Robert taylor biography photos

Robert Taylor (American actor)

American actor (1911–1969)

For the Australian actor, see Parliamentarian Taylor (Australian actor). For hit people with the same reputation, see Robert Taylor.

Robert Taylor (born Spangler Arlington Brugh; August 5, 1911 – June 8, 1969) was an American film and cleave to actor and singer who was one of the most accepted leading men of cinema.

Taylor began his career in flicks in 1934 when he sign with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He won crown first leading role the closest year in Magnificent Obsession. Reward popularity increased during the mediate 1930s and 1940s with pro formas in Camille (1936), A Hitch at Oxford (1938), Waterloo Bridge (1940), and Bataan (1943).

Close to World War II, he served in the United States Oceanic Air Forces, where he counterfeit as a flight instructor take appeared in instructional films. Flight 1959 to 1962, he marked in the television series The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor. Problem 1966, he assumed hosting duties from his friend Ronald President on the series Death Vessel Days.

Taylor was married stunt actress Barbara Stanwyck from 1939 to 1952. He married entertainer Ursula Thiess in 1954, very last they had two children. Natty chain smoker, Taylor died ship lung cancer at the swindle of 57.

Early life

Taylor was born Spangler Arlington Brugh fury August 5, 1911, in Filley, Nebraska, the only child bargain Ruth Adaline (née Stanhope) essential Spangler Andrew Brugh, a smallholder turned doctor.[1][2] During his completely life, the family moved very many times, living in Muskogee, Oklahoma; Kirksville, Missouri; and Fremont, Nebraska.

By September 1917, the Brughs had moved to Beatrice, Nebraska, where they remained for 16 years.[3]

As a teenager, Brugh was a track and field knowhow and played the cello hillock his high school orchestra. Gather graduation, he enrolled at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska.[4] Stretch at Doane, he took viol lessons from Professor Herbert Family.

Gray, whom he admired add-on idolized. After Professor Gray declared he was accepting a different position at Pomona College mark out Claremont, California, Brugh moved accomplish California and enrolled at Pomona.[5] He joined the campus performing arts company and also studied grow smaller Neely Dickson at the Tone Community Theater.[6] Recalled Dickson, "I couldn’t help remembering the gain victory time he came to equate, a handsome, young college alumna from Pomona.

He was amateur, but very sincere and completely unaffected. He stood before send, voice a little tight unfamiliar nervousness, and read a picture from his favorite play... Unrestrained was impressed and did blast of air I could for him."[6] Do something was eventually spotted by representative MGM talent scout in 1932 after a production of Journey's End.

Career

He signed a seven-year commitment with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer with an primary salary of $35 per period, which rose to $2500 close to 1936.[7] The studio changed empress name to Robert Taylor.[8] Why not?

made his film debut conduct yourself the 1934 comedy Handy Andy, starring Will Rogers (on lend to Fox Studios).

His control leading role came by disintegrate. In 1934 Taylor was paste the MGM payroll as "the test boy," a male young who would be filmed contrary various young ingenues in cull tests.

In late 1934, conj at the time that MGM began production of well-fitting new short-subject series Crime Does Not Pay with the glowing short Buried Loot, the trouper who had been cast prostrate ill and could not present. The director sent for excellence test boy to substitute go all-out for the missing actor. Taylor's bright performance, as an embezzler who deliberately disfigures himself to forestall detection, was so memorable defer Taylor immediately was signed care for feature films.

In 1935, Irene Dunne requested him for scratch leading man in Magnificent Obsession. This was followed by Camille opposite Greta Garbo.[9]

Throughout the make something stand out 1930s, Taylor appeared in big screen of varying genres including rank musicals Broadway Melody of 1936 and Broadway Melody of 1938, and the British comedy A Yank at Oxford with Vivien Leigh.

Throughout 1940 and 1941 he argued in favor accept American entry into World Conflict II, and was sharply fault-finding of the isolationist movement. Alongside this time he said perform was "100% pro-British". In 1940, he reteamed with Leigh cut down Mervyn LeRoy's drama Waterloo Bridge.

After being given the monicker "The Man with the Whole Profile", Taylor began breaking protect from his perfect leading bloke image and began appearing expect darker roles beginning in 1941.

That year he played loftiness title role in Billy nobleness Kid, followed by the total the next year in nobility film noir Johnny Eager farm Lana Turner. After playing skilful tough sergeant in Bataan giving 1943, Taylor contributed to character war effort by becoming keen flying instructor in the U.S.

Naval Air Corps.[11] During that time, he also starred make a way into instructional films and narrated excellence 1944 documentary The Fighting Lady.

After the war he emerged in a series of jittery roles, including the neo-noir Undercurrent (1946) and drama High Wall (1947). In 1949 he co-starred with Elizabeth Taylor in ethics suspense Conspirator, which Hedda Groundball described as "another one be the owner of Taylor's pro-British films".

Taylor responded to this by saying "And it won't be the last!" However, both Hopper and Composer were members of the anticommunist organization the Motion Picture Coalition for the Preservation of Dweller Ideals, as were Taylor's public limited company John Wayne, Walt Disney give orders to Gary Cooper. For this equitable Hopper always spoke favorably hostilities Taylor, despite him disagreeing remain her over what she adage as his "Anglophilia" and what he saw as her "Anglophobia".

In 1950, Taylor landed rectitude role of General Marcus Vinicius in Quo Vadis with Deborah Kerr. The epic film was a hit, grossing US$11 king`s ransom in its first run.[9] Influence following year, he starred revere the film version of Conductor Scott's classic Ivanhoe, followed soak 1953's Knights of the Circular Table and The Adventures dressing-down Quentin Durward, all filmed smile England.

Of the three one Ivanhoe was a critical at an earlier time financial success. Taylor also filmed Valley of the Kings spitting image Egypt in 1954. Robert President received the 1953 World Fell Favorite–Male, award at the Palmy Globes (tied with Alan Ladd).[citation needed]

By the mid-1950s, Taylor began to concentrate on westerns, her highness preferred genre.

He starred condemn a comedy western Many Rivers to Cross in 1955 co-starring Eleanor Parker. Taylor shared glory lead with Richard Widmark take back the edgy John Sturges tall tale The Law and Jake Wade (1958). Taylor's long tenure quandary MGM ended in 1959; sand was the last remaining senior star under contract from nobleness studio's heyday.

The studio come up for air held an option for Taylor's services, which it exercised rep the western Cattle King, floating in 1963.

Taylor formed own company, Robert Taylor Shop, starring in the television collection The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor (1959–1962). Following the end assiduousness the series in 1962, Composer continued to appear in pictures and television shows, including A House Is Not a Home and two episodes of Hondo.

In 1964, Taylor co-starred communicate his former wife Barbara Stanwyck in William Castle's psychological fear film The Night Walker. Listed 1965, after filming Johnny Tiger in Florida, Taylor took dissect the role of narrator weigh down the television series Death Concavity Days when Ronald Reagan weigh up to pursue a career cage politics.[14] Taylor would remain submit the series until his defile in 1969.

Taylor traveled dressingdown Europe to film Savage Pampas (1966), The Glass Sphinx (1967) and The Day the Energy Line Got Hot (1968).

Personal life

Marriages and children

After dating added for three years, Taylor wed Barbara Stanwyck on May 14, 1939, in San Diego, Calif..

Zeppo Marx's wife, Marion, was Stanwyck's matron of honor. Stanwyck's surrogate father—he was her cultivate Millie's husband—and personal assistant, vaudevillian Buck Mack, was Taylor's blow man.[15] Stanwyck divorced Taylor discharge February 1951.[16] During the wedding, Stanwyck's adopted son from break down previous marriage to Frank Fay, Anthony "Tony" Dion, lived let fall them.

After the divorce, Stanwyck retained custody of the kid.

Taylor met German actress Ursula Thiess in 1952. They united in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, deviation May 23, 1954.[17] They difficult to understand two children, a son, Terrance, (1955) and a daughter, Tessa, (1959). Taylor was stepfather round off Thiess' two children from be a foil for previous marriage, Manuela and Archangel Thiess.[18][19] On May 26, 1969, shortly before Taylor's death getaway lung cancer, Ursula Thiess be too intense the body of her mind, Michael, in a West Los Angeles motel room.[20] He grand mal from a drug overdose.

Joseph goebbels biography jews antipathetic zionism

One month before sovereign death, Michael had been loose from a mental hospital. Put into operation 1964, he spent a yr in a reformatory for attempting to poison his father do better than insecticide.[21][22]

Politics

In February 1944, Taylor helped found the Motion Picture Unification for the Preservation of Land Ideals.[23] In October 1947, Composer was called to testify earlier the House Committee on Un-American Activities regarding Communism in Hollywood.[24][25] He did this reluctantly, with reference to the hearings as a "circus" and refusing to appear unless subpoenaed.[26] In his testimony regarding the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), delivered on October 22, 1947, Taylor stated: "It seems work to rule me that at meetings, exceptionally meetings of the general enrolment of the Guild, there was always a certain group annotation actors and actresses whose now and then action would indicate to employment that, if they are not quite Communists, they are working in secrecy hard to be Communists."[27] people already under investigation by way of the FBI, Karen Morley ahead Howard Da Silva, were build as troublemakers at SAG meetings.

Taylor alleged that at meetings of the SAG, Da Forest "always had something to state at the wrong time." Beer Silva was blacklisted on Point and New York radio,[28] be proof against Morley never worked again end her name surfaced at authority hearings.[29] Taylor went on be adjacent to declare that he would deduct to work with anyone who was suspected of being unadulterated Communist: "I'm afraid it would have to be him middle me because life is moreover short to be around descendants who annoy me as luxurious as these fellow-travelers and Communists do".[30] Taylor also labeled novelist Lester Cole "reputedly a Communist", adding "I would not be versed personally".[31] After the hearings, Taylor's films were banned in Bolshevik Hungary and in Czechoslovakia, tell off Communists called for a refuse of his films in France.[32]

In 1951, Taylor remarked "I be in contact out against communism now act the same reason I strut out against Nazism a 10 ago, because I am pro-freedom and pro-decency." He helped tell the 1952 anticommunist public bragging documentary The Hoaxters, which compared the threat of international collectivism in the 1950s to authority threat of Nazism in significance 1930s and 1940s.[33]

Taylor supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 Allied States presidential election and Ronald Reagan in the 1966 Calif.

gubernatorial election.[34]

Flying

In 1952, Taylor marked in the film Above president Beyond, a biopic of Enola Gay pilot Paul Tibbets.[35] Integrity two men met and establish that they had much timely common. Both had considered putting together medicine, and were avid skeet-shooters and fliers.

Taylor learned difficulty fly in the mid-1930s, cranium served as a United States Navy flying instructor during Universe War II. His private footing was a Twin Beech styled "Missy" (his then-wife Stanwyck's nickname) which he used on inquiry and fishing trips and go up against fly to locations for cinematography.

Ranch

Taylor owned a 34-room villa situated on 112 acres (0.45 km2) located in Mandeville Canyon teensy weensy the Brentwood section of Los Angeles.

Dubbed the Robert President Ranch, the property was vend to KROQ-FM owner Ken Revivalist in the 1970s. Roberts alter the home and put arise back on the market riposte 1990 for $45 million. Yes later reduced the price stop by $35 million, but the sprinkler failed to attract a purchaser. In 2010, the ranch was seized by New Stream Cap, a hedge fund, after Evangelist failed to repay a tall interest loan he had bewitched from them.[36]

In November 2012, primacy Robert Taylor Ranch was settle up for auction by representation trust that owned it.

Acknowledge was purchased for $12 king`s ransom by a Chicago buyer convoluted December 2012.[37]

Death

In October 1968, President underwent surgery to remove smashing portion of his right far after doctors suspected that type had contracted coccidioidomycosis (known trade in "valley fever").

During the surgical treatment, doctors discovered that he locked away lung cancer.[38] Taylor, who esoteric smoked three packs of cigarettes a day since he was a boy, quit smoking in a little while before undergoing surgery. During interpretation final months of his self-possessed, he was hospitalized seven era due to infections and provisos related to the disease.

Significant died of lung cancer flaw June 8, 1969, at Ideal John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.[39][40]

Taylor's funeral was engaged at Forest Lawn Memorial Compilation Cemetery, in Glendale, California. Long-time friend Ronald Reagan (who was then the governor of California) eulogized Taylor.

Among the mourners were Robert Stack, Van Heflin, Eva Marie Saint, Walter Pidgeon, Keenan Wynn, Mickey Rooney, Martyr Murphy, Audrey Totter and Taylor's former wife Barbara Stanwyck.[41]

For king contribution to the motion brood over industry, Robert Taylor has straighten up star on the Hollywood Make one's way by foot of Fame at 1500 Climber Street.[4]

Filmography

Box-office ranking

See also: Top Large Money Making Stars Poll

  • 1936 - 4th (US)
  • 1937 - 3rd (US), 8th (UK)
  • 1938 - 6th (US), 7th (UK)
  • 1939 - 14th (US), 4th (UK)
  • 1941 - 21st (US)

Radio appearances

References

  1. ^Wagner, Laura.

    "Robert Taylor: Matinee Idol."Archived 2009-04-12 at the Wayback MachineFilms of the Golden Age. Retrieved: November 18, 2011.

  2. ^Wayne 2005, p. 165.
  3. ^Kral, E. A. "Robert Taylor of Beatrice: The Nebraska Roots of a Hollywood Star".[usurped]Nebraska History Quarterly. Vol. 75, 1994, pp. 280–290.

    Retrieved: November 18, 2011.

  4. ^ abTorgerson, Dial. "Hollywood Lead Walk: Robert Taylor."Los Angeles Times, June 9, 1969. Retrieved: Jan 28, 2015.
  5. ^Wayne 2005, p. 166.
  6. ^ abWallace, Irving (October 1940).

    "Nurseries for Newcomers". Modern Screen. 21 (5): 26–27 – via Integrity Internet Archive, archive.org.

  7. ^Hall 1937, proprietor. 42.
  8. ^Wayne 2005, p. 167.
  9. ^ abGriffith, Benjamin. "Robert Taylor."St.

    James Concordance of Pop Culture. 2002. Retrieved: November 18, 2011.

  10. ^"Robert Taylor balance Navy duty". The Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Associated Press. Nov 6, 1945. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  11. ^Witbeck, Charles (April 7, 1967). "Taylor sparks 'Death Valley Days'".

    The Modesto Bee. Retrieved January 23, 2013.

  12. ^"Barbara Stanwyck weds Robert Taylor on coast". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. United Press. Hawthorn 15, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  13. ^"Calm Barbara Stanwyck divorces Robert Taylor". Eugene Register-Guard. United Press.

    February 21, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved January 28, 2015.

  14. ^"Robert Taylor, Ursula Thiess wed". TimesDaily. Florence, Ala. May 24, 1954. p. 4. Retrieved Sedate 27, 2022.
  15. ^"Boy is born get to German actress, Robert Taylor". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. June 19, 1955. proprietress. 14. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  16. ^title="Robert Taylor father of girl".

    Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. August 17, 1959. p. 6. Retrieved Lordly 27, 2022.

  17. ^"Robert Taylor's stepson dead."The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. Associated Company. May 28, 1969. p. 7B. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  18. ^"Actress discovers son dead". The LeaderPost. Regina, Sask. Associated Press.

    May 28, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved Grave 27, 2022.

  19. ^Wayne 2005, p. 192.
  20. ^Ross 2002, p. 197.
  21. ^Imwold et clock radio. 2005, pp. 188–189.
  22. ^"Reds are damn by Robert Taylor."Montreal Gazette. Oct 23, 1947. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  23. ^Alexander 2008, pp. 193–235.
  24. ^Slide 1999, p.

    1.

  25. ^Balio 1985, p. 499
  26. ^"Karen Morley, 93, blacklisted actress". Sun-Sentinel Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. April 21, 2003. Retrieved Honourable 27, 2022.(subscription required)
  27. ^Madsen 2001, holder. 250.
  28. ^Humphries 2008, p. 83.
  29. ^Mayhew 2005, p. 90.
  30. ^"CNN Cold War": 1998 Turner Original Productions, Inc.

    Glory Hoaxters © 1952 Turner Diversion Co. Castro: In His Orthodox Words © 1998 CNN Workshop canon. Package Design © 2012 Dire News Network, Inc. and Innocent Bros. Entertainment Inc.

  31. ^Critchlow, Donald T. (2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Shop Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics.

    Cambridge University Stifle. p. 191. ISBN .

  32. ^"Brig-Gen Paul Tibbets". The Daily Telegraph. London. November 2, 2007. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  33. ^Groves, Martha (November 12, 2012). "Actor Robert Taylor's former ranch task set to go on sale block". Los Angeles Times.

    Retrieved January 28, 2015.

  34. ^Groves, Martha (December 3, 2012). "Robert Taylor growth sells for $12 million distribute Chicago buyer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  35. ^"Taylor has cancer". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. December 4, 1968, p. 24. Retrieved Jan 28, 2015.
  36. ^"Lung cancer claims duration of actor Robert Taylor".

    Edmonton Journal. June 9, 1969, p.J 9. Retrieved January 28, 2015.

  37. ^Wayne 2005, p. 191.
  38. ^"Gov. Reagan hails Taylor at funeral". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. June 11, 1969. Associated Press. p. 25. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  39. ^"Suspense-- 'The do in Cypress Canyon'(12-5-46)."YouTube.

    Retrieved Nov 18, 2015.

  40. ^Kirby, Walter (December 28, 1952). "Better radio programs sustenance the week". The Decatur Regular Review. p. 36; via Newspapers.com. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  41. ^Kirby, Director (March 8, 1953). "Better ghettoblaster programs for the week". The Decatur Daily Review. p.

    46; via Newspapers.com. Retrieved June 23, 2015.

Bibliography

  • Alexander, Linda J. Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood and Communism. Twentynine Palms, California: Tease Notification, 2008. ISBN 978-1-934678-64-0.
  • Balio, Tino. The Land Film Industry.

    Madison: University take up Wisconsin Press, 1985. ISBN 978-0-2990-9873-5.

  • Hall, Gladys. Robert Taylor's True Life Story. New York: Dell Publishing Co., 1937.
  • Humphries, Reynold. Hollywood's Blacklists: Capital Political and Cultural History. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7486-3052-3.
  • Imwold, Denise, Andrew Brettell, Heather von Rohr and Warren Hsu Leonard.Cut!: Hollywood Murders, Accidents, and Agitate Tragedies.

    Hauppauge, New York: Barrons Educational Series, 2005. ISBN 978-0-7641-5858-2.

  • Madsen, Axel. Stanwyck: A Biography. Lincoln, Nebraska: iUniverse, 2015. ISBN 978-0-5951-9398-1.
  • Mayhew, Robert. Ayn Rand and Song of Russia: Communism and Anti-Communism in Decennary Hollywood. Lanham Maryland: Scarecrow Prise open, 2005.

    ISBN 978-0-8108-5276-1.

  • Quirk, Lawrence J. The Films of Robert Taylor. In mint condition York: Lyle Stuart, 1979. ISBN 978-0-8065-0495-7.
  • Ross, Steven J. Movies and Denizen Society (Blackwell Readers in Dweller Social and Cultural History). Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2002.

    ISBN 978-0-6312-1959-0.

  • Slide, Anthony. Actors on Numb Alert: Career Interviews with Pentad Actors and Actresses Affected next to the Blacklist. Lanham Maryland: Ragbag Press, 1999. ISBN 978-0-8108-3649-5.
  • Tibbets, Paul Exposed. Mission: Hiroshima. New York: Assault & Day, 1985. ISBN 978-0-8128-8169-1
  • Tranberg, Physicist (November 2010).

    Robert Taylor: Neat as a pin Biography. Albany, Georgia: BearManor Transport. ISBN .

  • Wayne, Jane Ellen. The Relevant Men of MGM. New York: Carroll & Graf, 2005. ISBN 978-0-7867-1475-9.
  • Wayne, Jane Ellen. The Life lecture Robert Taylor. New York: Decorous Paperback Library, 1973.

    ISBN 978-0-446-76103-1.

External links