbie Reynolds. It starred Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine and Barry Fitzgerald.
Separate Tables 1958 as Charles. Based on a play by Terrence Rattigan, it starred Rita Hayworth, Deborah Kerr, Burt Lancaster, David Niven and Wendy Hiller.
The Time Machine 1960, in his first leading role.
Hong Kong TV-series 1960 to 1961, an adventure action series "Filmed by Twentieth Century Fox Television Inc. at its Hollywood studios and in the Crown Colony of Hong Kong"
One Hundred and One Dalmatians 1961, yes he was the voice of Pongo, at least for those who didn't watch dubbed versions.
Seven Seas to Calais (in Italy Il dominatore dei sette mari) 1962, an Italian adventure movie with Rod as Sir Francis Drake.
The Birds 1963 directed by Alfred Hitchcock, co-starring Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy and Suzanne Pleshette.
A Gathering of Eagles 1963, a cold war action drama co-starring Rock Hudson, Mary Peach, Barry Sullivan, Kevin McCarthy and Henry Silva.
Sunday in New York 1963, a romantic comedy co-starring Jane Fonda and Cliff Robertson.
The VIP's 1963, a British all-star cast drama that also starred Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Louis Jourdan, Elsa Martinelli, Maggie Smith, Orson Welles and Margaret Rutherford.
Taking a break making Fate is the Hunter 1964, with co-stars Glenn Ford and Jane Russell.
36 Hours 1965, with co-stars Eva Marie Saint and James Garner.
Young Cassidy 1965, a biographical drama based upon the life of playwright Sean O'Casey, started by John Ford (who fell ill) and finished by Jack Cardiff, it co-starred Maggie Smith and Julie Christie.
The Liquidator 1965, a British thriller (parody?) co-starring Jill St John and Trevor Howard.
The Glass Bottom Boat 1966, a comedy co-starring Doris Day. They also starred together the year before in Do Not Disturb 1965.
Hotel 1967, based on Arthur Hailey's best-seller, and co-starred Catherine Spaak, Karl Malden, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Rennie, Merle Oberon, and Melvyn Douglas.
Dark of the Sun aka The Mercenaries 1968, action war movie based on a novel by Wilbur Smith, co-starring Yvette Mimieux, Jim Brown and Kenneth More.
Nobody Runs Forever aka The High Comissioner 1968, a spy thriller co-starring Christopher Plummer, Camilla Sparv, Lilli Palmer and Franchot Tone.
The Hell with Heroes 1968, action movie taking place in Africa shortly after WWII, co-starring Claudia Cardinale, Harry Guardino and Kevin McCarthy.
Zabriskie Point 1970, directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. It was widely noted at the time for its setting in the counterculture of the United States.
The Train Robbers 1973, a western co-starring John Wayne, Ann-Margret and Ben Johnson.
Rod continued to act in movies and in television productions after this, guest starring on Falcon Crest 1988 to 1990, Murder She Wrote 1995 and Walker, Texas Ranger 1996 to 2000, among others.
Rod's screen farewell, as Winston Churchill in Inglourious Basterds 2009.
Published in 2010.
"I'm about the only Australian in movies who doesn't pretend to be something else. Flynn pretended he was American, Finch pretends he's a Pommie, Merle Oberon says she was not born in Tasmania."
"When I arrived at LA airport, to be met by some Hollywood promoters, they were expecting some six foot, pretty guy. Instead they were shocked to see a five foot ten punk, with a broken nose."
Rod Taylor left us in 2015, aged 84.
Thanks for watching!!!!
Taylor acquired extensive radio and stage experience in Australia, where his radio work included a period on "Blue Hills" and a role as "Tarzan". Earlier in his career he had to support himself by working at Sydney's Mark Foy's department store, designing and painting window and other displays during the day. In 1951, he took part in a re-enactment of Charles Sturt's voyage down the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers, playing Sturt's offsider, George Macleay. A short documentary, Inland with Sturt 1951, was based on it. Taylor also appeared in a number of theatre productions for Australia's Mercury Theatre.
Taylor made his feature film debut in the Australian Lee Robinson film King of the Coral Sea 1954, playing an American. He later played Israel Hands in a Hollywood-financed film shot in Sydney, Long John Silver 1954, an unofficial sequel to Treasure Island. Following these two films, Taylor was awarded the 1954 Rola Show Australian Radio Actor of the Year Award, which included a ticket to London via Los Angeles, but Taylor did not continue on to London.
King of the Coral Sea 1954, Rod's movie debut.
Hell on Frisco Bay 1955, Rod's Hollywood debut in a feature length movie, a crime drama starring Alan Ladd and Edward G. Robinson.
Giant 1956 as Sir David Karfrey. George Stevens epic drama that starred Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean.
The Catered Affair 1956, with Debbie Reynolds. It starred Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine and Barry Fitzgerald.
Separate Tables 1958 as Charles. Based on a play by Terrence Rattigan, it starred Rita Hayworth, Deborah Kerr, Burt Lancaster, David Niven and Wendy Hiller.
The Time Machine 1960, in his first leading role.
Hong Kong TV-series 1960 to 1961, an adventure action series "Filmed by Twentieth Century Fox Television Inc. at its Hollywood studios and in the Crown Colony of Hong Kong"
One Hundred and One Dalmatians 1961, yes he was the voice of Pongo, at least for those who didn't watch dubbed versions.
Seven Seas to Calais (in Italy Il dominatore dei sette mari) 1962, an Italian adventure movie with Rod as Sir Francis Drake.
The Birds 1963 directed by Alfred Hitchcock, co-starring Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy and Suzanne Pleshette.
A Gathering of Eagles 1963, a cold war action drama co-starring Rock Hudson, Mary Peach, Barry Sullivan, Kevin McCarthy and Henry Silva.
Sunday in New York 1963, a romantic comedy co-starring Jane Fonda and Cliff Robertson.
The VIP's 1963, a British all-star cast drama that also starred Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Louis Jourdan, Elsa Martinelli, Maggie Smith, Orson Welles and Margaret Rutherford.
Taking a break making Fate is the Hunter 1964, with co-stars Glenn Ford and Jane Russell.
36 Hours 1965, with co-stars Eva Marie Saint and James Garner.
Young Cassidy 1965, a biographical drama based upon the life of playwright Sean O'Casey, started by John Ford (who fell ill) and finished by Jack Cardiff, it co-starred Maggie Smith and Julie Christie.
The Liquidator 1965, a British thriller (parody?) co-starring Jill St John and Trevor Howard.
The Glass Bottom Boat 1966, a comedy co-starring Doris Day. They also starred together the year before in Do Not Disturb 1965.
Hotel 1967, based on Arthur Hailey's best-seller, and co-starred Catherine Spaak, Karl Malden, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Rennie, Merle Oberon, and Melvyn Douglas.
Dark of the Sun aka The Mercenaries 1968, action war movie based on a novel by Wilbur Smith, co-starring Yvette Mimieux, Jim Brown and Kenneth More.
Nobody Runs Forever aka The High Comissioner 1968, a spy thriller co-starring Christopher Plummer, Camilla Sparv, Lilli Palmer and Franchot Tone.
The Hell with Heroes 1968, action movie taking place in Africa shortly after WWII, co-starring Claudia Cardinale, Harry Guardino and Kevin McCarthy.
Zabriskie Point 1970, directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. It was widely noted at the time for its setting in the counterculture of the United States.
The Train Robbers 1973, a western co-starring John Wayne, Ann-Margret and Ben Johnson.
Rod continued to act in movies and in television productions after this, guest starring on Falcon Crest 1988 to 1990, Murder She Wrote 1995 and Walker, Texas Ranger 1996 to 2000, among others.
Rod's screen farewell, as Winston Churchill in Inglourious Basterds 2009.
Published in 2010.
"I'm about the only Australian in movies who doesn't pretend to be something else. Flynn pretended he was American, Finch pretends he's a Pommie, Merle Oberon says she was not born in Tasmania."
"When I arrived at LA airport, to be met by some Hollywood promoters, they were expecting some six foot, pretty guy. Instead they were shocked to see a five foot ten punk, with a broken nose."
Rod Taylor left us in 2015, aged 84.
Thanks for watching!!!!
