Robert Taylor (American actor)
Robert Taylor |
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Robert Taylor (August 5 1911, Filley, Nebraska - June 8 1969, Santa Monica, California), was an American actor.
Born Spangler Arlington Brough he made his first film appearance in 1934. Early in his career, he was known as "the man with the perfect profile." One of his first major films was Camille (1936), playing opposite Greta Garbo. Strikingly handsome with wavy black hair and blue eyes he was an instant heart-throb from his first film appearance. In later life, he made many television appearances, notably in the 1959 series, The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor.
Acting career
By his own admission, he was hardly the greatest actor of his generation, but his many directors and famous co-stars always found him a most professional actor, always on time and willing to work hard to get the film to be the best. Many actors and actresses later claimed that he was underrated as an actor, especially in films in his later years. Although he was known for his classic features, Taylor always strived for different films where he could play more rugged and challenging roles, not wanting to be known as just a "pretty face."
McCarthy era controversy
In 1947, Taylor testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) as a "friendly witness", claiming that he had appeared in the film Song of Russia against his better judgement. He went on to claim that the script by Richard Collins and Paul Jarrico, and a song in the movie written by Yip Harburg, were pro-Communist.
Taylor also provided evidence against actor Howard Da Silva. He is quoted as saying: "I can name a few who seem to sort of disrupt things once in a while. Whether or not they are Communists I don't know. One chap we have currently, I think is Howard Da Silva. He always seems to have something to say at the wrong time."
Personal life
His first wife was the actress Barbara Stanwyck with whom he owned a large ranch and home in the Mandeville Canyon section of Brentwood, California, which to this day is still referred to by locals as the old "Robert Taylor ranch." Taylor and Stanwyck were one of the Hollywood's "golden couples" and were good friends with another star couple, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. The marriage had its ups and downs. Their marriage lasted from 1939 to 1951.
He also had affairs with the beautiful actresses Ava Gardner and Lana Turner.
Taylor considered remarrying Stanwyck several times after their 1951 divorce, and also had a serious romance with Eleanor Parker but ultimately he would choose as his second wife German-born actress Ursula Thiess whom he married in 1954, and with whom he had two children. He was ultimately happy and well-suited to Thiess, a WWII refugee who still made her own dresses, even to go to gala events.
Death and post-mortem
Robert Taylor died of lung cancer (he was a chain smoker) at the age of 57, and he was interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, in Glendale, California. The creme de la creme of Hollywood celebrities went to his funeral, and his best friend Ronald Reagan gave the eulogy.
In 1970, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Selected filmography
- Magnificent Obsession (1935)
- Camille (1936)
- Personal Property (1937)
- A Yank at Oxford (1938)
- Waterloo Bridge (1940)
- Billy the Kid (1941 film) (1941)
- Bataan (1942)
- Undercurrent (1946)
- High Wall (1947)
- Conspirator (1949)
- Quo Vadis (1951)
- Ivanhoe (1952)
- Knights of the Round Table (1953)
- Rogue Cop (1954)
- The Adventures of Quentin Durward (1955)
- The Last Hunt (1956)
- Party Girl (1958)
- A House Is Not a Home (1964)
Trivia
- The Italian comics fictional character Diabolik was graphically inspired by Taylor.
- When he done Broadway Melody of 1936, for the song, I've Got A Feelin' Your Foolin', he had surprised everyone with his pleasant singing voice when he sang the song along with June Knight.