Frank Taylor, a Scottish character actor, had a 50-year career spanning theatre, radio, and television productions. He is best recognized for his role as Sgt 'Scotty' Macleod in the classic Australian TV series Division 4 (1969).
Born on February 22, 1921, in Kirkhill, Coldingham, Berwickshire, Scotland, Taylor was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and trained for the stage at the Scottish School of Drama under the direction of Sybill Attwell. He made his professional debut as the Second Page in "Richard of Bordeaux" at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh in September 1938.
Taylor's early career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served 5 years as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner with two squadrons, Squadron 608 and Squadron 217. He was shot down and taken prisoner in February 1942, but managed to escape and was incarcerated in seven POW camps before being liberated on May 2, 1945, by the British 2nd Army's 11th Armoured Division.
Following his demobilization, Taylor worked as an assistant stage manager at the Mercury Theatre in London under the direction of E. Martin Browne. He then returned to acting and singing roles, training with Robert Burnett in Edinburgh and Dawson Freer in London. He appeared in several London West End productions, including "Pacific 1860" with Mary Martin, "Much Ado About Nothing" with Robert Donat, "Pericles" with Paul Scofield, "The Silver Curlew" with Denys Blakelock, and "Oklahoma" with Howard Keel.
From 1951 to 1954, Taylor toured South Africa for African Theatres in "Seagulls Over Sorrento" with Clifford Mollison, and again in Australia and New Zealand for J.C. Williamson's. In 1956, he settled permanently in Sydney, Australia, where he appeared in many theatrical productions as well as early landmark series in Australian television.
Taylor's most notable role was Sgt 'Scotty' Macleod in Division 4, for which he won a Penguin Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series in 1972. He went on to appear in every one of the show's 301 episodes.
In 1988, Taylor wrote his autobiography "Barbed Wire and Footlights: Seven Stalags to Freedom" and continued to take on occasional acting roles throughout the 1970s and 1980s before retiring.
