Don Taylor

Actor

About

Also Known As

Donald R Taylor, Donald Dexter Taylor, Cpl. Don Taylor

Birth Place

Freeport, Pennsylvania, USA

Born

December 13, 1920

Died

December 29, 1998

Cause of Death

Heart Failure

Biography

Don Taylor may forever be the answer to the trivia question: "Who played the role of the groom in the original 'Father of the Bride' (1950)?," but his more durable career came as a director of features and TV movies from the early 1960s well into the 80s.The Pennsylvania-born Taylor broke into movies with a bit part in "Girl Crazy" (1943) then, as part of his military service during Worl...

Filmography

The Diamond Trap (1988)

Director

Ghost of a Chance (1987)

Director

Classified Love (1986)

Director

Going for the Gold: The Bill Johnson Story (1985)

Director

My Wicked, Wicked Ways... The Legend of Errol Flynn (1985)

Director

Secret Weapons (1985)

Director

Photos & Videos

View All

I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955) -- (Movie Clip) We Did What?

Song Of The Thin Man (1947) -- (Movie Clip) Right Down To Their Fingerprints

Family & Companions

Phyllis Avery

Wife

Actor. Divorced in 1955.

Hazel Court

Wife

Actor. Married from 1964 until his death.

Notes

Not to be confused with the British production designer of the same name.

Biography

The Pennsylvania-born Taylor broke into movies with a bit part in "Girl Crazy" (1943) then, as part of his military service during World War II, appeared in a stage production of "Winged Victory" and soon found himself co-starring in the 1944 feature based on the show. The career of the handsome, though somewhat bland, Taylor picked up steam in mostly supporting roles. He was among the troops in William Wellman's unglamorous look at men at war in "Battleground" (1949) before being chosen as the fiance of Elizabeth Taylor (no relation) in "Father of the Bride" and her husband in its sequel, "Father's Little Dividend" (1951). Often cast as military men, Taylor won critical kudos for his turns as Robert Ryan's brother-in-law in "The Flying Leathernecks" (1951) and had a rare lead as a soldier married to a "Japanese War Bride" (1952). He played Lt. Dunbar, the American POW William Holden ultimately rescues, in "Stalag 17" (1953), and remained working as an actor in features into the late 50s.

Moving behind the camera, Taylor began his directing career with the silly "Everything's Ducky" (1961), which teamed Buddy Hackett and Mickey Rooney with a talking duck. He directed George Hamilton as a suave burglar in "Jack of Diamonds" (1967), and the sequel "Escape From the Planet of the Apes" (1971). The quality of Taylor's vehicles improved somewhat in the late 70s with "The Great Scout and Cathouse Thursday" (1976), a broad Western comedy that allowed Oliver Reed to shine. Fantasy-horror films offered Taylor some of his best opportunities. He helmed the well-executed remake "The Island of Dr. Moreau" (1977), featuring Burt Lancaster as the title character. "Damien: Omen II" (1978), while not as effective as the original, nevertheless had its moments and reteamed the director with former co-star William Holden. "The Final Countdown" (1980), his last feature, was a modest variation on a somewhat familiar tale: a nuclear-powered battleship that is transported back in time to just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. It is perhaps more recalled as the first producing effort of its star Kirk Douglas.

Taylor had already established a foothold as a TV director, helming episodes of such popular series as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Rifleman" and "The Wild, Wild West." His longform debut was "Something for a Lonely Man" (NBC, 1968), starring Dan Blocker as an outcast blacksmith. Taylor worked with Dick Van Dyke on "Drop-Out Father" (CBS, 1982), which cast Van Dyke as an ad agency executive who leaves his white collar world. The pair reteamed for "Ghost of a Chance" (CBS, 1987), in which Van Dyke was partnered with Redd Foxx. Taylor took on Hollywood with the biopic "My Wicked, Wicked Ways...The Legend of Errol Flynn" (CBS, 1985) and his last assignment, to date, was the caper yarn "The Diamond Trap" (CBS, 1988).

Filmography

Life Events

1943

Film debut with bit part in "Girl Crazy"

1944

Had first substantial role in "Winged Victory"

1950

Co-starred as the groom in "Father of the Bride"

1961

Feature directorial debut, "Everything's Ducky"

1968

Began directing TV-movies with "Something for a Lonely Man" (NBC)

1973

Directed and appeared in "Tom Sawyer"

1977

Directed remake of "The Island of Dr. Moreau"

1980

Last feature to date, "The Final Countdown"

1985

Helmed the TV biopic "My Wicked, Wicked Ways...The Legend of Errol Flynn" (CBS)

1987

Last directing credit to date, the CBS TV-movie "Diamond Trap"

Photo Collections

Battleground - Action Publicity Stills

Here are several action-oriented publicity stills taken for MGM's Battleground (1949). Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.

Battleground - Behind-the-Scenes Stills

Here are a number of photos taken behind-the-scenes during production of MGM's Battleground (1949), directed by William Wellman and starring Van Johnson, Ricardo Montalban, James Whitmore, George Murphy, and many others.

For the Love of Mary - Scene Stills

Here are several scene stills from Universal Pictures' For the Love of Mary (1948), starring Deanna Durbin,

For the Love of Mary - Publicity Stills

Here are a few publicity stills from Universal's For the Love of Mary (1948), starring Deanna Durbin, Edmund O'Brien, and Don Taylor. Publicity stills were specially-posed photos, usually taken off the set, for purposes of publicity or reference for promotional artwork.