Rod Taylor's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Bearcats! Hank Brackett Outlaws John Grail The Oregon Trail Evan Thorpe Lux Playhouse Lee

Main Movie Roles 2009 - Inglourious Basterds 1997 - Welcome to Woop Woop 1970 - Zabriskie Point 1968 - The Mercenaries 1966 - The Glass Bottom Boat 1965 - 36 Hours 1965 - Do Not Disturb 1965 - The Liquidator 1963 - The Birds 1963 - The V.I.P.s 1961 - One Hundred and One Dalmatians 1960 - The Time Machine 1958 - Separate Tables 1956 - Giant 1955 - The Virgin Queen 1954 - Long John Silver

BIOGRAPHY:

Suave and handsome Australian actor who came to Hollywood in the 1950s, and built himself up from a supporting actor into taking the lead in several well remembered movies. Arguably his most fondly remembered role was that as George the inventor in George Pal's spectacular The Time Machine (1960). As the movie finished with George, and his best friend Filby Alan Young (I) seemingly parting forever, both actors were brought back together in 1993 to film a 30 minute epilogue to the original movie! Taylor's virile, matinée idol looks also assisted him in scoring the lead of Mitch Brenner in Alfred Hitchcock (I) creepy thriller The Birds (1963), the lead role of Mike Mitchell in the romantic tale of Sunday in New York (1963), and another romantic lead opposite Doris Day (I) in The Glass Bottom Boat (1966). Taylor also appeared in many westerns and action movies during the 1960s; however, none of them were much better than "B pictures" and failed to push his star to the next level. Aditionally, Taylor was cast as the lead in several TV series including "Bearcats!" (1971), "Masquerade" (1983), and "Outlaws" (1986); however, none of them truly ignited viewer interest, and they were canceled after only one or two seasons. Most fans would agree that Rod Taylor's last great role was in the wonderful Australian film The Picture Show Man (1977), about a traveling side show bringing "moving pictures" to remote towns in the Australian outback.


TRIVIA:

• Father: William Sturt Taylor; Mother: Mona Stewart
• Played Tarzan in an Australian children's radio serial in the early 1950s.
• Father of former CNBC anchor 'Felicia Taylor (I)' (qv).
• Good friend of 'Tippi Hedren' (qv).
• 20th Century-Fox considered him for the astronaut role in 1968's _Planet of the Apes (1968)_ (qv) but, perhaps seeking a bigger box office name, gave the part to 'Charlton Heston' (qv).